PETER DES ROCHES (d. 1238), bishop of Winchester under John and Henry III., was a Poitevin by extraction. He received the office of chamberlain towards the close of Richard's reign, and under Richard's successor became an influential coun sellor. In 1205 he became bishop of Winchester, and though his election was disputed, it was confirmed by Pope Innocent III., who honoured Peter by consecrating him in person. None the less, the bishop stood by his royal patron during the period of the interdict and during the struggle with the barons. In 1213 he was made justiciar in succession to Geoffrey Fitz Peter. At the battle of Lincoln (1217) Peter led a division of the royal army and earned some distinction by his valour; but he played a sec ondary part in the government so long as William Marshal held the regency. After Marshal's death (1219) Peter led the baronial opposition to Hubert de Burgh, with varying success. At first the justiciar was successful. In 1221 Peter meditated going on crusade; 1223-1224 saw his party broken up by Hubert's ener getic measures; in 1227 was himself dismissed from his office and left England to join the crusade of the emperor Frederick II.
He was absent from England until 1231 ; but in the meantime enhanced his reputation both as a soldier and diplomatist. After the fall of De Burgh he kept in the background, but offices and honours were heaped on his dependants. This foreign party tri umphed over the revolt which was headed by Richard Marshal in 1233. But the primate, Edmund Rich, denounced Peter as a mischief maker, and demanded his dismissal. Peter was permitted to leave the country with a pardon (1235) ; he conciliated Gregory IX. by rendering efficient aid in a war with the citizens of Rome (1235); and in the next year returned without molestation to his see. Peter died in 5238, and was buried at Winchester.
See C. Petit Dutaillis, Vie et regne de Louis VIII. (Paris, 1894) Lecointre Dupont, Pierre des Roches (Poitiers, 1868) ; Stubb's Con stitutional History of England, vol. ii.; H. W. C. Davis, England under the Normans and Angevins (19o5) ; T. F. Tout in the Political His tory of England, vol. iii. (1905).