St. Thomas à Becket
1118 – 1170
English

Priest, Saint. Legend tells us that he was a friend and loyal servant of King Henry II of England. After appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury, however, he became a zealous defender of the rights and prerogatives of the Church. Henry muttered: "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" Four of his knights rode off to murder the Archbishop at the alter of Canterbury Cathedral, and Henry penitentially flogged himself at the tomb of his former friend.

Contemporaries
1170–1220Wolfram von Eschenbach
1050–1120Johannes Roscellinus
1157–1199Richard I
1160–1218Simon de Montfort
1138–1204Moses Maimonides
1100–1160Peter Lombard
1167–1216John
1135–1202Joachim of Fiore
1160–1216Innocent III
1060–1134St. Stephen Harding
fl. 1150Gratian
1100–1154Geoffrey of Monmouth
fl. 1150Arnaut Daniel
fl. 1150Blondel
fl. 1150Bernard of Morval
1090–1153St. Bernard of Clairvaux
1126–1198Averroes
1100–1155Arnold of Brescia
1079–1142Peter Abelard