Trial of Thomas Becket

The Trial of Thomas Becket was a symbolic event in 1170, involving a mock courtroom where Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was tried after his conflict with King Henry II over church rights. Although the trial was staged and not legally binding, it reflected the tensions between church and monarchy. Becket’s refusal to submit to royal authority ultimately led to his martyrdom when he was murdered inside Canterbury Cathedral. His trial highlighted issues of religious independence and authority, and his death made him a symbol of the church’s resistance against royal power.