Final answer:
St. Thomas Becket was an Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century who defended the Church's rights against King Henry II. He was murdered and became a martyr, symbolizing the Church-state conflict of the medieval period.
Step-by-step explanation:
St. Thomas Becket was an Archbishop of Canterbury in the 12th century. He is famous for his conflict with King Henry II of England over the rights of the Church.
Becket defended the Church's authority and independence from royal control, which eventually led to his murder by followers of the king in 1170.
His death made him a martyr, and he was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. St. Thomas Becket's story became an important symbol of the struggle between Church and state during the medieval period, and his shrine at Canterbury Cathedral became a popular pilgrimage site.