Piers Gaveston is perhaps the most infamous royal favorite in English history. Elevated to the peerage as Earl of Cornwall by Edward II in 1307, he was an influential figure in the first years of the king's reign. Gaveston's brief but turbulent career culminated in his murder in 1312. Over the course of seven centuries, the image of Gaveston has been reduced to little more than a parody of the historical figure. He is commonly viewed as a sycophantic homosexual with a marked tendency towards avarice, nepotism, and excessive pride. As a result, it is difficult to assess Gaveston's impact on various aspects of Edward's reign, particularly the political developments. Using both documentary and narrative sources, J. S. Hamilton reconstructs an impartial account of Gaveston's life. He briefly traces the origins and activities of Gaveston's family in Gascony and in England and then chronicles Gaveston's public career. The examination of Gaveston's role in the early years of Edward's reign inevitably leads to broader questions of patronage, personality, and the nature of the baronial opposition to the crown. As a result, Hamilton adds a new dimension to a revisionist picture of Edward's troubled reign.

Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, 1307-1312

History

Hamilton, J. S.

Europe

Wayne State University Press

Piers Gaveston is perhaps the most infamous royal favorite in English history. Elevated to the peerage as Earl of Cornwall by Edward II in 1307, he was an influential figure in the first years of the king's reign. Gaveston's brief but turbulent career culminated in his murder in 1312. 
Over the course of seven centuries, the image of Gaveston has been reduced to little more than a parody of the historical figure. He is commonly viewed as a sycophantic homosexual with a marked tendency towards avarice, nepotism, and excessive pride. As a result, it is difficult to assess Gaveston's impact on various aspects of Edward's reign, particularly the political developments. 
Using both documentary and narrative sources, J. S. Hamilton reconstructs an impartial account of Gaveston's life. He briefly traces the origins and activities of Gaveston's family in Gascony and in England and then chronicles Gaveston's public career. 
The examination of Gaveston's role in the early years of Edward's reign inevitably leads to broader questions of patronage, personality, and the nature of the baronial opposition to the crown. As a result, Hamilton adds a new dimension to a revisionist picture of Edward's troubled reign.

PIERS CAVESTON EARL OF CORNWALL 1307-1312 Politics and Patronage in the Reign of Edward I I

Americas

The story of the Plantagenet dynasty is the story of one of the pivotal ages in English history. Attitudes and outlooks were formed with regard to a vast array of profoundly important issues. Such fundamental issues as the relationship between church and state, the nature of government/governance, the interaction of social and economic classes, and ultimately the idea of what it means to be English were all shaped to a great degree by the events of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. 
The story of the Plantagenet dynasty is the story of one of the pivotal ages in English history. Attitudes and outlooks were formed with regard to a vast array of profoundly important issues. Such fundamental issues as the relationship between church and state, the nature of government/governance, the interaction of social and economic classes, and ultimately the idea of what it means to be English were all shaped to a great degree by the events of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

The Plantagenets: History of a Dynasty

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Hamilton, J. S.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Hamilton, J. S.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Hamilton, J. S.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall, 1307-1312

PIERS CAVESTON EARL OF CORNWALL 1307-1312 Politics and Patronage in the Reign of Edward I I

The Plantagenets: History of a Dynasty