Conflict & Penance: the remarkable history of Henry II & Thomas Becket – three online talks by Dr Hugh Doherty
posted on 31/07/2024
On Friday, 12th July 1174 King Henry II dismounted outside Canterbury, walked barefoot through the city and into the crypt of the Romanesque cathedral, where he was whipped with rods by five bishops and by all 80 monks of Christ Church priory. He performed the penance for his part – his unintentional part, according to the king – in the murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the very same cathedral on 29th December 1170. The following day, Saturday, 13th July, witnessed a still more dramatic event: the capture of William, King of Scots, outside Alnwick castle by forces loyal to King Henry. William’s capture – at the very hour, Henry himself told one contemporary, that he was hearing Mass in Canterbury – marked the turning point in the great war of 1173–74. St Thomas had rescued his friend. The blessed, penitential king had triumphed.
This series of three talks, convened in the 850th year of King Henry’s penance and King William’s capture, will explore the extraordinary friendship and the equally astonishing rupture between Henry and Thomas Becket that shocked and appalled mid-12th-century Europe. Over the course of three lectures we will explore the making of their alliance, the genesis and growth of their enmity, and the transformation of their relationship in the wake of Becket’s brutal murder. We will do so with the help of a combination of manuscripts, luxury items and buildings.
They take place every Wednesday from 9th–23rd October at 4.30pm (London) and, including Q&A, will probably last just under an hour. They are available for viewing for eight weeks after the last episode is streamed (18th December 2024).
Register for the webinar series for £45
The talks
1. The King and the Chancellor: the making of a friendship (9th October 2024)
This talk will examine how the young Angevin king and the ambitious London fixer came to forge an unlikely, if highly effective, friendship at a critical moment in the history of the kingdom of the English.
2. The King and the Archbishop: charisma & law (16th October 2024)
In 1164 Thomas the Chancellor was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury. All was set for a brilliant alliance between king and primate. But then it went wrong. This lecture will explain why and how the relationship failed so publicly and explore the consequences of the conflict for both men, their supporters, and the kingdom
3. The King and the Saint: martyrdom & triumph (23rd October 2024)
Archbishop Thomas was slain on 29th December 1170. This was the moment when the difficult and divisive man became a saint. But it was not the end of the relationship between Henry and Thomas: more was to follow. There were the immediate miracles; there was talk that spread like wildfire; and there was still more drama. The final talk will explore this crucial chapter in the afterlife of Thomas Becket.
Image: 14th-century fresco of the martyrdom of St Thomas Beckett, Motacilla ©
The speaker
Dr Hugh Doherty
Lecturer in medieval history at the University of East Anglia. He was taught at the Universities of London, Cambridge, and Oxford, and was a research fellow at Jesus College, Oxford. He specialises in the period, 700–1200, and publishes on western kings, secular élites and their records. He is a keen believer in the value of exploring and understanding the architectural fabric, material culture and landscapes of the past.
Register for the webinar series for £45
Frequently asked questions
What methods of payment do you accept?
An electronic invoice will be sent to your e-mail address 1–3 working days after you have completed our registration form Payment can be made online using AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay, MasterCard or Visa.
How do I purchase the webinar series as a gift?
Please contact us specifying how many subscriptions you would like and who they are for (we require their full name and e-mail address). We will invoice you directly, and after we have received your payment we will release the webinar joining instructions to your friend(s) or family member(s).
Can I purchase a single episode?
No, unfortunately not. The series must be purchased in full.
How do I join the webinar?
An e-mail confirmation will be sent to you after you have paid for your subscription, which includes your unique link for joining the webinar. Reminder e-mails will be sent to you one day and one hour before each event. We recommend that you download the Zoom software in advance of the first webinar.
Can I watch the live broadcast(s) on more than one device?
Only one device can be connected to the live broadcast(s) at any one time. If you wish to purchase a second subscription, please contact us.
What happens if I am unable to attend the live broadcast(s)?
A recording will be uploaded to a dedicated webpage approximately two hours after the live broadcast. For copyright reasons, these recordings cannot be made available indefinitely; access is granted for eight weeks after the final live broadcast of the series.
View more online talks
