Murder Weapon (OA. 1817)

This badge represents the sheath of the sword-point relic displayed at the site of Thomas Becket’s martyrdom. It would have originally included a model sword. Thomas Becket was made Royal Chancellor of England by Henry II before becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. When the pair fell out over his dual roles, he was placed at odds between the king and the Pope. Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 by knights close to Henry II. A popular cult developed at Canterbury cathedral where his tomb was situated and he was made a saint. Becket was killed by a knight called Fitzurse, whose sword severed the top of the archbishop’s head and became a contact relic. The badges sold at Canterbury display a wide variety of imagery. The pin on the reverse of this badge allowed it to be fixed to its wearer’s hat or bag. l.97.48 w. 18.63mm http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=45072&partId=1&searchText=OA.1817&page=1