Richard Courtenay (died 15 September 1415) was an English prelate and university chancellor, who served as Bishop of Norwich from 1413 to 1415.

Life

Courtenay was a son of Sir Philip Courtenay of Powderham Castle near Exeter, and a grandson of Hugh de Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon (died 1377). He was a nephew of William Courtenay, archbishop of Canterbury, and a descendant of King Edward I of England. From an early age he was renowned for his intellect and personal beauty. He was nicknamed "the flower of Devon". Educated at Exeter College, Oxford, Courtenay entered the church, where his advance was rapid. He held several prebends, was Dean of St Asaph and then Dean of Wells, and became Bishop of Norwich in June 1413, being consecrated on 17 September 1413. As Chancellor of the University of Oxford, an office to which Courtenay was elected more than once, Courtenay asserted the independence of the university against Thomas Arundel, Archbishop of Canterbury, in 1411; but the Archbishop, supported by King Henry IV and Antipope John XXIII, eventually triumphed. Courtenay was a close friend of King Henry V both before and after he came to the throne; and in 1413, immediately after Henry's accession, he was made treasurer of the royal household. On two occasions he went on diplomatic errands to France, and he was also employed by Henry on public business at home. Having accompanied the king to Harfleur in August 1415, Courtenay succumbed to dysentery and died about 15 September 1415. The closeness of their attachment has led to speculation that Courtenay may have been the monarch’s homosexual lover.

Family

Another member of this family was Peter Courtenay (died 1492), a grandnephew of Richard. He also attained high position in the English Church.

Citations