Gilles de Rais
Gilles de Rais (c. 1405 5 April- 26 October 1440)[1] was a Marshal of France, Joan of Arc's comrade in arms, and a murderer.[2] He was the son of Guy de Laval/Rais and Marie de Craon. He became rich when a relative died. He was made a Marshal of France in 1429.[3] He spent much of his money putting on a play that he wrote. He dabbled in alchemy.[4] His criminal career began in 1434. In 1440, he was arrested, tried, and hanged.[5] De Rais may have killed 140 people. Most of his victims were young boys. He may have been the inspiration for the 1697 fairy tale "Bluebeard" by Charles Perrault.[2]
Gilles De Rais Media
Arms of Jean III de Bretagne
Arms of the Kingdom of France (Moderne)
Detail of a map of the Kingdom of France in 1429–1430 showing the Duchy of Brittany and its neighboring territories, by Auguste Longnon (Paris: Bibliothèque nationale de France, 1875)
Coat of arms of the barony of Retz (Or, a cross Sable)
Seal of Guy, Sire de Rais (father of Gilles de Rais), bearing the arms of the barony of Retz, c. 1405-1407
Champtocé castle tower ruins in Maine-et-Loire
Gilles de Rais and his wife, Catherine de Thouars, were related within the fourth degree of consanguinity. Both were descended from Amaury III de Craon through their maternal and paternal lines
Map of the traditional regions of Brittany. In the south, the Pays de Retz was then bordered by an area of marches
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References
Bibliography
- Benedetti, Jean. 1971. Gilles de Rais. Stein and Day. ISBN 978-0-8128-1450-7.
- Opie, Iona and Peter. 1974. The Classic Fairy Tales. Oxford UP. ISBN 0-19-211559-6.