Richard Courtenay facts for kids

Richard Courtenay (who died on September 15, 1415) was an important English church leader and a top official at a university. He served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1413 until his death in 1415.

A Look at Richard Courtenay's Life

Richard Courtenay was born into a very important family. His father was Sir Philip Courtenay from Powderham Castle near Exeter. His grandfather was Hugh de Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon. He was also the nephew of William Courtenay, who was the archbishop of Canterbury, a very high position in the church. Richard was even related to King Edward I of England!

From a young age, Richard was known for being very smart and handsome. People even called him "the flower of Devon" because he was so admired.

His Education and Church Career

Richard studied at Exeter College, Oxford, which is a famous university. After finishing his studies, he joined the church and quickly moved up. He held several important church jobs, like being a Dean of St Asaph and then Dean of Wells. A "dean" is a senior leader in a church or cathedral.

In June 1413, he became the Bishop of Norwich. A bishop is a high-ranking church official who oversees a group of churches in a specific area. He was officially made bishop on September 17, 1413.

Richard and Oxford University

Richard Courtenay was also chosen more than once to be the Chancellor of the University of Oxford. The Chancellor is like the head or leader of the university. In 1411, he tried to make the university more independent. He disagreed with Thomas Arundel, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury at the time.

However, the Archbishop had the support of King Henry IV and another church leader, so he eventually won the argument.

A Friend to the King

Richard Courtenay was a very close friend of King Henry V, both before and after Henry became king. In 1413, right after Henry became king, Richard was made the treasurer of the royal household. This meant he managed the king's money and expenses.

Richard also went on important trips to France to help with talks between the two countries. He also helped King Henry with other important public tasks in England.

In August 1415, Richard went with King Henry V to Harfleur in France. Sadly, he became very sick with a serious illness called dysentery and passed away around September 15, 1415. Because they were such close friends, some people believe that Richard Courtenay might have helped guide King Henry V to become a respected ruler.

Courtenay Family Connections

Another important person from Richard's family was Peter Courtenay (who died in 1492). Peter was Richard's grandnephew. He also achieved a high position in the English Church, just like Richard.