William Courtenay (Archbishop of Canterbury)

William Courtenay (* 1342 in Exminster, Devon, † July 31, 1396 in Maidstone, Kent) was Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor. He was also Bishop of Hereford and London.

William Courtenay came from the noble family of Courtenay. His parents were Hugh Courtenay and Margaret Bohun. His great-grandfather was King Edward I. He was educated at Stapledon Hall College at Oxford University. With the appointment in 1367 to the Chancellor of the University began his political and ecclesiastical advancement for William Courtenay. On March 17, 1370 he was consecrated Bishop of Hereford. In this role, he assisted with the Lord Chancellor William of Wykeham in its confrontation with John of Gaunt. On September 12, 1375, he was appointed Bishop of London. The following years were marked by his clashes with John of Gaunt and the church critic John Wyclif. On July 30, 1381 he was elected as the successor of Simon Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury. His first official act was the marriage of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. As archbishop, he devoted all his strength to combat the Lollards. On July 31, 1396 Courtenay died in Maidstone.