Gaveston was Edward’s best friend, the love of his life, and, in many respects, his hero.
In the court with Prince Edward
“Gaveston was… probably no more than twenty-four, and possibly as young as twenty-one, when he became guardian to the seventeen-year-old Roger Mortimer. He was of considerably lower rank than the young heir. He was the son of a knight called Arnaud from Gabaston in Gascony, southern France, who had fought for Edward I and who had been used as a hostage by him on two occasions. On the second of these Arnaud had escaped captivity and had fled to England, bringing with him his son Piers, who had also entered the royal household. So well behaved and virtuous did the young Gaveston appear to the king that he declared him an example for his own son to follow, and made him a member of Prince Edward’s household in 1300."
“Gaveston was witty, rude, and enormously entertaining, with a Gascon accent and moreover a healthy disregard for all things old-fashioned, English and traditional. He delighted the prince, and more importantly gave him confidence, and in his company the prince grew to discover his own character."
Though the king had ordered the knights to stay loyal to the army, twenty two men deserted, including Mortimer and Gaveston. All twenty two men were arrested and declared traitors by the king and were stripped of their titles and land. The men went to Prince Edward (II) to ask him to intercede. The prince spoke to his stepmother, Queen Margaret, and was largely successful. For the majority of the men, including Mortimer, the titles and land were restored. Among those who were not forgiven, however, was Piers Gaveston.
"The king had learnt of a secret compact between the prince and Gaveston which went far beyond the desertion of a few knights. It turned out that they were sworn together as brothers-in-arms: that they would fight together as brothers and protect each other against all other men, sharing all their possessions! It was outrageous. Although an admiration for Gaveston's excellent knightly qualities was understandable, a liaison which threatened to share the government of the realm with a provincial knight was unthinkable."
Edward responded by sending a messenger to his father to ask if, to remedy the fact that Gaveston was low-born, he could give Gaveston his own country, that of Ponthieu. "Upon hearing these words, spoken by the prince himself, the king flew into a rage, exclaiming, 'You wretched son of a whore! Do you want to give away lands now? You who have never gained any? As God lives, if not for fear of breaking up the kingdom, I would never let you enjoy your inheritance!' As he spoke the king seized hold of the prince's head by the hair and tore handfuls of hair out, then threw the prince to the floor and kicked him repeatedly until he was exhaused."
This request was what caused the banishment of Piers Gaveston.
“Gaveston was witty, rude, and enormously entertaining, with a Gascon accent and moreover a healthy disregard for all things old-fashioned, English and traditional. He delighted the prince, and more importantly gave him confidence, and in his company the prince grew to discover his own character."
Though the king had ordered the knights to stay loyal to the army, twenty two men deserted, including Mortimer and Gaveston. All twenty two men were arrested and declared traitors by the king and were stripped of their titles and land. The men went to Prince Edward (II) to ask him to intercede. The prince spoke to his stepmother, Queen Margaret, and was largely successful. For the majority of the men, including Mortimer, the titles and land were restored. Among those who were not forgiven, however, was Piers Gaveston.
"The king had learnt of a secret compact between the prince and Gaveston which went far beyond the desertion of a few knights. It turned out that they were sworn together as brothers-in-arms: that they would fight together as brothers and protect each other against all other men, sharing all their possessions! It was outrageous. Although an admiration for Gaveston's excellent knightly qualities was understandable, a liaison which threatened to share the government of the realm with a provincial knight was unthinkable."
Edward responded by sending a messenger to his father to ask if, to remedy the fact that Gaveston was low-born, he could give Gaveston his own country, that of Ponthieu. "Upon hearing these words, spoken by the prince himself, the king flew into a rage, exclaiming, 'You wretched son of a whore! Do you want to give away lands now? You who have never gained any? As God lives, if not for fear of breaking up the kingdom, I would never let you enjoy your inheritance!' As he spoke the king seized hold of the prince's head by the hair and tore handfuls of hair out, then threw the prince to the floor and kicked him repeatedly until he was exhaused."
This request was what caused the banishment of Piers Gaveston.
With Edward as King
As we know from the play, Gaveston was called back from exile as soon as Edward I died, in July of 1307, and less than a month later Gaveston was named Earl of Cornwall by the newly crowned King Edward II.
