Hugh de Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon

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Hugh de Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (* around 1276 - 23 December 1340 ), was an English nobleman .

Life

He was the eldest son of Sir Hugh de Courtenay (1249-1292), lord of Okehampton , from his marriage to Eleanor le Despencer († 1328), daughter of Hugh le Despenser, 1st Baron le Despenser († 1265). When his father died in 1292, he inherited his lands including the family seat of Okehampton Castle .

In November 1293, when his third degree aunt, Isabel de Forz , sister and heiress of Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon († 1262) died, he also inherited large parts of their extensive estates.

On February 6, 1299, King Edward I appointed him to Parliament through Writ of Summons , making him hereditary Baron Courtenay . He fought in the First Scottish War of Independence and took part in the siege of the Scottish border castle of Caerlaverock in the summer of 1300 . In recognition of his military service, he was beaten in 1306 to the Knight Bachelor and 1308 to the Knight Banneret . In 1313 he held the office of Lord Ordainer , and in 1324 and 1336 the office of Warden of Devon and Cornwall Coast .

With letters patent dated February 22, 1335 King Edward III awarded him . the title of Earl of Devon . This new award is partly interpreted as retroactive recognition that in 1293 he inherited the title of Earl of Devon, which was hereditary in 1141 and was then created in 1141 - Hugh is then counted as the 9th Earl.

Marriage and offspring

In 1292 he married Agnes de St. John, daughter of John de St. John. He had three children with her:

When he died in 1340, his older son of the same name inherited him.

Literature and web links

predecessor Office successor
New title created Baron Courtenay
1299-1340
Hugh de Courtenay
New title created Earl of Devon
1335-1340
Hugh de Courtenay