“Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?” is a famous historical line attributed (in various wordings) to King Henry II of England about Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose murder in 1170 followed soon after.

Quick meaning

In modern use, the phrase is usually understood as:

  • A powerful person hinting they want someone removed, without giving a direct order.
  • A way of expressing “this opponent is a huge problem; if only someone would get rid of them”, while trying to keep plausible deniability about any violence.

Because it is tied to a real killing and to indirect incitement to violence, it is treated as a serious, dark reference rather than just a witty quote today.

Historical background

  • The “troublesome/turbulent/meddlesome priest” was Thomas Becket , Archbishop of Canterbury, who clashed with Henry II over the powers of church versus crown.
  • During a furious outburst about Becket, Henry is reported (in differing versions) to have complained that no one would “deliver” or “rid” him of this priest.
  • Four knights took this as a cue, travelled to Canterbury, and killed Becket in the cathedral, later claiming they were acting for the king’s interests.
  • Medieval and later chroniclers rendered Henry’s words in slightly different forms, which is why you see “turbulent”, “troublesome”, or “meddlesome” priest.

Modern political / forum usage

When people today use or reference “who will rid me of this troublesome priest?” in political arguments, op-eds, or forums, they are usually doing one of these:

  • Critiquing indirect incitement
    • Suggesting a leader is signaling that they want someone targeted, while never giving a clear, explicit order.
    • Common in discussions about politicians making “offhand” remarks that followers might interpret as a call to act.
  • Talking about plausible deniability
    • The quote is shorthand for “say it as a wish, then deny responsibility when someone acts on it.”
  • General metaphor
    • More loosely, it can just mean “this critic or opponent is a persistent nuisance I wish would go away”, sometimes used half-ironically in debates or forum posts.

Because it has become a stock historical reference, you’ll see it appear in:

  • Political commentary
  • Legal or ethics discussions (about responsibility for followers’ actions)
  • Online debates where someone hints at wanting a “problem” person removed

Safety and context note

Since the original context led to an actual murder and the modern usage often touches on violence and responsibility, it is best treated as a serious, not playful, phrase.

If you are quoting it in a creative, historical, or analytical way, adding context (“this is a Henry II / Becket reference about indirect incitement”) helps avoid misunderstandings.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.