Further reading for Gilles de Rais
Gilles de Rais: A Biography of Bluebeard by Jean Benedetti
Bluebeard: The Life and Crimes of Gilles de Rais by Leonard Wolf
de Rais represents one of the most horrifying stories of murder and depravity in the history of the world. He was a libertine, a pedophile, and a murderer who was protected by nobility. Before his arrest and execution, it is believed that he kidnapped, raped, and murdered between 100 and 200 French children. By his own admission and the admission of his accomplices, the rape and murder were not enough to drive his madness. de Rais either by how own hand, or by his bodyguard, dismembered and mutilated the bodies. He took exceptional pleasure in the suffering and debasement of the children and the longer he was allowed to get away with it, the more elaborate the murders became.
In his earlier days, de Rais was a son of nobility who rose to prominence in the court of King Charles VII due to his distinguished career as a knight during the 100 years war, during which he was also known to Joan of Arc. The direction their lives took following the war couldn’t have been more different. She died a pious servant of God, he face execution for an unprecedented murder spree and dabbling in the occult.
Ever the libertine, de Rais is also known to have blown his entire fortune on an elaborate stage reproduction of the battle of Orleans which was not only extremely long, but also featured upwards of 500 extras. If it’s not clear, the man was a gigantic lunatic. By some estimates, he was also thought to have been the inspiration for the fairy tale villain known as Bluebeard even though none of his victims were his wives. Your guess is as good as mine.
Episodes: 525-527
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