Peter de Rivaux
Encyclopedia
Peter de Rivaux or Peter de Rivalis (died 1262) was an influential Poitevin
courtier at the court of Henry III of England
. He was related to Peter des Roches
, being a nephew (or possibly a son).
He was in effect Henry's chief minister, from 1232 onwards for a short period, holding positions in the king's household and being installed as sheriff
(or granted the power to appoint sheriffs in his stead) for some 21 shire
s. His administration included Stephen Segrave (high sheriff of several counties), Henry of Bath
(high sheriff of Gloucestershire), Robert Papelew
and Brian de Lisle, and achieved a centralisation under his hand of much royal revenue. He also held the office of Lord High Treasurer from 14 Jan 1233 to 1234.
He fell dramatically from power in 1234, consequent on the death of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
, which was attributed to machinations of Peter des Roches. For a time Peter de Rivaux and associates were proclaimed traitors. Some partial rehabilitation followed.
He held the offices of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
and Constable of Dover Castle
from the year 1236, and intermittently up until the outbreak of the Second Barons' War
. At this time the two offices were held separately and the title Lord Warden had not become established, so that de Rivaux was referred to as the Kings Keeper of the Coast.
Poitevin
Poitevin may refer to:* From or related to Poitou or to the town of Poitiers * Poitevin , the language spoken in the Poitou* Poitevin horse, a breed of draught horse from Poitou, France* Poitevin , a breed of dog...
courtier at the court of Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. He was related to Peter des Roches
Peter des Roches
Peter des Roches was bishop of Winchester in the reigns of King John of England and his son Henry III. Roches was not an Englishman, but a Poitevin.-Life:...
, being a nephew (or possibly a son).
He was in effect Henry's chief minister, from 1232 onwards for a short period, holding positions in the king's household and being installed as sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
(or granted the power to appoint sheriffs in his stead) for some 21 shire
Shire
A shire is a traditional term for a division of land, found in the United Kingdom and in Australia. In parts of Australia, a shire is an administrative unit, but it is not synonymous with "county" there, which is a land registration unit. Individually, or as a suffix in Scotland and in the far...
s. His administration included Stephen Segrave (high sheriff of several counties), Henry of Bath
Henry of Bath
Henry de Bada was a British judge and administrator. He began his career under his relative Hugh of Bath, who died in 1236, leaving his chattels to Henry. Henry started his administrative career as a bailiff for the Honour of Berkhamsted in 1221, succeeding Hugh as Under-Sheriff of Berkshire...
(high sheriff of Gloucestershire), Robert Papelew
Robert Papelew
Robert Passelewe was a medieval Bishop of Chichester elect as well as being a royal clerk and Archdeacon of Lewes.-Life:...
and Brian de Lisle, and achieved a centralisation under his hand of much royal revenue. He also held the office of Lord High Treasurer from 14 Jan 1233 to 1234.
He fell dramatically from power in 1234, consequent on the death of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke was the brother of William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, whom he succeeded to the Earldom of Pembroke and Lord Marshal of England upon his brother's death on 6 April 1231....
, which was attributed to machinations of Peter des Roches. For a time Peter de Rivaux and associates were proclaimed traitors. Some partial rehabilitation followed.
He held the offices of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports is a ceremonial official in the United Kingdom. The post dates from at least the 12th century but may be older. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports was originally in charge of the Cinque Ports, a group of five port towns on the southeast coast of England...
and Constable of Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
from the year 1236, and intermittently up until the outbreak of the Second Barons' War
Second Barons' War
The Second Barons' War was a civil war in England between the forces of a number of barons led by Simon de Montfort, against the Royalist forces led by Prince Edward , in the name of Henry III.-Causes:...
. At this time the two offices were held separately and the title Lord Warden had not become established, so that de Rivaux was referred to as the Kings Keeper of the Coast.
External links
- Nicholas Vincent, ‘Rivallis , Peter de (d. 1262)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 5 June 2007