How were Henry II and Thomas Becket connected before Becket became archbishop?

Before Thomas Becket became the archbishop of Canterbury, he and King Henry II shared a close and productive relationship. In 1154, Becket was appointed archdeacon of Canterbury and, shortly thereafter, was recommended to the king as chancellor.1

As chancellor, Becket served as a trusted advisor and intimate friend to Henry II. He demonstrated significant administrative and military ability, leading troops, conducting embassies, and managing royal affairs, often aiding the king in his efforts to consolidate power within the monarchy. Their bond was characterized by mutual affection; Becket, who was 15 years older than the king, reportedly felt a quasi-paternal or brotherly regard for Henry, while the king valued Becket’s intelligence and efficiency in a court otherwise filled with often difficult barons.1

Henry II assumed that this strong personal and professional connection would continue after he appointed Becket as archbishop in 1162, expecting him to remain a loyal ally in the king's efforts to exert control over the church.2