How did Thomas Becket’s way of life change after becoming archbishop of Canterbury?

Upon his consecration as archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket underwent a profound transformation in both his outlook and his way of life. Having previously served as a secular chancellor, he abandoned his former lifestyle to become deeply devout and austere.1

He embraced the integral program of the papacy and its canon law, shifting his focus toward his spiritual obligations. This change was marked by his immediate resignation from the chancellorship and his emergence as a militant defender of the church against royal encroachment. Historians have interpreted this shift in various ways—some suggesting it was driven by ambition or a commitment to a new role, while others view it as a sincere acceptance of the religious duties he had previously ignored. Regardless of the motivation, his new path channeled his characteristic energy and force of personality into a rigid defense of ecclesiastical supremacy over the lay world.12