The conflict between Church and State: Thomas Becket and the crisis of 1170; the clash between Henry II and the Papacy
Henry II tried to bring the Church under royal control. His former friend Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, resisted him — and ended up murdered in his own cathedral.
Real World
The Constitutions of Clarendon (1164) were Henry's attempt to codify royal authority over the Church in writing — comparable to a government passing legislation to bring a previously independent institution under state regulation.
Exam Focus
Examiners expect you to distinguish between the causes, course, and consequences of the Becket dispute — do not conflate them in a single narrative paragraph.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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