Roches, Peter des

Roches, Peter des dā rōsh [key], d. 1238, English churchman and statesman, b. Poitou. A chamberlain under Richard I of England, then entered the service of King John, who gave him rich estates and made him (1205) bishop of Winchester. In John's struggle with Pope Innocent III, Peter took the part of the king as far as he could without endangering his office. He was made justiciar in 1214, but unpopular with the barons, Peter was replaced in 1215 by Hubert de Burgh. On the accession (1216) of Henry III, Peter became the young king's guardian, and after the death (1219) of the regent, William Marshall, 1st earl of Pembroke, he struggled for power with Hubert de Burgh. Hubert prevailed, and in 1227 Peter left to join a crusade under Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. He returned to England in 1231, secured the fall (1232) of Hubert, and placed his nephew (or possibly his son), Peter des Rivaux, in charge of the royal household. The rule of the two Peters soon provoked a baronial revolt (1233–34), and Henry was forced to dismiss them. In 1235 Peter des Roches left England and entered the service of the pope. He returned in 1236 and eventually was reconciled with Hubert de Burgh.

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