Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter
The Marquess of Exeter | |
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Henry Courtenay, shown 2nd from left wearing a mantle displaying his arms, detail from procession of Garter Knights in the Black Book of the Garter, c.1535, Royal Collection, Windsor | |
| Other titles | Earl of Devon |
| Born | c. 1498 Carmarthen, Wales |
| Died | 9 December 1538 (aged 40) Tower of London, London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Issue | Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon |
| Parents | William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon Catherine of York |
Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, 2nd Earl of Devon (c. 1498 – 9 December 1538), feudal baron of Okehampton, feudal baron of Plympton, of Tiverton Castle, Okehampton Castle and Colcombe Castle all in Devon, was a grandson of King Edward IV, nephew of the queen consort, Elizabeth of York and a first cousin of King Henry VIII.
Henry Courtenay was a close friend of Henry VIII, having "been brought up of a child with his grace in his chamber". After initially supporting the dissolution of the monasteries and helping suppress protests, he became convinced against the cruelty of the measures and the new religion; he was executed under Henry for corresponding with Cardinal Pole.