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Year 7 - History

The murder of Thomas Becket

England under Henry II: how successfully did Henry reassert royal authority?

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils learn about England and the Angevin Empire under Henry II's rule. They then use their knowledge of Henry's rule to evaluate the degree to which he was a successful king.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe Henry II's conflict with Thomas Becket and explain the impacts this had on Church and crown.

Key Notes

  • Henry had his son crowned during Thomas Becket's absence from England.
  • Becket returned and excommunicated the bishops involved in the coronation.
  • Becket was murdered by four of Henry's knights.
  • The king's reaction to Becket's murder reveals the extent of power the Church held across Europe.
  • Becket's murder ultimately strengthened the king's control over the Church.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • excommunicated: when someone is excommunicated they are expelled from the Catholic Church by the Pope
  • cathedral: a cathedral is a large and impressive church that contains the seat of a bishop
  • martyr: a martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs
  • penance: penance is to punish yourself to seek God's forgiveness for a sin
  • pilgrimage: a pilgrimage is a religious journey, usually taken to a shrine or a site of religious importance

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The murder of Thomas Becket was the undoing of Henry II.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Henry had his son crowned during Thomas Becket's absence from England. Becket returned and excommunicated the bishops involved in the coronation.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'excommunicated'

when someone is excommunicated they are expelled from the Catholic Church by the Pope.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: The murder of Thomas Becket was the undoing of Henry II. Correction: Long-term it increased Henry's control over the Church. Bishops' opposition decreased, while the Pope gave support after 1172.

More Lessons In This Unit

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