History: Who will rid me of this troublesome priest? Henry II, Eleanor Aquitaine and Thomas Beckett

Thomas Becket and Henry II—a story that everyone knows yet, a story that is shrouded in legend and propaganda. The struggle for supremacy between two powerful, stubborn men, Archbishop and King. This course explores the relationship between Becket and Henry and sets it in its historical context. It formed a backdrop to the bitter intrigue and rivalry that existed in Henry II’s reign. Rivalries between father and sons, brother against brother, wife against husband. It is a time when the truth is stranger than fiction. The course will consider the critical role played by Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, who history has blamed for the rebellion of her sons against their father, the King. In addition, we will consider the part played by Henry and Eleanor’s sons, Henry the Young King, Richard, Geoffrey and John. These are the years between 1170 and 1200, a historical roller-coaster ride that shaped English identity.