Thomas Becket Flees England Before Being Killed 1170

Canterbury Abbey was quiet that evening as Archbishop Thomas Becket made his way through the silent halls. The only sounds he heard occasionally was the crackling of a candle, the soft whisper of his garment against the floor, or the click of his staff. He enjoyed these quiet moments as he felt most at one with God at these quiet times.

As he turned a corner, someone reached out and grabbed him. The staff clattered to the floor as he was pulled against a hard body and a hand clamped firmly against his mouth. Becket struggled as best he could, but then he heard a soft voice say, "Be at ease, Thomas." He was turned and saw a feminine figure in the shadows. The woman was hooded and walked out of the shadows, accompanied by two guards. She pushed her hood back as a golden coronet glittered in the light.

Becket was released and fell to his knees in front of her. "Your majesty," he whispered. Eleanor raised her hand in greeting, smiling and said, "Be at ease Thomas. I have come to aid you." Thomas sat back from his kneeling position, regarding her with a question on his face. "I don't understand." Eleanor sighed and raised Thomas to his feet. "My husband, I fear, has gone to far in his rage. Just a few days ago, he flew into a dark mood, and shouted 'Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest!' After hearing, I left with a few of my knights to come here immediately. Thomas, we must get you out of Canterbury, and England preferably." Thomas made to shook his head. "But your majesty..."

Eleanor raised her hand to silence him. "It is better to live to fight another day then to die a martyr, Thomas. I have brought an extra horse and provisions with me. My knight here is to guide you to the coast, where there is a boat waiting for you. Take it and go to France, then make your way to Rome. You will be safe there. Come, there is little time." She took his hand and pulled him out into the courtyard of Abbey. A strong black stallion stood in the courtyard alongside a smaller brown horse. The mountain of a man behind him mounted the stallion. Eleanor indicated the smaller horse and Thomas mounted. In the dark cold, he clutched his robe to him. He regarded Eleanor and said, "God bless you my queen." Eleanor bowed slightly and said, "You as well, Thomas. Now go!" The two horses turned and vanished into the night.

The next day, a group of four knights arrived at the Abbey. They stormed in and ransacked the place, looking for the Archbishop, but could find him nowhere. Dissatisfied, they returned to the King, their errand not complete.

What happens if Thomas Becket escapes Henry the II and goes to Rome, whether with or without Eleanor's help? How does history change?
 
Well Henry does not have the historical significance of ordering the murder of a saint for once hanging like the doom of Damocles over his head for starters.
 
The dispute has been going on for a while, the reason Henry II was angry even more this time around, was because when the historical disputes seemed to be resolved, Becket excommunicated three close supporters of Henry.

Becket was released and fell to his knees in front of her. "Your majesty," he whispered. Eleanor raised her hand in greeting, smiling and said, "Be at ease Thomas. I have come to aid you." Thomas sat back from his kneeling position, regarding her with a question on his face. "I don't understand." Eleanor sighed and raised Thomas to his feet. "My husband, I fear, has gone to far in his rage. Just a few days ago, he flew into a dark mood, and shouted 'Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest!' After hearing, I left with a few of my knights to come here immediately. Thomas, we must get you out of Canterbury, and England preferably."
The actual quote was:
""What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished and promoted in my household, who let their lord be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born clerk!"


The next day, a group of four knights arrived at the Abbey. They stormed in and ransacked the place, looking for the Archbishop, but could find him nowhere. Dissatisfied, they returned to the King, their errand not complete.
The four knights made their way with out the King's knowledge in response to the quote above, apparently with the intent of confronting and if necessary arresting Becket for breaking his agreement with Henry and for the four knights to gain favour and rewards from the king. However Archbishop Beckett refused to be arrested by relatively low-born knights, so they hacked him to death in front of his alter.

What happens if Thomas Becket escapes Henry the II and goes to Rome, whether with or without Eleanor's help? How does history change?
Both sought the support of Alexander III and other international leaders, arguing their positions in various forums across Europe. Pope Alexander supported Becket's case in principle but needed Henry's support in dealing with Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor, so he repeatedly sought a negotiated solution.
All that would happen is the same as last time, Beckett fled, back in 1164 when he travelled to France to seek sanctuary with Henry's enemy, Louis VII, Pope Alexander forced Henry back to negotiations and ordered Becket returned to England in early December. Fleeing again would just draw out this fight, leading to Henry appointing another person to the office of Archbishop of Canterbury.
 

Md139115

Banned
Becket becomes just a minor footnote in history. Henry gets his way and the power of the crown increases.

OTL, it was Becket’s martyrdom that caused a full-blown s***storm to break around Henry. All of Europe recoiled from him in horror due to the belief that he murdered an archbishop of the Church in cold blood in his cathedral! That caused him no end of problems.

Butterfly away the assasination, and you could see a far more powerful English monarchy (maybe enough to butterfly the Magna Carta).
 
As others have said this strengthens Henry II wrt the Church and relations with other courts.
Henry probably gets a guaranteed crown for Ireland and one ups Louis VII.
Events between Phillip II and Henry's sons go differently which may guarantee an English Normandy (cf Norman England!) for longer.
 
See the thing is that he already fled and the Pope convinced Becket to go back. Then the Pope thought he got them reconciled and smoothed out a compromise that saved face. Well, that wasn't exactly how things turned out
 
One question I have is what would happen if Henry asked for the Pope to life the excommunications on the three supporters and then after Becket came back the first time simply quietly conceded the ideological battle with the Church. In effect, Bishop Thomas Becket would win the ideological fight with TTL (Henry no longer interfering with the Church), but there would no Saint Thomas.
 
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