St Thomas Becket

Pilgrim badge from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. This badge depicts the sword that was used to murder Thomas Becket. The sword, stained with Becket’s blood, was on display in the cathedral and was a very important relic. Badges depicting the sword became popular pilgrim souvenirs in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many badges, like this one, were in the form of miniature swords which could be slid in and out of their scabbards. Here the scabbard is shown as if it was lying on top of a buckler (small, round shield). The buckler is decorated with a chequer pattern and the grip of the sword has a running chevron design. The sword hilt has a ring pommel and a topknot. The quillons (cross guard on the hilt) end in devils’ heads.

Thomas Becket was born in London in 1118. He became a royal official and a great friend of King Henry II. He was made Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. He argued with King Henry II, and fled to France in 1164. Thomas Becket returned to Canterbury in 1170 and was killed in the cathedral by four knights who thought this would please the king. People were outraged at the murder of an archbishop on holy ground and Becket was made a saint. He became one of the patron saints of London. Many Londoners travelled to Canterbury to pray at the shrine there and bought badges and ampullae (small bottles for holy water) as souvenirs of their pilgrimage.