17 April - Henry leaves Ireland, having received the support of the Church for his claim.
21 May - In Avranches Cathedral, Henry II performs a ceremony of penance for the death of Becket, in return for a papal agreement to clear him of the murder.
21 February - Canonisation of Thomas Becket; his tomb at Canterbury becomes a shrine and popular pilgrimage destination.
March - Henry the Young King withdraws to the French court, marking the beginning of the Revolt of 1173–1174, a dispute between Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and three of their sons over the territories they control. Eleanor is placed under de facto house arrest. William I of Scotland invades the North of England in support of the rebellion.
8 July - Henry the Young King and Eleanor of Aquitaine take ship for England from Barfleur. As soon as they disembark at Southampton, Eleanor is imprisoned in the care of Ralph fitzStephen, in which condition she remains until 1189.
12 July - Henry II does penance at Canterbury for the murder of Becket.
William the Englishman takes over the rebuilding of the choir and Trinity Chapel of Canterbury Cathedral after the previous architect, William of Sens, is injured in a fall, introducing the Early English Gothic style of architecture.