Pilgrim Badge of St. Thomas Becket
1300–1400, England
© The Trustees of the British Museum. All rights reserved.

One of the most important saints of the Middle Ages was St. Thomas of Canterbury, shown on this badge from London. Thomas Becket was Chancellor of England, becoming good friends with Henry II of England, who had him elected Archbishop of Canterbury. However, the two men fell out over matters of Church and State, leading to Thomas’ murder in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170.

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