This historical biography examines the life and legacy of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of King Henry II of England. Drawing on accounts from Becket's contemporaries and later writers, the authors provide a vivid portrait of a complex figure who was both a respected scholar and a political lightning rod.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.