Richard de Courcy (sometimes Richard of Courcy;Barlow ''William Rufus'' p. 69 died 1098) was a Norman nobleman and landholder in England. Richard was probably the son of Robert de Courcy, and his mother was named Herleva.Keats-Rohan ''Domesday People'' p. 359 His family was from Courcy in the

Calvados Calvados (, , ) is a brandy from Normandy in France, made from apples and/or pears. History In France Apple orchards and brewers are mentioned as far back as the 8th century by Charlemagne. The first known record of Norman distillation was ma ...

region of Normandy. Richard gained lands in England after the

Norman conquest of England The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Normans, Norman, French people, French, Flemish people, Flemish, and Bretons, Breton troops, all led by the Du ...

, being named as a tenant-in-chief in ''

Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...

''. He gave his name to Stoke Courcy, in

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

, which over time became known as

Stogursey Stogursey is a small village and civil parish in the Quantock Hills in Somerset, England. It is situated from Nether Stowey, and west of Bridgwater. The village is situated near the Bristol Channel, which bounds the parish on the north. The ...

.Pine ''Sons of the Conqueror'' p. 120 He also held

Nuneham Courtenay Nuneham Courtenay is a village and civil parish about SSE of Oxford. It occupies several miles close to the east bank of the River Thames. Geography The parish is bounded to the west by the River Thames and on other sides by field boundaries. ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

,Williams ''English and the Norman Conquest'' p. 118 Sarsden, and Foscot. After the death of

William the Conqueror William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...

in 1087, William's lands were divided between the two oldest sons, with Normandy going to the eldest,

Robert Curthose Robert Curthose ( – February 1134, ), the eldest son of William the Conqueror, was Duke of Normandy as Robert II from 1087 to 1106. Robert was also an unsuccessful pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of England. The epithet "Curthose" ...

, and England going to the next eldest son,

William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...

. Both brothers attempted during the next nine years to seize the other brother's lands.Huscroft ''Ruling England'' pp. 64–65 Most of the nobility of both England and Normandy chose sides between the two sons, but a few magnates witnessed documents of both brothers. Richard was one of those who was a witness to both Duke Robert and King William II's

charter A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified. It is implicit that the granter retains superiority (or sovereignty), and that the ...

s. Richard, along with William Bertram, was named by the nuns of

Holy Trinity The Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three, , consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit, three ...

in Caen, Normandy as stealing from their convent after the death of William the Conqueror. Richard, along with

Hugh de Grandmesnil Hugh de Grandmesnil (c. 1032 – 22 February 1098), (known in French as ''Hugues'' and Latinised as ''Hugo de Grentmesnil'', aliter ''Grentemesnil'', etc.), is one of the proven companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Bat ...

, resisted the efforts of Robert of Bellême to expand his lands. Shortly before Christmas in 1090, a small war broke out between Robert of Bellême on one side and Richard and Hugh on the other. Robert of Bellême secured the aid of Duke Robert in the efforts to capture Richard's castle at Courcy. This prompted Richard and Hugh to appeal to the duke's brother King William for help. From 1 January 1091 to at least 23 January 1091 Courcy was besieged by Robert of BellêmeBarlow ''William Rufus'' p. 276 and Duke Robert. The siege was lifted when King William landed in Normandy in late January or early February.Mason ''William II'' pp. 86–87 Bishop

Gerard Gerard is a masculine forename of Proto-Germanic language, Proto-Germanic origin, variations of which exist in many Germanic and Romance languages. Like many other Germanic name, early Germanic names, it is dithematic, consisting of two meaningful ...

of Seez had attempted to mediate the dispute and siege but these efforts ended with Gerard's death on 23 January 1091. Richard was at King William's court between 1091 and 1094, as he is recorded in royal documents for that period.Hollister ''Henry I'' p. 76 footnote 209 Richard married Wandelmode and had at least two children: William de Courcy and Robert de Courcy. William inherited the lands in England while Robert received the Norman lands. Robert was married to Rohais, the daughter of Hugh de Grandmesnil.Aird ''Robert Curthose'' pp. 138–139 Richard died around 1098.

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* * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:de Courcy, Richard Normans in England Norman warriors Year of birth unknown