The Constitutions of Clarendon

The Constitutions of Clarendon, issued in 1164 by King Henry II of England, were a set of rules aimed at limiting the power of church officials, especially clergy who held secular (non-religious) roles. They established that clergy accused of crimes should be tried in royal courts rather than church courts, reinforcing the king’s authority over church matters. These laws sought to define the relationship between church and state, emphasizing the king’s control over certain legal and disciplinary issues involving clergy, which led to conflicts with church leaders and contributed to ongoing debates about church independence.