What role did Gilbert Foliot play in Thomas Becket’s conflict with Henry II?

Gilbert Foliot, the Bishop of London, was a persistent rival of Thomas Becket and a key ally of Henry II during their conflict. Having unsuccessfully sought the archbishopric of Canterbury himself, Foliot became a vocal opponent of Becket in both ecclesiastical and secular matters.1

Foliot’s role included the following actions:

• Opposition to Authority: He resisted Becket’s primacy by refusing to profess obedience to him as Archbishop of Canterbury, aiming to make the see of London independent.1
• Support for Royal Policy: As the King’s confessor, Foliot supported the Constitutions of Clarendon in 1164. When Becket refused to yield, Foliot encouraged other English bishops to repudiate the Archbishop’s authority.1
• Diplomatic Maneuvering: During Becket’s exile in France, Foliot worked to prevent Pope Alexander III from fully supporting Becket, while simultaneously acting to restrain the King from an open break with the papacy.1
• Coronation Dispute: Foliot participated in the 1170 coronation of Henry the Young King, an act that led to his excommunication by Becket.1