“Baron Oakhampton
Viscount of Devonshire
Robert de Courtenay, eldest son of Sir Reginald de Courtenay and his 2nd wife, Hawisa D'Eincourt, succeeded as Baron Oakhampton, Viscount of Devonshire and Governor of the Castle Exeter, and Governor of Bruge, now Bridgeworth, 1214. He died July 26, 1242 and was buried at Ford Abbey. In the year 1205, in the 7th year of King John's reign, he gave 500 œ and 5 palfries to have livery of the barony of Oakhampton, with the knights fees thereto, which were no less than 92. In the 12th year of King John, to be released from debt, he covenanted to serve the King with 20 men at arms, at his own charge. In 17th of King John he was made Sheriff of Oxfordshire and Governor of the Castle of Oxford. In 16th of Henry II, 1232, the King commanded him to deliver the Castle of Exeter to Peter de Riveaux, his favorite, by which the family of Courtenay was deprived of the honour and profit of the Viscounty of Devonshire after it had been enjoyed by them and their ancestors for nearly 200 years, although Robert de Courtenay had been faithful to the King and his father on many occasions. At his death his remains were deposited in Ford Abbey in the chancel of the church there with great pomp; and a stately monument, in the form of a pyramid, was erected to his memory. He married Mary, youngest daughter of William de Redvers, Earl of Devonshire, by whom his posterity sometime after became Earls of Devonshire.
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