"Remaining on the right side of Gaveston was very difficult. He was not just an entertainer, he was ambitious and manipulative too. He took full advantage of his relationship with Edward, seeking opportunities for preferment for his tenants and dependants, and wilfully controlling the lords' access to Edward."
King Edward II also suggested making Gaveston a legitimate member of the royal family by marrying him to his niece Margaret de Clare.
In December of that same year, after burying King Edward I, the royal court headed to Wallingford for the wedding. At the wedding the king held a tournament, pitting Gaveston and his young knights against the Earls of Warenne, Hereford, and Arundel. Gaveston won by a long shot, and took to gloating. From that moment, Earl Warenne turned against Gaveston, starting a wave of disapproval and hatred which swept across the country.
In 1308 Edward left the country for France to marry Princess Isabella, and left Gaveston as sole Regent of England, placing him in charge. People were pissed. In those two weeks that Gaveston ruled, however, he did nothing controversial. He relied fully on the support of his king and brother-at-arms.
While Edward II was king, Gaveston was banished twice more. After having been banished by King Edward I once, he was banished by the nobles in June 1308 after Edward II and Gaveston separated themselves from the barons, and after Edward II decided to make Gaveston his Lieutenant of Ireland. Gaveston was recalled about a year later in the summer of 1309. When he returned, he gave all the barons silly nicknames, which they were not very keen on, "the earl of Warwick was 'the mad dog of Arden', the earl of Pembroke was 'Joseph the Jew', the earl of Lancaster 'the churl', the earl of Lincoln 'Mister Burst-Belly' or Monsieur Boele-Crevée, and Piers' brother-in-law the earl of Gloucester 'cuckoo's bird' or, cruelly, 'whoreson' (filz a puteyne)." Gaveston was banished a third time in the fall of 1311. Some three months after his third banishment, about Christmas 1311, Edward felt strong enough to recall him.
"Remaining on the right side of Gaveston was very difficult. He was not just an entertainer, he was ambitious and manipulative too. He took full advantage of his relationship with Edward, seeking opportunities for preferment for his tenants and dependants, and wilfully controlling the lords' access to Edward."
King Edward II also suggested making Gaveston a legitimate member of the royal family by marrying him to his niece Margaret de Clare.
In December of that same year, after burying King Edward I, the royal court headed to Wallingford for the wedding. At the wedding the king held a tournament, pitting Gaveston and his young knights against the Earls of Warenne, Hereford, and Arundel. Gaveston won by a long shot, and took to gloating. From that moment, Earl Warenne turned against Gaveston, starting a wave of disapproval and hatred which swept across the country.
In 1308 Edward left the country for France to marry Princess Isabella, and left Gaveston as sole Regent of England, placing him in charge. People were pissed. In those two weeks that Gaveston ruled, however, he did nothing controversial. He relied fully on the support of his king and brother-at-arms.
While Edward II was king, Gaveston was banished twice more. After having been banished by King Edward I once, he was banished by the nobles in June 1308 after Edward II and Gaveston separated themselves from the barons, and after Edward II decided to make Gaveston his Lieutenant of Ireland. Gaveston was recalled about a year later in the summer of 1309. When he returned, he gave all the barons silly nicknames, which they were not very keen on, "the earl of Warwick was 'the mad dog of Arden', the earl of Pembroke was 'Joseph the Jew', the earl of Lancaster 'the churl', the earl of Lincoln 'Mister Burst-Belly' or Monsieur Boele-Crevée, and Piers' brother-in-law the earl of Gloucester 'cuckoo's bird' or, cruelly, 'whoreson' (filz a puteyne)." Gaveston was banished a third time in the fall of 1311. Some three months after his third banishment, about Christmas 1311, Edward felt strong enough to recall him.
Fun Fact:
King Edward kept a chamber for him at Westminster Palace in the Privy Palace, where the king was meant to spend time with family and favorites
King Edward kept a chamber for him at Westminster Palace in the Privy Palace, where the king was meant to spend time with family and favorites
Suggested further reading:
- "Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, 1307-1312"
- download pdf below
- This is a dissertation which was later published as a book by the same author. The book is likely more in depth and is available for purchase here if you are so inclined.
- Nineteen things you never knew about Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, 1307-1312 | |
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