Peter de Leia
Encyclopedia
Peter de Leia was Bishop of St David's
from 1176 until his death. Before his appointment, he had been Prior of the Cluniac house at Wenlock
.
De Leia was appointed by King Henry II of England
as bishop, despite the preference of the chapter for Gerald de Barri, better known as Giraldus Cambrensis
. Besides his rivalry with Gerald, de Leia had a stormy relationship with Rhys ap Gruffydd
, Prince of Deheubarth, to whom he initially refused burial in 1197 on the grounds that he had earlier excommunicated the prince following a dispute over stolen horses.
It was during the episcopacy of Peter de Leia that the construction of the present St David's Cathedral
was begun, and it is there that the Lord Rhys was eventually buried, after the corpse had been subjected to a ritual scourging as posthumous penance for the prince's misdemeanours.
Following the death of Peter de Leia, the chapter was again refused permission to appoint Gerald de Barri, and the see remained vacant for six years.
Bishop of St David's
The Bishop of St David's is the ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of St David's.The succession of bishops stretches back to Saint David who in the 6th century established his seat in what is today the city of St David's in Pembrokeshire, founding St David's Cathedral. The current Bishop of St...
from 1176 until his death. Before his appointment, he had been Prior of the Cluniac house at Wenlock
Much Wenlock Priory
Much Wenlock Priory is a ruined 12th century monastery, located in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, at . The foundation was a part of the Cluniac order, which was refounded in 1079 and 1082, on the site of an earlier 7th century monastery, by Roger de Montgomery...
.
De Leia was appointed by King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
as bishop, despite the preference of the chapter for Gerald de Barri, better known as Giraldus Cambrensis
Giraldus Cambrensis
Gerald of Wales , also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, archdeacon of Brecon, was a medieval clergyman and chronicler of his times...
. Besides his rivalry with Gerald, de Leia had a stormy relationship with Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime...
, Prince of Deheubarth, to whom he initially refused burial in 1197 on the grounds that he had earlier excommunicated the prince following a dispute over stolen horses.
It was during the episcopacy of Peter de Leia that the construction of the present St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
was begun, and it is there that the Lord Rhys was eventually buried, after the corpse had been subjected to a ritual scourging as posthumous penance for the prince's misdemeanours.
Following the death of Peter de Leia, the chapter was again refused permission to appoint Gerald de Barri, and the see remained vacant for six years.