William of Canterbury facts for kids

William of Canterbury (who lived around 1170–1177) was an English monk from the Middle Ages. He wrote about Thomas Becket, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket was sadly murdered in December 1170. William was actually there when the murder happened. He even wrote that he ran away from the scene. Later, William collected many stories about miracles that people said happened because of Becket. He also wrote a special book called a hagiography, which is a story about a saint's life. William's book was one of five written in Canterbury shortly after Becket died. Other writers in the Middle Ages later used William's book when they wrote about Becket.

Who Was William of Canterbury?

William of Canterbury was a Benedictine monk at a place called Christ Church Priory. In 1170, he became a deacon, which is a type of church leader, chosen by Archbishop Becket himself. Some people think William might have been from Ireland. This is because he wrote some critical things about King Henry II's plans for Ireland. However, we don't know for sure where he was born.

A Monk's Life

As a Benedictine monk, William lived a life dedicated to God. Monks often spent their days praying, studying, and working. They also copied books by hand, which was very important before printing presses existed. William's role as a deacon meant he helped the archbishop with church services and other duties.

Witnessing a Tragic Event

William was present when Archbishop Becket was murdered. This terrible event happened inside Canterbury Cathedral. William wrote in his own accounts that he ran to the choir area of the cathedral when the attack on Becket began. His writings give us a firsthand look at what happened that day.

Writing About a Saint

William started gathering and organizing stories about miracles in June 1172. These were miracles that people believed happened at Becket's shrine. A shrine is a special place where people go to honor a saint. William was asked to help develop Becket's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral in July 1172.

Collecting Miracle Stories

William's collection of miracle stories eventually became the largest of its kind in medieval England. He collected over 400 stories that people believed were caused by Becket. Unlike other collections, William's stories included many different types of miracles. Some involved animals, others were about medical cures, and some even talked about healing madness or bringing people back from the dead. William's writings sometimes included medical details, which makes some historians think he might have had some medical training. He finished the first six books of his collection around 1175. After a short break, he continued working on it in 1176–1177.

Writing a Saint's Life

Around 1173 or 1174, William also wrote a hagiography about Becket. A hagiography is a book that tells the life story of a saint. This book is very important to historians. It gives a firsthand account of the events that happened before Becket's murder. Many people consider William's hagiography to be the closest thing we have to an "official" life story of Becket from Canterbury.

William's book was written in Latin. Its full title is Vita et miracula S. Thomae Cantuariensis, which means "The Life and Miracles of Saint Thomas of Canterbury." Because William was an eyewitness to Becket's death, he was likely encouraged to write his book. His work was later used by other writers who wrote about Becket, showing how important his accounts were.