High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall (c. 1284 – 19 June 1312) was an English nobleman of Gascon origin, and the favourite of King Edward II of England. At a young age he made a good impression on King Edward I of England, and was assigned to the household of the King`s son, Edward of Carnarvon. The prince`s partiality for Gaveston was so extravagant that Edward I sent the favourite into exile, but he was recalled a few months later, after the King`s death led to the prince`s accession as Edward II. Edward bestowed the Earldom of Cornwall on Gaveston, and arranged for him to marry his niece Margaret de Clare, sister of the powerful Earl of Gloucester.