starter activitystarter activity

Listen to the account of a murder. How similar is this fifteenth century image to the original 12th century account?

Who was Who was responsible for responsible for Becket’s death?Becket’s death?To analyse reasons for differing

accounts of Becket’s death

To study the key events leading to his murder

To produce an account of the death from a biased perspective

Aims

Henry & Becket as Henry & Becket as friendsfriends

Henry & Becket as Henry & Becket as friendsfriends

1154 Henry becomes king1154 Henry becomes king Becket becomes Becket becomes chancellorchancellor (chief adviser) (chief adviser) Work together to ensure country is run Work together to ensure country is run

well and barons administer justice fairlywell and barons administer justice fairly

Church courtsChurch courts

Church courtsChurch courts

Church courts were being Church courts were being lenientlenient towards towards priests and monkspriests and monks

Becket becomes Becket becomes archbishoparchbishop

Becket becomes Becket becomes ArchbishopArchbishop

Henry appoints Becket as Archbishop of Henry appoints Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1161Canterbury in 1161

Becket goes through a character transformationBecket goes through a character transformation He becomes He becomes piouspious and takes the job very and takes the job very

seriously!seriously!

Constitutions of Constitutions of ClarendonClarendon

Constitutions of Constitutions of ClarendonClarendon

Henry passes a law, Constitutions of Henry passes a law, Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164Clarendon in 1164

Church court cases must now be held in Church court cases must now be held in king’s courtsking’s courts

Becket agrees, but then changes his mindBecket agrees, but then changes his mind

Becket flees the countryBecket flees the country

Becket flees the countryBecket flees the country

Realizing he is danger, Becket flees Realizing he is danger, Becket flees EnglandEngland

Seeks exile at Pontigny Abbey, FranceSeeks exile at Pontigny Abbey, France Henry is furious!Henry is furious!

Coronation of Henry’s Coronation of Henry’s sonson

Coronation of Henry’s Coronation of Henry’s sonson

Henry asks Archbishop of York to crown Henry asks Archbishop of York to crown his sonhis son

This was Becket’s jobThis was Becket’s job Becket is furious!Becket is furious!

ReconciliationReconciliation

ReconciliationReconciliation

Becket & Henry meet in France in July 1170Becket & Henry meet in France in July 1170 Becket returns to EnglandBecket returns to England Henry remains in Normandy to deal with Henry remains in Normandy to deal with

matters in his landsmatters in his lands

Becket breaks Henry’s Becket breaks Henry’s trusttrust

Becket breaks Henry’s Becket breaks Henry’s trusttrust

Within days of his return, Becket Within days of his return, Becket excommunicates all barons & bishops who excommunicates all barons & bishops who had supported Henryhad supported Henry

Asks Asks PopePope to punish the Archbishop of York to punish the Archbishop of York

Henry loses his patienceHenry loses his patience

Henry loses his patienceHenry loses his patience

One bishop tells Henry, “While Thomas One bishop tells Henry, “While Thomas lives, you will not have peace and quiet, nor lives, you will not have peace and quiet, nor see good days”see good days”

Henry cries out “Are you all cowards? Will Henry cries out “Are you all cowards? Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?”no one rid me of this troublesome priest?”

Four knights overhear Four knights overhear HenryHenry

Four knights overhear Four knights overhear HenryHenry

Four knights, led by Reginald FitzUrse Four knights, led by Reginald FitzUrse decide to speak to Becket on Henry’s decide to speak to Becket on Henry’s behalfbehalf

Henry sent a messenger, but he was too Henry sent a messenger, but he was too late!late!

Your taskYour task

Learn about the stormy relationship of Learn about the stormy relationship of Becket and Henry II. Work in groups of Becket and Henry II. Work in groups of 4 or 5 maximum to recreate the events 4 or 5 maximum to recreate the events of their relationship using of their relationship using tableauxtableaux..

You have 10 minutes to prepare and You have 10 minutes to prepare and then you will perform your tableaux to then you will perform your tableaux to the class and they must guess which the class and they must guess which part of the story is being represented.part of the story is being represented.

Role cards