Died 1558 | ||
Children Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon Siblings Catherine Blount, Dorothy Blount, Mary Blount, John Blount People also search for Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter | ||
Gertrude Courtenay, Marchioness of Exeter, née Gertrude Blount (born before 1504, died 1558), was an English Marchioness, married to Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter and a member of the court of Henry VIII of England. She was a godmother to the future Elizabeth I.
Life
Henry Courtenay was a close friend of Henry VIII's, having "been brought up of a child with his grace in his chamber." Gertrude was the daughter of William Blount, 4th Baron Mountjoy, Katherine of Aragon's chamberlain and a man well respected by both King and Queen, and his first wife Elisabeth Saye.
In 1533, Anne Boleyn gave birth to a baby girl. Princess Elizabeth was baptised, and Gertrude, a close friend of Katherine of Aragon's, was chosen as the godmother at the confirmation, which was performed immediately after the baptism. Apparently, it was well known that Gertrude "really wanted to have nothing to do with this" but agreed "so as not to displease the King". As this was such a public spectacle—and as a godparent was expected to provide an extremely expensive present—historian Eric Ives has concluded that the decision to appoint Gertrude to this role was malicious.
Gertrude Blount was imprisoned with her spouse and son were imprisoned in the Tower of London following the Exeter Conspiracy in 1538. She was widowed when her spouse was executed. Gertrude Blount and her son was attainted and remained in prison. In 1540, she was released from the Tower. She was a personal friend of queen Mary I of England, and attended court during her reign.