Peter de Leia
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Peter de Leia (died 1198) was Bishop of St David's from 1176 until his death. Before his appointment, he had been Prior of the Benedictine 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.
| Roman Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David FitzGerald |
Bishop of St. David's 1176–1198 |
Succeeded by Giraldus Cambrensis |
