BattlefieldsBecket Crisis — Northampton Confrontation 1164
Medieval

Becket Crisis — Northampton Confrontation 1164

1164
Northamptonshire, England
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
Northamptonshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Archbishop Thomas Becket
Forces
Archbishop Becket and his clerical supporters
VS
Victor
King Henry II
Forces
King Henry II with assembled barons and bishops
Outcome
Becket refused submission and departed; condemned in absentia; fled England the same month
The Battle

History & Significance

Henry II summoned Archbishop Thomas Becket to the great council at Northampton Castle in October 1164 to answer charges of contempt of royal authority. Barons and bishops attended in force. Becket was condemned but refused to submit, departing the council dramatically carrying his own cross. The confrontation made armed conflict between crown and church explicit and triggered Becket's flight to France.

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