Life and career

Born about 1388, Edward was to be one of the great medieval warriors. His family had risen to the heights of power as advisers to King Richard II. On the usurpation Edward threw in his lot with the Lancastrian monarchy. He was knighted on 13 October 1399 at the coronation of Henry IV in Westminster Abbey. The uncertainty surrounding his future was due to the Mortimer affinity. He married Eleanor, daughter of the 3rd Earl of March between 1406 and 1409, a descendant of the Lord Ordainers and Marcher Lordships, known for baronial opposition to the monarch.

At Henry IV's death he was Warden of the Forests in Devon and Cornwall. He was summoned by the young Henry V to attend parliament. He was expected to answer charges of involvement with Richard, Earl of Cambridge's plot to assassinate the king as the army awaited embarkation at Southampton. Implicated by kinship, Courtenay came clean and pledged allegiance by joining the army. His immediate reward was to be appointed as a member of the Commission to judge the conspirators. They voted for the death penalty.

The Agincourt

Battle of Agincourt

The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...

 campaign began with sea battles along the Normandy coast. Edward Courtenay attacked the entrance to the Seine. Joining the King for the march eastwards across northern France, he fought in the King's guard at the battle.

On return to England he was appointed Keeper of the New Forest on 20 November 1415. Henry V's constant returning campaigns required a reliable sea captain. Courtenay was appointed Admiral of the Fleet briefly from May to August 1418. During a particularly vicious sea fight Courtenay was killed, He wife may have predeceased him, but they left no children.