Piers Gaveston

An English aristocrat and government official, Gaveston amassed a fortune through his close friendship and presumed sexual relationship with the King Edward III, which eventually caused the downfall of both of them.

He was born around 1284 in the family of a Gascon lord who served the King Edward I for years. Already as a boy Gaveston became a member of the royal household, and in 1300 was put in service of the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward III who was married for the French Queen Elisabeth. Between two boys, at the time about 16 years old, developed close friendship by many described as of homosexual nature.

That was perhaps the reason why the King Edward I in 1307 banished Gaveston from England. But, his exile didn’t last for long since the old king died soon afterwards and Edward III immediately recalled Gaveston back to court. He was made Earl of Cornwall, got influential aristocratic wife and substantial sums of money and land. His prominence and influence at the court caused revolts by numerous influential dignitaries. During his coronation in 1308, Edward lavished Gaston with too much attention and was forced to send him in Ireland for a while. However, Gaveston succeeded to return at court once again becoming even more powerful as king’s principal adviser and controller of royal patronage. By 1310 the pressure on the king became so great that he had to accept the appointment of the Lords Ordainers, a committee of 21 earls, barons and bishops who had the power to maintain the well being of the realm and the royal household. In a meanwhile the military campaign that the king led against Robert the Bruce of Scotland was a failure that caused additional discontent with his rule.

In 1311 the Lord Ordainers ordered that Gaveston must be banished from country permanently, despite the king’s protests. His arrogance and power represented the obstacle to reformation of the household system of governance. The barons gathered their private armies and the county was near the civil war. In the following events, Gaveston was caught and executed by barons. He was around 28 years old.

The king buried the remains dressed in three cloths of gold, at the Dominican house at Kings Langley, and took care of his family members. At the time of his death Gaveston was worth around £25,000, or the equivalent of £5.5bn in 2010.