Saxon & Medieval — Late Medieval; mid 14th-early 15th century
St Thomas Becket
Pilgrim badge from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. This openwork badge depicts the head of Thomas Becket, wearing his archbishop’s mitre, inside a circular frame. There is a sword either side of his head. The swords represent those of the knights who killed him. 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 as souvenirs of their pilgrimage.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- 10918
- Object name:
- St Thomas Becket
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- —
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Late Medieval; mid 14th-early 15th century
- Material:
- lead alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- DM 30 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.