Thomas à Becket was one of the most controversial and influential figures in medieval England. In this biography, Milman traces his life and career, including his rise to power as Archbishop of Canterbury and his ultimate martyrdom at the hands of King Henry II. He offers a nuanced and detailed portrait of Becket, as well as a broader analysis of the political and religious forces that shaped his era. This edition has been updated with new research and commentary, making it an essential resource for scholars of medieval history and theology. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.