GAVESTON, PIERS (d. 1312), earl of Cornwall, favourite of the English king Edward II., was the son of a Gascon and was brought up at the court of Edward I. as companion to his son, the future king. Early in 1307 he was banished by the king ; but he returned after the death of Edward I. a few months later, and at once became the chief adviser of Edward II. Made earl of Cornwall, he received lands and money, and married Edward's niece, Margaret de Clare (d. 1295). He was regent during the king's short absence in France in 1308, and was con spicuous at Edward's coronation. These proceedings and Gaves ton's own arrogance aroused the anger and jealousy of the barons. They demanded his banishment ; and the king, forced to assent, sent his favourite to Ireland as lieutenant, where he remained for about a year. Returning to England in July 1309, Gaveston showed himself more insolent than ever. In 1311 the king was forced to agree to the election of the "ordainers," and the ordi nances they drew up provided inter alia for the perpetual banish ment of Gaveston, who retired to Flanders, but returned secretly to England at the end of 1311. Soon he was publicly restored by Edward, and the barons had taken up arms. Deserted by the king he surrendered to Aymer de Valence, earl of Pembroke (d. 1324), at Scarborough in May 1312, and was taken to Dedding ton in Oxfordshire, where he was kidnapped by Guy de Beau champ, earl of Warwick (d. 1315) . He was beheaded on Blacklow Hill near Warwick on June 19, 1312. Gaveston, whose body was buried in 1315 at King's Langley, Herts, left an only daughter.
See W. Stubbs, Constitutional History, vol. ii. (Oxford, 1896) ; Chronicles of the Reigns of Edward I. and Edward II., edited by W. Stubbs. Rolls series (London, 1882-1883) ; also J. C. Davies, Baronial Opposition to Edward 11. (1918).