Saint Thomas Becket

Saint Thomas Becket was a 12th-century English archbishop and martyr who famously defended the Church's independence from royal authority. Originally close to King Henry II, he became archbishop of Canterbury and insisted that Church laws should have authority over secular matters. This conflict led to his brutal murder in 1170 inside Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to the king. Becket was quickly venerated as a saint, symbolizing the fight for church independence and the moral authority of religious leaders. His life highlights the complex relationship between church and state and the struggle for spiritual authority during medieval times.