General Notes

"Piers Gaveston was a Gascon knight who may have had a homosexual relationship with Edward II. He and Edward were childhood friends. They led an extravagant lifestyle that annoyed Edward s father and members of the court. They enjoyed calling members of the court names and frequently disrupted official ceremonies. Their inseparability and signs of affection towards each other led many, including Edward s father, to believe that they were lovers. Edward I disliked him so much that he banished Gaveston from court. It was only after his father s death that Edward II called him back to court.
While Edward was the 14th of 19 children, he inherited the throne due to most of his siblings failing to survive infancy. Edward was a poor choice to be king. He was respected by few, as he would rather weave baskets or garden then soldier. Edward s feelings towards him gave Gaveston much power and influence. Edward made Piers the Earl of Cornwall and arranged Gaveston s marriage to his niece.
Gaveston was an excellent soldier and knight. He defeated many of the Barons and Lords in jousting tournaments. This led not to respect, but to hate, as the vanquished did not appreciate losing to one whom was the opposite of what they felt a knight should be.
In court, Gaveston continued to abuse even the most powerful Barons with his wit and sarcasm. This abuse, Gaveston s lifestyle , his prowess as a knight, and his growing political power, led many members of the court to hate and fear him. The weakness of Edward II enabled the Barons to act and in 1310, they forced the King to banish Gaveston.
Gaveston was made the Lord of Man but he refused to play it safe. He returned to court for the Christmas holiday and continued to treat the Barons with disdain. In 1312, Thomas of Lancaster arrested Gaveston. Thomas headed the Lords Ordainer, which was a committee of 28 Barons who advised the King. Their power was such that they ran the country. Gaveston was declared an enemy of the state and was executed in June of 1312. After his death, his widow married Hugh de Audley.
This execution split England. There were many who thought that the Lords Ordainer acted unlawfully. Many followed Hugh DeSpencer who quickly filled Gaveston s spot as the King s advisor and confidante. Edward s fortunes continued to plummet as he was defeated by Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. Therefore, Scotland regained its independence.
In 1326, Edward s wife, Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer led an army against Edward. Edward was captured and held prisoner in Kenilworth Castle. He abdicated the throne on January 25, 1327. Later that year Edward was murdered at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. He was held down while a red-hot poker was pushed into his bowels.
Piers Gaveston and his wife, Margaret de Clare, had at least one child, Amy de Gaveston who was born about 1310. Amy married John de Driby (abt 1310-aft 1357). "
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CITES: British Kings and Queens by Mike Ashley, Carroll and Graf Pub., NY 1998. Last of the Norman Invasions, by Michael Greaney, Military History , Dec. 1998.
Sources: - person, family: Renaud de Paysac at http://www.geneastar.org.

OTHER SOURCES: LDS Family History Library, Ancestral File #GJ52-9W.
"Stimpson Family", Cory Stimpson at AWTP cbstimpson@@hotmail.com.
"(Presidental) Descendants of William The Conquerer" at http://users, legacyfamilytree.com/USPresidents/Royalpresidents.htm.