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the death of Becket Medieval Realms
 
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detailSource 6: The views of an historian
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Henry II's relations with Thomas Becket have overshadowed all his other dealings, not only concerning religion, but in his whole life and reign. Nothing could be more misleading than the notion of a saintly man of God ill treated by a tyrannical monarch. It was said that Henry never chose unworthy friends, but Becket's worthiness is doubtful. Strange mixture of man about town, witty, extravagant, confused and self promoting churchman, Becket has won himself a place in history by being good at making other people appear to be in the wrong.

detail of Henry II from "Chronicle of England" by Peter of Langtoft

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Source details
Extract from 'The Plantagenets', by John Harvey published in 1959.
Context
John Harvey was a professional historian. The book this extract comes from was a university level textbook.
Puzzled?

Although Harvey was not at Becket's death, he was able to use a lot of sources to put together his views on Henry II and Becket. You have to ask yourself whether this account is more accurate than the first hand accounts, even though it was written nearly 800 years after the event.

 

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