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Which of the following historical personages would have most closely sided with the Catholic Church in any medieval argument over the relative powers of the Church and the kings of Europe?

Henry VIII
Thomas Becket
Henry II
John Plantagenet

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The correct answer is the second option: Thomas Becket. He was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. As Archbishop, he engaged in a conflict with King Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church. In the Middle Ages, the Pope claimed authority over all kings and bishops. Henry II appointed Becket as Archbishop in the hope that he would help him bring the Church more under his control. However, Becket believed that as Archbishop his allegiance should be primarily to the Pope and second to the king and refused to do so. Henry was so angry that the Archbishop had to flee into exile to France and appeal to the Pope for support. In 1170, Becket came back to England; then, four knights, believing the king wanted Becket out of the way, murdered him in Canterbury Cathedral. In 1173, the Pope made Becket a saint.

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