Thomas Becket came from a wealthy Norman family living in London, and was educated at Merton and in Paris. He also studied law at Bologna and Auxerre, and worked for Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury. Thomas was ordained as deacon and became archdeacon of Canterbury in 1154 AD. Theodore recommended him to the new king Henry II, and Thomas became chancellor of England in 1155 AD. He and the king became great friends, and he was used as an ambassador and sent on military expeditions where he led his troops into battle. Thomas was very clever and highly efficient, a superb royal official. The king enjoyed his Chancellor's lavish entertainments and his great support, even when that involved going against the Church.

In 1162 AD Henry got Thomas elected as archbishop of Canterbury, although the latter warned him not to do it. Thomas resigned as Chancellor, lived an austere life wearing a hair shirt and putting Church matters first. Henry hated how Thomas took care of the royal soul as it was not done tactfully. There were also battles over taxation, the rights of the royal courts to properly punish clerical wrongdoers treated leniently by Church courts, and the right to appeal to Rome. Thomas accepted Henry's codification of laws in 1169 AD, but then changed his mind and rejected it. The subsequent struggle was long and bitter, and Thomas went into exile in France for 6 years.

Things were patched up in 1170 and Thomas returned to Canterbury. Trouble erupted again, and the king was so furious he asked his courtiers who would rid him of this troublesome priest. Four knights did that. They murdered Thomas in his cathedral at Evensong by stabbing him and slicing off the top of his head. The people rushed to collect bits and a blind woman saw again when she wiped her face with the blood. Thomas was canonized in 1173. Henry had to do penance at the tomb, and the knights were excommunicated and exiled.

The subsequently jeweled shrine with the reliquary of the top of Thomas' head became a famous pilgrimage centre. Henry VIII had it all destroyed and the bones scattered.