The assassination of Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170 changed the course of history.
What events happened at the Canterbury Cathedral?
Through the Centuries
| 597 | St Augustine arrived in Kent and soon established the first Cathedral |
|---|---|
| 1170 | Thomas Becket murdered in the Cathedral |
| 1175-1184 | Quire rebuilt. Eastern Crypt, Trinity and Corona Chapels added (all as seen today) |
| 1220 | Becket’s body placed in new Shrine in Trinity Chapel |
What important event occurred in Canterbury?
Canterbury has been a European pilgrimage site of major importance for over 800 years since the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket in 1170.
What is Canterbury Cathedral history?
Canterbury Cathedral was one of the most important centres of pilgrimage in Medieval England. There has been a cathedral at Canterbury since 597 when St. Augustine baptised the Saxon king Ethelbert. The Archbishop of Canterbury was the most senior religious figure in the land and he was based at the cathedral.
Where is Canterbury Cathedral and what is its historical significance?
Canterbury, historic town and surrounding city (local authority) in the administrative and historic county of Kent, southeastern England. Its cathedral has been the primary ecclesiastical centre of England since the early 7th century ce.
What miracles happened at Canterbury Cathedral?
There were 703 miracles recorded by William and Benedict which ranged from the cure of leprosy, blindness, paralysis to that of epilepsy.
Why was Canterbury so important?
The cult of Becket was established and Canterbury became one of the great pilgrim destinations in Europe, and the pilgrims brought their wealth with them. The cathedral expanded, and numerous churches and taverns were built in the city to accommodate the visitors, immortalised in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Who was murdered at Canterbury?
Archbishop Thomas Becket
Archbishop Thomas Becket is brutally murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by four knights of King Henry II of England, apparently on orders of the king.
What historical event makes the Cathedral at Canterbury a place in which to pray a shrine?
Although there were many relics of saints at Canterbury before 1170, at both the Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey, it was only after the martyrdom of Thomas Becket in that year and following the many miracles performed at his tomb that the city became the most popular pilgrimage destination in medieval England.
What is the most famous Canterbury Tale?
Perhaps the most famous – and best-loved – of all of the tales in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, ‘The Miller’s Tale‘ is told as a comic corrective following the sonorous seriousness of the Knight’s tale.
What is the Canterbury Cathedral known for?
Canterbury Cathedral, founded in 567 AD, is a World Heritage Site unlike any other. It has seen some of the most important events in Western Europe including the murder and subsequent martyrdom of Thomas Becket, withstanding the English Reformation, and the demise of nearby St. Augustine’s Abbey.
Was Canterbury Cathedral bombed in the war?
Miraculously, thanks to their bravery, the cathedral survived unscathed, despite 16 bombs landing nearby. Canterbury Christ Church University’s Centre for Kent History and Heritage is commemorating the raids with a half-day conference and city walk on Saturday. For information visit www.canterbury.ac.uk.
Why did the pilgrims go to Canterbury Cathedral?
The remains of martyrs like Saint Thomas were supposed to have special healing powers, and so thousands of pilgrims flocked to Canterbury. Holes and prayer niches were often made in the side of the saint’s tomb or shrine so pilgrims could get closer to their remains of the saint.
Why was the Archbishop of Canterbury murdered?
He engaged in conflict with Henry II, King of England, over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king in Canterbury Cathedral.
What saint was martyred at Canterbury?
Thomas Becket
Saint Thomas Becket’s Story
A strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one cannot come to terms with evil, and so became a strong churchman, a martyr, and a saint—that was Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in his cathedral on December 29, 1170.
What did the Romans do to Canterbury?
The Romans established a military base at Canterbury soon after Claudius’ invasion. They knew the Cantiaci capital as Durovernum Cantiacorum, ‘the walled town of the Cantiaci by the alder marsh’. Around AD 110-120, they built a new civitas, or provincial centre, on top of the remains of the old settlement.
What did the Romans call Canterbury?
In the 1st century AD, the Romans captured the settlement and named it Durovernum Cantiacorum.
Where is the oldest Cathedral in the world?
Vatican City
Several authors have cited the Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Armenia’s mother church) as the oldest cathedral. St.
Europe.
| Building | St. Peter’s Basilica |
|---|---|
| Location | Vatican City |
| Country | Vatican City State |
| Oldest Part | 333 |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
When did Vikings invade Canterbury?
Viking raids
The first big raid was on Sheppey in AD 835 and attacks continued, targeting Rochester, Canterbury and the monasteries. In the AD 850s the Vikings supposedly overwintered on Sheppey and Thanet.
Who were the 4 knights that murdered Becket?
As news of Becket’s murder spread throughout Europe so too did the notoriety of the four knights. The names Fitzurse, Morville, Brito and Tracy became infamous and they were almost as frequently depicted as Becket himself.
Who is buried inside Canterbury Cathedral?
Henry IV
Only one king is buried inside Canterbury Cathedral – Henry IV. The decision of the king was unusual, as by that time it was becoming the standard practice for monarchs to be buried at Westminster Abbey.