This Day in History: 1312-05-19

On 19th May 1312, Piers Gaveston, the favourite knight of King Edward II, surrendered Scarborough Castle after only 9 days, due to having no food. Gaveston had been left there by Edward while he raised support in the North. The besieging forces included John de Warenne, owner of Sandal Castle, who had become exasperated with the King’s obsession with  Gaveston. John was not party, however, to the subsequent execution of Gaveston.