The Medieval times were a period which as considered to have been brutal.
A number of civil wars would grip England during this time, and there were always wealthy
landowners and barons who were seeking to gain favour in the eyes of the King.
But one of the most brutal downfalls of the 14th century was when Piers Gaveston the 1st
Earl of Cornwall was hacked to death in Warwick.
He was a man who is considered by some medieval chronicles to have been a rumoured lover of
the King Edward II, and he was certainly close with the King.
Other historians believed that he was like a brother to the King, but jealousy and favouritism
lead to his brutal execution.
Join us today as we look at the brutal death of Piers Gaveston, remember to support our
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Very little is known about the early life of Piers Gaveston, but it’s believed he
was around the same age of Edward II.
He was well travelled and it’s believed his father served in the court of Edward I,
and around the year 1300 he was part of the court of Price Edward the future Edward II.
The King at the time wanted Gaveston to set an example to his own son, but he was then
involved in problems between the King and his son.
Edward I would later ban his own son from court and many of the Princes’ household
were also forced out.
However the matter was settled, and Gaveston was knighted on the 26th May 1306.
Gaveston wasn’t the greatest soldier though, as he deserted from the Scottish campaign
to attend a tournament, and their arrest warrants went out but they were all pardoned by the
Queen.
But in February 1307, Edward I stated that Piers Gaverston had been forced out of his
realm.
This punishment was not intended for him, but for his son as the Prince had asked Gaveston
to be given part of his land.
Edward I was enraged and tore out fistfuls of his son’s hair and threw him out of the
royal chambers.
With this, Gaveston was exiled shortly, but in July 1307 Edward I was gravely ill, and
when he died and the new King Edward II came onto the throne, one of the first things the
new King did was bring Gaveston back immediately reuniting the pair.
He was then quickly made the Earl of Cornwall which upset many other nobles.
He was elevated to the highest level of the peerage and was passed over ahead of many
more deserving men, and this caused issue within the nobility at the time.
This new Earldom also made Gaveston incredibly wealthy, and he owned most of Cornwall, Devonshire
and lands to the north.
This was a huge amount of land now under Gaveston’s control, and it wasn’t long before the new
King encountered criticism with regards to his relationship with his favoured advisor.
Tournaments were held in Gaveston’s honour, and he was even appointed regent which Edward
II left to marry the daughter of the French King.
Many nobles were offended by this, and at the coronation of his Queen, it was said Edward
II ignored his wife and instead spent all his time with Gaveston.
But because of the problems that this was causing, many nobles threatened to rise up
and the King refused to do anything about it, but the Barons had the support of the
King of France who was disgusted at how his daughter was being treated.
The barons had told him the English King was neglecting her in favour of his favourite
courtier, and to prevent invasion and attack Gaveston forcibly exiled his best friend.
Whilst he was away, he was surprisingly appointed the King’s Leftenantof Ireland, and this
appointment was yet again controversial.
He was to be a military commander and to bring the rebellious and unruly Irish under his
control, and he was quite successful in this.
He helped to pacify a large part of the country, but he could not successfully run the country
well.
But then Edward II began to try to recall him yet again.
Many of the rebellious baron had been pacified across the country, and he then Gaveston was
recalled.
On the 5th August 1309 he was reinstated as the Earl of Cornwall, but he began to frustrate
the Earls yet again.
Gaveston mocked them giving them offensive nicknames, calling the Warwick ‘The Black
Dog of Arden.’
He also had more favour from the King, and this was obvious and the Barons were yet again
furious.
Many earls refused to attend court if Gaveston was there, and he was dismissed yet again.
But Edward II faced a large problem.
Following his father’s death, Robert the Bruce had managed to regain the impetus in
the war between England and Scotland.
Edward II raised taxes for the war with Scotland but nothing really progressed and he tried
to engage the obstinate enemy.
Gaveston was appointed as the Leftenant of Scotland, but Robert the Bruce forced the
English army back heavily.
The Barons then presented the English King with a demand to exile Gaveston yet again,
but Edward had to yet again force his favourite out of England.
But the slimy Piers Gaveston would leave the country, however he was not wanted in France
also.
His third exile was very short and he came back to England around 1311 before reuniting
with the King months later.
But Edward II then restored all his land to him, and declared the judgements against his
favourite as unlawful.
Gaveston settled at Scarborough Castle and fortified his position, but then the Barons
who had enough of him set out to capture him and deal with him.
The King and Gaveston were almost seized at Newcastle, before Gaveston and Edward split
up and he returned to Scarborough.
However the castle was then besieged by the barons and Gaveston then surrendered.
The three barons said they would secure his safety, but then when the Earl of Warwick
found out what had happened he rode out immediately and captured him.
He took him captive and held him at Warwick castle.
But whilst Piers Gaveston was here he was then condemned to death, and on the 19th June
1312 he was led out of Warwick Castle on a road towards Kenilworth.
Near to Blacklow Hill in the forest on the Earl of Lancaster’s land, he was then forced
off a horse or cart.
He was thrown onto the floor and two welshmen then took out their swords and attacked him,
stabbing him before they they chopped his head off with their weapons.
Piers Gaveston’s decapitated and dead body was then left at the site of his execution.
It was said that 4 shoemakers brought it back, and the Earl of Warwick refused to have it
on his land.
When Edward II found out about Piers Gaveston’s death he was furious however he could not
do anything about it or against the executioner’s who killed him.
He had lost many jewels, horses and coins when he had to flee the rebels before, and
wanted these back.
Many Historians considered him to have been well versed in military matters, but Gaveston
was considered a man who obsessed with power, and benefited from the King’s nepotism heavily.
There were many rumours that he and the King were lovers, and his relationship with the
King did cause chaos amongst the other nobles.
But his execution and killing inside of the forest near to Warwick was brutal and savage.
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