Who was the Suspected Author of the Constitutions of Clarendon? Alternative View

The Constitutions of Clarendon, which were a set of legislative reforms issued in 1164 by King Henry II of England, are generally attributed to Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, though it's a bit complex.

While Henry II may have had a significant role in shaping the reforms, the Constitutions themselves are believed to have been drafted by a group of royal advisors, and it is widely assumed that Becket, who was then Archbishop of Canterbury, was deeply involved in the drafting process, even though he later opposed them. At the time, Becket was still working as the king's chancellor and had a close relationship with Henry. However, after Becket became Archbishop of Canterbury, he began to resist the royal control over ecclesiastical matters, particularly those embodied in the Constitutions.

In short, while Becket might have been involved in their creation, the reforms were very much a product of royal policy and Henry II’s ambitions to curb the power of the Church in England, leading to a significant conflict between Becket and the king.

What evidence is there for this involvement by Becket?

The evidence for Thomas Becket’s involvement in the Constitutions of Clarendon is mainly circumstantial, but there are a few key historical sources that suggest he played a role in their creation. Here are the primary pieces of evidence:

1. Becket’s Role as Chancellor

Before becoming Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket was Henry II's chancellor, which meant he was deeply involved in the administration of royal policy. During his time as chancellor, Becket had significant influence over legal and governmental matters, and it is likely that he contributed to the drafting of important documents like the Constitutions of Clarendon.

The chancellor's position was essentially a combination of legal and administrative roles, and Becket’s legal expertise would have made him an ideal candidate to help craft such a document. It’s also notable that as chancellor, Becket would have been part of the royal council when the Constitutions were discussed, even if he didn’t agree with all the provisions later.

2. Becket’s Reversal After His Appointment as Archbishop

Becket’s involvement in drafting the Constitutions is suggested by the dramatic change in his position after he became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. When he was appointed to the archbishopric, he was still closely aligned with Henry II, and his relationship with the king was very strong. However, after his appointment, Becket began to strongly oppose the provisions of the Constitutions, especially those that undermined the authority of the Church and the clergy, such as restrictions on clerical immunity from royal courts.

The fact that Becket was involved in drafting the Constitutions but later became one of their most vocal opponents suggests that he had a role in their creation, but then, once he had transitioned into his ecclesiastical role, he felt compelled to defend the rights of the Church against royal interference. This dramatic reversal is one of the central aspects of his conflict with Henry II.

3. Henry II’s Own Statements

King Henry II, in some of his later statements, seemed to imply that Becket was involved in creating the Constitutions. For example, in various correspondence and speeches, Henry II referred to Becket’s initial support for royal control over ecclesiastical matters. While Henry's statements should be taken with caution due to his desire to justify his actions, they nonetheless suggest that Becket was part of the original policy-making process before his dramatic change in allegiance.

4. Contemporary Chroniclers

Some contemporary chroniclers, such as William of Newburgh and Gervase of Canterbury, describe Becket's role in the events leading up to the Constitutions. However, these sources are often written with a bias depending on the writer’s relationship with Becket or the crown, and their accounts of Becket’s involvement can be contradictory.

William of Newburgh states that Becket, before his archbishopric, was heavily involved in the development of royal policy and the Constitutions, though he doesn’t give details about the specific drafting process.

Gervase of Canterbury, a monk from Canterbury who was sympathetic to Becket, suggests that Becket's later opposition to the Constitutions was a matter of principle and faith rather than a tactical reversal.

5. The Conflict over the Constitutions After Becket Became Archbishop

Once Becket became archbishop, he staunchly resisted many of the provisions in the Constitutions—particularly those that subjected clergy to the authority of secular courts. This indicates that he likely helped shape them during his time as chancellor when he was more aligned with Henry II’s policy goals. His subsequent opposition to those same provisions strongly suggests prior involvement, as it would have been difficult for him to oppose the Constitutions so fiercely without having had a hand in their formulation.

6. Becket’s Absence from the Council of Clarendon

While Becket is not specifically named as a key player at the Council of Clarendon in 1164, his presence at such councils and his role as a senior advisor in Henry’s government at the time make it plausible that he played a role in drafting the Constitutions. The fact that Becket was one of the most senior churchmen in England and was present at many royal meetings means he likely participated in discussions that led to the creation of the document, even if he didn’t sign it or directly approve its final form.

7. Becket’s Own Writings and Later Accounts

Becket himself didn’t leave behind direct documentation of his role in the Constitutions, but his letters and some of his statements suggest that he was fully aware of the political dynamics surrounding the Church-state conflict, especially regarding clerical jurisdiction. His later martyrdom and the way his life was remembered by contemporaries and later historians shaped his image as the ultimate defender of ecclesiastical rights.

In Conclusion

While there is no definitive written evidence proving that Becket authored the Constitutions of Clarendon, the combination of his position as chancellor, his later opposition to the provisions, and the historical context strongly suggest that he was at least involved in their drafting. His later reversal can be understood as a shift in his allegiance from a loyal servant of the king to a staunch defender of the Church’s independence, which makes his earlier involvement in the Constitutions even more significant in understanding his eventual conflict with Henry II.