PETER OF THE MARSH (Petrus a Palude). - Dominican theologian, born in Varambon (Ain) ca. 1277, died in Paris on 31 January 1342. He entered religious life at Lyon, studied in Paris, and became master in theology on 13 June 1314. He served on the commission for examining the commentary on the Sentences by Durand of Saint-Pourçain and, together with John of Naples, drew up a list of 93 errors and 235 articles contrary to Thomism.
At the general chapter of Pamplona (1317), Peter of the Marsh was appointed vicar general of the Order, and the following year was entrusted by John XXII with a delicate mission to Flanders. Upon his return to Avignon, he was assigned, along with six other theologians, to examine the works of Olivi (q.v.) and a suspect writing in Catalan (De statibus Ecclesiae sec. expositionem Apocalypsis). Returning to Paris, he devoted himself to preaching and study, engaging in a bitter controversy with John de Pouilly (q.v.) over confessions made to religious. In 1329 he was named patriarch of Jerusalem, but soon departed for the Holy Land; however, the critical conditions in the East led him to return to Europe and advocate for a new crusade, though the enterprise failed. On 19 December 1333
PETER OF THE MARSH - Portrait. Detail of the Crucifixion. Fresco by the Blessed Angelico (first half of the 15th century). Florence, Convent of San Marco.
PETER OF THE MARSH - Portrait. Detail of the Crucifixion. Fresco by the
V. Blessed Peter of Poitiers (Petrus Pictor)
Poet and theologian, about whom few biographical details are known. He lived between the late 11th and early 12th centuries and was a canon of St-Omer.He wrote several Latin poems of some merit: *Contra simoniam* (ed. H. Boehmer, in MGH, *Libelli de lite*, III, pp. 708-10): a vehement attack on the Roman clergy; *De vita Pilati*; *De illa quae impudentur filium suum adamavit*: a retelling of the drama of Phaedra and Hippolytus; *De laude Flandriae* (*Flandria dulce solum*), alluding to contemporary events. Far more important is the composition *De sacra Eucharistia* or *De Sacramento altaris* (various recensions: Busée in PL 207, 1135-54 [among the works of Peter of Blois]—preferable: Beaugendre, ibid., 171, 1195-1212 [among the works of Hildebert of Lavardin]): an exposition of Eucharistic doctrine inspired by the work of Paschasius Radbertus (q.v.).