At the accession of the new king he was at once recalled, created Earl of Cornwall, and placed at the head of the administration.

When Edward crossed the sea to wed Isabella of France, the daughter of Philip the Fair, a marriage planned by his father to provide against any further intervention of France in his difficulties with Scotland, the new minister was left as Regent in his room.

The offence given by this rapid promotion was embittered by his personal temper.

Gay, genial, thriftless, Gaveston showed in his first acts the quickness and audacity of Southern Gaul.

The older ministers were dismissed, all claims of precedence or inheritance were set aside in the distribution of offices at the coronation, while taunts and defiances goaded the proud baronage to fury.