Why was Thomas Beckett's death so shocking?

Thomas Becket's death was shocking because it occurred in a context of political turmoil and conflict between church and state, particularly with King Henry II of England. His assassination by knights, who believed they were acting on the king's wishes, highlighted the extreme tensions surrounding church authority and royal power. The brutal nature of his murder in Canterbury Cathedral, a place of sanctuary, shocked the public and led to widespread outrage, ultimately elevating Becket to martyr status and transforming him into a symbol of resistance against tyranny.