House of Courtenay

House of Courtenay

Arms of the House of Courtenay
Country Latin Empire

France

Kingdom of England England
Foundedc. 11th
FounderAthon of Courtenay
Current headCharles Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon
Titles
Cadet branches
Original undifferenced coat of arms of Courtenay: Or, three torteaux. Apparently adopted by Renaud de Courtenay before his death in 1160 and before the split of the family into French and English branches, as the arms are used both in France and England. These are therefore very early arms as heraldry came into widespread use from about 1200 to 1215
House of Courtenay is located in France
House of Courtenay
Location of Courtenay in the Gâtinais (Loiret), France. It is situated about 65 miles SE of Paris and was thus well within the control of the French kings and had no connection to any west-coast French possessions of the English kings (i.e. Normandy, Anjou, Aquitaine etc.), from which originated most early continental incomers to England. In this respect the English Courtenay family is unusual.

The House of Courtenay is a medieval noble house, with branches in France, England and the Holy Land. One branch of the Courtenays became a royal house of the Capetian dynasty, cousins of the Bourbons and the Valois, and achieved the title of Latin Emperor of Constantinople.