The four knights, acting on the orders of King Henry II of England, murdered Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170. They believed Becket's opposition to the king's authority over the church posed a threat to royal power. Their violent act was intended to silence Becket, who had become a symbol of resistance against the monarchy's interference in ecclesiastical matters. Becket's martyrdom ultimately strengthened the church's position and led to his canonization.
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