Peter des Roches

Peter des Roches
Bishop of Winchester
Head of the effigy on Roches' tomb in Winchester Cathedral
Appointed	1205
Term ended	9 June 1238
Predecessor	Richard Poore
Successor	Ralph Neville
Other posts	Precentor of Lincoln Archdeacon of Poitiers
Orders
Consecration	24 March 1206 by Pope Innocent III
Personal details
Died	9 June 1238
Denomination	Catholic
Chief Justiciar of England
In office 1213 – c.1215
Monarch	John Henry III
Preceded by	Geoffrey Fitz Peter
Succeeded by	Hubert de Burgh

Peter des Roches (died 9 June 1238) was bishop of Winchester in the reigns of King John of England and his son Henry III. He was not an Englishman, but rather a native of the Touraine, in north-central France.

Towards the end of Richard I's reign, Roches became Lord Chamberlain and an influential counsellor. He held the ecclesiastical offices of Archdeacon of Poitiers, treasurer of Poitiers, and was a precentor of the diocese of Lincoln in 1204.

In early 1205, through John's influence, he was elected to the see of Winchester. His election was disputed but, on appeal, confirmed on 25 September 1205 by Pope Innocent III. Roches was consecrated on 24 March 1206. Nonetheless, the new bishop stood by John's side during the whole period of the papal interdict set upon him due to the death of his nephew Arthur I, Duke of Brittany.

In 1213 Roches was made Chief Justiciar in succession to Geoffrey Fitz Peter. This promotion was justified by the fidelity with which Roches supported the king through the First Barons' War. However, by 1215, Hubert de Burgh was Chief Justiciar. In 1216, Roches was named Sheriff of Hampshire.

At the battle of Lincoln in 1217 Roches led a division of the royal army and earned some distinction by his valour; but he played a secondary part in the government so long as William Marshal held the regency. After Marshal's death in 1219 Roches led the baronial opposition to Hubert de Burgh, with varying success. At first the justiciar was successful.