Hugh de Courtenay


Sir Hugh de Courtenay was the son and heir of John de Courtenay, feudal baron of Okehampton, Devon, by Isabel de Vere, daughter of Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford. His son inherited the earldom of Devon.

Early years

Sir Hugh de Courtenay, born 25 March 1251, was the son and heir of John de Courtenay of Okehampton, Devon, by Isabel de Vere, daughter of Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford, and Hawise de Quincy. John's father, Robert de Courtenay, son of Renaud de Courtenay by Hawise de Curcy, heiress of the feudal barony of Okehampton, married Mary de Redvers, daughter of William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon.
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. In 1284, he came into possession of The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay, which he first leased to Solomon of Rochester. He again absented himself from the wars on 14 June 1287 by paying the King's justice a fine.

Marriage and issue

Courtenay married Eleanor le Despenser, daughter of Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer, Justiciar of England, of Loughborough, Leicestershire and Ryhall, Rutland by his wife Aline Basset, daughter of Sir Philip Basset, Justiciar of England, of Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and Compton Bassett and Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. By his wife he had four sons and five daughters:
Courtenay died at Colcombe, Devon, on 28 February 1292. He was buried at Cowick Priory, near Exeter.

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