Hugh de Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon

Hugh de Courtenay inherited, after his father’s death in 1292, vast possessions in Devonshire, which he could increase even a year later: died without his heirs cousin Isabella de Faure, Countess Devon, and Hugh received Baron Plympton. On June 20, 1297, he took a vassal oath to King Edward I , and in February 1298 he was first called to parliament as Lord Courtenay and later sat there with three Eduards.

Courtenay took an active part in the Scottish campaigns of Edward I. In 1300, he participated in the siege of the castle of Kerlaverok. In 1306, he was part of an army led by the Prince of Wales ; the latter knighted Hugh de Courtenay during the campaign. In this campaign, the British managed to defeat Robert Bruce and take Perth. Courtenay performed military service in the north also in 1307 (this was the last campaign of Edward I) and in 1308.

Under Edward II, Courtenay was among the Lords-Ordiners who tried to limit royal power and the influence of the favorites (1310). Later, the cousin of Courtenay Hugh le Dispenser the Younger became another king’s favorite, but Courtenay preferred to be away from the political struggle, so he didn’t get any special benefits from kinship with the favorite and did not risk anything during his overthrow. From August 9, 1318, he served on the Royal Council. Twice - in 1324 and 1336 - Courtenay was appointed coast keeper in Devonshire and Cornwall. In 1325, he married his heir to one of the king's nieces. Under Edward III, Courten took part in the defeat of the Scots at Halidon Hill (1333) and threw the French landing in Cornwall (1339) into the sea. Relationship with the royal house and military merits played a role: in 1335, Edward III granted Kurtene the title of Earl of Devon by right of descent from the Reverses - forty years after the Reverses clan died down and Courtenay consolidated their possessions in Devonshire ^[1] .

Hugh de Courtenay died on December 23, 1340 in Tiverton and was buried on February 5, 1341 in the birth tomb in Exeter.

Hugh de Courtenay was married to Agness de St. John, the daughter of John de St. John, 1st Baron of St. John, and Alice Fitz-Peter. In this marriage were born:

• John de Courtenay (1300–1349), abbot
• Hugh de Courtenay, 10th Earl of Devon (1303–1377)
• Eleanor de Courtenay (born around 1309); husband - John Gray, 3rd Baron Gray of Codnor
• Robert de Courtenay (1309–1334)
• Sir Thomas de Courtenay (1311 - c. 1362)
• Elizabeth de Courtenay (born around 1313); husband - Bartholomew de Lyle

• Hugh de Courtenay, 1/9 Earl of Devon, at www.thepeerage.com

• Cokayne, George Edward (1916). The Complete Peerage, edited by HA Doubleday IV. London: St. Catherine Press.