Henry and Becket initially had a close and friendly relationship, as both aligned themselves with the interests of the crown and the church. However, conflict arose when Henry desired to assert the crown's authority over the church and sought to strengthen royal control over ecclesiastical matters. This led to Henry appointing Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury, hoping he would support his efforts to limit the power of the church. However, after his appointment, Becket unexpectedly became a staunch defender of the autonomy and authority of the church, often opposing the king's wishes. This put him at odds with Henry, who saw Becket's actions as a betrayal and a threat to his authority. The conflict between them continued to escalate as they clashed over jurisdictional issues and the extent of the church's involvement in secular matters. Ultimately, Becket's refusal to recognize Henry as the ultimate authority and his steadfast support for the church's supremacy led to their bitter feud and ended with Becket's murder in 1170.
