Richard Courtenay

For other people named Richard Courtenay, see Richard Courtenay (disambiguation).

Richard Courtenay
Bishop of Norwich
Appointed	June 1413
Term ended	September 1415
Predecessor	Alexander Tottington
Successor	John Wakering
Other posts	Dean of St Asaph Dean of Wells
Orders
Consecration	17 September 1413
Personal details
Died	c. 15 September 1415 Harfleur, France
Buried	Westminster Abbey
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Parents	Sir Philip Courtenay of Powderham Castle
Alma mater	Exeter College, Oxford

Richard Courtenay (died 15 September 1415) was an English prelate and university chancellor.

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.

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 Pope John XXIII, eventually triumphed.

Courtenay was a personal 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 was attacked by dysentery and died about 15 September 1415, his body being buried in Westminster Abbey.

Family

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

References

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Academic offices
Preceded by Robert Alum	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1407	Succeeded by Richard Ullerston
Preceded by William Sulburge	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1411–1412	Succeeded by William Sulburge
Preceded by William Sulburge	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1412–1413	Succeeded by William Sulburge
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Alexander Tottington	Bishop of Norwich 1413–1415	Succeeded by John Wakering