Constitutions of Clarendon (1164) Commentary by Lauren Moreau, University of Leeds, U.K.

Impact

The immediate impact of the Constitutions of Clarendon was that it led to a major conflict between Henry II and Thomas Becket. Becket's refusal to append his seal to the Constitutions and his later revocation of his promise to uphold them resulted in his trial in Northampton and his subsequent exile. The ongoing conflict between Becket and Henry led to Becket's murder, which increased papal power in England. Becket was proclaimed a saint who championed church rights and liberties. He became one of the most popular saints in Europe during the Middle Ages.

In 1172 Henry was ready to make peace with the church and met with Pope Alexander III in Avranches, Normandy. The pope ordered Henry to retract clause 8 of the Constitutions and allow open appeals with Rome once more. Further negotiations in 1176 led to the revocation of parts of clause 3. Henry agreed that clerks accused of crimes should be handed over to the bishop and not to the secular court. Furthermore, clerks...