Hugh de Courtenay
Encyclopedia
Hugh de Courtenay was the son and heir of John de Courtenay of Okehampton
. Hugh was born on 25 March 1248/9 or 1250/1. The doubt over the location of the conception and birth has posed problems for historians. Under a diem clausus extant writ issued on 11 May 1274 it stated that Hugo de Corteney is the son and next heir apparent of John de Curtenay and is aged 25 [27 years for the Devon
earldom inheritance] and will inherit his Dorset
lands at tantum amplius (meaning at full maturity)- from the Feast of the Annunciation of St Mary Proxima. For some reason the lands that were spread over the southern counties were inherited at different stages in his life. The lands in Berkshire
and Buckinghamshire
had been inherited when he was twenty-four years old; but his Somerset
lands became part of his domain the following year. However an accurate dating of these events depends on his date of birth.
, but this was respited. In order to avoid military service Courtenay paid a fine on 12 December 1276. He was called to arms on the emergency against the Welsh princes, fighting in the 1282 campaign. He attended upon the King at Shrewsbury
on 28 June 1283. He again absented himself from the wars on 14 June 1287 by paying the King's justice a fine.
of Ryhall
, Rutland
by Aline Basset, daughter of Philip Basset
of Wycombe
, Buckinghamshire
and Compton Bassett
and Wootton Bassett
, Wiltshire
. Despenser was a Justiciar
of England. Basset was also a Justiciar.
(14 Sept 1275-23 Dec 1340), later declared the first Courtenay to be created Earl of Devon
. He was 9th earl in the first creation.
Isabella de Courtenay, said to be a daughter, married to John de St John, 1st Lord St John of Basing (died 1329).
on 28 February 1291/2. He was buried at Cowick Priory, near Exeter
. The date of his death is correctly recorded in the Forde Abbey
Chronicles. However the Fine Rolls
decided upon his death on 5 March and issued a writ affirming deceased on 24 March. A post-mortem inquest took place in London from 3 April to 27 May 1292. Records for his Buckinghamshire estates relate that his death was "after the Feast of St Peter and to the Feast of the Exalted St Crucis".
Okehampton
Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...
. Hugh was born on 25 March 1248/9 or 1250/1. The doubt over the location of the conception and birth has posed problems for historians. Under a diem clausus extant writ issued on 11 May 1274 it stated that Hugo de Corteney is the son and next heir apparent of John de Curtenay and is aged 25 [27 years for the Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
earldom inheritance] and will inherit his Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
lands at tantum amplius (meaning at full maturity)- from the Feast of the Annunciation of St Mary Proxima. For some reason the lands that were spread over the southern counties were inherited at different stages in his life. The lands in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
had been inherited when he was twenty-four years old; but his Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
lands became part of his domain the following year. However an accurate dating of these events depends on his date of birth.
Relations with king and military
On 16 June 1274 Hugh did homage to a young King EdwardEdward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, but this was respited. In order to avoid military service Courtenay paid a fine on 12 December 1276. He was called to arms on the emergency against the Welsh princes, fighting in the 1282 campaign. He attended upon the King at Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
on 28 June 1283. He again absented himself from the wars on 14 June 1287 by paying the King's justice a fine.
Marriage
Hugh de Courtenay married Alianore le Despenser, daughter of Hugh le DespenserHugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer
Sir Hugh was an important ally of Simon de Montfort during the reign of Henry III. He served briefly as Justiciar of England in 1260 and as Constable of the Tower of London....
of Ryhall
Ryhall
Ryhall is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is located close to the eastern boundary of the county, about 2 miles north of Stamford.-The Village:...
, Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
by Aline Basset, daughter of Philip Basset
Philip Basset
Philip Basset was the Justiciar of England.Philip was the son of Alan Basset of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire and his wife, Alice, the daughter of Stephen Gray. He inherited the manor of Wycombe and served as the Justiciar of England between the two terms served by his son-in-law, Hugh le...
of Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and Compton Bassett
Compton Bassett
Compton Bassett is a village in Wiltshire between Calne and Cherhill with a population of approximately 250. It is a largely rural village with several farms, a church, a pub and a shop.-Midge Mather Incident:...
and Wootton Bassett
Wootton Bassett
Royal Wootton Bassett , informally known as Wootton Bassett, is a small market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, with a population of 11,043 in 2001...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. Despenser was a Justiciar
Justiciar
In medieval England and Ireland the Chief Justiciar was roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister as the monarch's chief minister. Similar positions existed on the Continent, particularly in Norman Italy. The term is the English form of the medieval Latin justiciarius or justitiarius In...
of England. Basset was also a Justiciar.
Issue
Hugh de CourtenayHugh de Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon
Hugh de Courtenay was the son of Hugh de Courtenay of Okehampton and Eleanor le Despenser, daughter of Lord Hugh le Despenser, the significant advisers to King Edward II. He was grandson of John de Courtenay of Okehampton by Isabel de Vere, daughter of Hugh, Earl of Oxford...
(14 Sept 1275-23 Dec 1340), later declared the first Courtenay to be created Earl of Devon
Earl of Devon
The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the Peerage of England, and was possessed first by the de Redvers family, and later by the Courtenays...
. He was 9th earl in the first creation.
Isabella de Courtenay, said to be a daughter, married to John de St John, 1st Lord St John of Basing (died 1329).
Death
Hugh de Courtenay died at Cullicomb, DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
on 28 February 1291/2. He was buried at Cowick Priory, near Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
. The date of his death is correctly recorded in the Forde Abbey
Forde Abbey
Forde Abbey is a privately owned former Cistercian monastery in Dorset, England. The house and gardens are run as a tourist attraction while the estate is farmed to provide additional revenue...
Chronicles. However the Fine Rolls
Fine rolls
The fine rolls record offers of money to the Kings of England for concessions and favours from the 12th to the 17th centuries.In general, a fine is an agreement made with the king, or one of his chief ministers, to pay a certain sum of money for a specified benefit. In some cases the sum of money...
decided upon his death on 5 March and issued a writ affirming deceased on 24 March. A post-mortem inquest took place in London from 3 April to 27 May 1292. Records for his Buckinghamshire estates relate that his death was "after the Feast of St Peter and to the Feast of the Exalted St Crucis".
See also
- House of CourtenayHouse of CourtenayThe House of Courtenay was an important dynasty in medieval France originating from the castle of Courtenay in the Gâtinais , going back to the 10th century. The dynasty descended from Athon, the first lord of Courtenay, apparently himself a descendant of the Counts of Sens and from Pharamond,...
- Hugh de Courtenay, 10th Earl of DevonHugh de Courtenay, 10th Earl of DevonSir Hugh de Courtenay was the 2nd Earl of Devon in England, born probably in Devon. His parents were Hugh, the 1st Courtenay Earl of Devon by Agnes de St John, daughter of Sir John St John of Basing. He was destined to become a great soldier in the Hundred years war in service of King Edward III...
- Hugh Courtenay, 18th Earl of DevonHugh Courtenay, 18th Earl of DevonHugh Rupert Courtenay, 18th Earl of Devon DL is a British peer.Lord Devon is the son of the 17th Earl of Devon and was educated at Winchester College and graduated with a BA degree from Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1964. On 9 September 1967, he married Dianna Frances Watherston, and they have...