The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-06-12
WHO WAS
THE ORIGINAL or
"~BLUEBEARD"

The story OF Bluebeard is probably
the most familiar of all tales of crime,
There Is no doubt more fiction han
tact In the romance. although there are
several names of criminal monsters
mentioned in history as having fur
nlshed the greater part OF the material
utilized by the Frenchman Perrault in
MS tale of "Barbe Blue" This story
was written in the time of Louis XIV.
and 1t is thought that the idea Of the
story was suggested to Perrault by the
life of a wicked and atrocious mar
naned Giles de Laval. Seigneur de
Retz, better known in French history
as Marshal de Retz. De Retz was born
about the ear 1896, and entered the
service of Charles VII and proved him
self a brave and skillful soldier. He
inherited, at different times, three large
estate, and in 1882 was considered the
richest subject in France.
This Immense fortune was the great
cause OF his ruin. He plunged into a
course of proaigacy and debauchery
which rapidly diminished his estate.
5et wilma! he affected ponp n spien-
DOR IN religious ceremonies. He was
compelled by the parliament of Paris
10 stop ~disposing of his estates. and.
cravlng for wealth. he had occurs to
alchemy. Failing to discover the art
or changing the baser metals into gold.
ne next turned TO magic. and is re-
ported to have made a contract with
satan to give him everything except
MS own soul and life for boundless
wealth.
1t was brought TO light when he was
arrested in 1440 that he had slain no
less than 46 children at his castle OF
and 50 at Machecoul. and
I Sa5 fHas~ hJoNI o--7 go
IN dlabolical rites. He was convicted
and executed in December, 1440. Prob
on account Of some personal Pc
culiarlty, Giles de Laval became re-
memoered as "Barhe Blue whence our
Biuebeard, which speedily became i
name of terror.
The propensity of Bluebeard in the
children's story by Perrault is not to
klil children, but to marry wife after
Wife and to kill them in succession
and deposit them in a fatal close.
Each young wife was ~intrusted Wi Il
all he keys to the castle, with strict
injunctions, OF pain of death. not to
curiosity in each case cost her life.
until finally, as the story goes, his last
Wouid-be victim was saved by the
timely arrival of her brothers. She
had. during the absence of her lord.
opened the forbidden door, and found
>NS S-NS>I w Will III DOOleS OIL MIS-
former wives. She dropped the keys
her terror and by no means could
obilterate the stain of blood.
II is not likely hat Perrault depend
ed entirely on the Giles de Laval char
aeter for his story, but there may have
been others and there is considerable
ABOUT the story that would Indicate a
OF some ancient date. But there
Is another great criminal of about the
same period as Giles whose crimes are
SAID to have assisted the author of
in furnishing material. His
name was Comorre, who had his
headquarters at Carhaix, in Finistere.
Comorre had scarcely less of a ma
MA for murder than Giles de Laval.
u Domnonia, and attempted the life
his stepson. Judwal, who fled. and
n anger is said to have killed his wife.
He then married Tryphine, daughter
u the Count of Vannes. In a short
inns he threatened her. She took flight.
out her husband found her hiding III
! wood. when he gave her a wound in
vas end and restored to health by
st. Gildas, m after the birth of her
'pn she retired to a convent Of her
foundation. Alain B%ouchard. in
lis Chronicles" asserts that Comorre
already put several wives to death
before he married Tryphine.
Were either of these two men the
orototype of Perrault's 'Bluebeard."
y did he use the crimes OF both?
'robably so. n was also familiar
With the Esthonian legend Of a hus-
who had already killed IL wives
was prevented from killing the
who had opened a secret room by
g~ooseherd. the friend of her child,
W 4sN