What does 'will no one rid me of this troublesome priest' means?

People have debating that quote from King Henry II for over 800 years. He may have meant that he wished someone would just shut up Thomas Becket. However, some knights took the king seriously and killed Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/becket.htm

Thank you sooo much Ms. Sue. I really appreciate that because I was having a really hard time answering this question.

Have a nice night! :)

The phrase "will no one rid me of this troublesome priest" is a quote attributed to King Henry II of England in the 12th century. It is said to have sparked the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury at that time. The phrase itself expresses frustration and a desire to have someone remove the problem, in this case, the troublesome priest.

To fully understand the meaning, it's important to have some historical context. King Henry II and Thomas Becket were once close friends, but their relationship deteriorated when Becket became the Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket's actions and the power he wielded as a religious leader became a challenge to the king's authority.

Now, to answer your question, the phrase "will no one rid me of this troublesome priest" is a rhetorical question. It is King Henry II expressing his exasperation and indirectly suggesting that someone take care of Becket. While King Henry II did not explicitly order anyone to harm Becket, four knights overheard his frustration and saw it as an implied instruction to act.

The phrase has since become a famous example of the power of words and how they can influence actions, even when not explicitly directing someone to take a particular course of action.