Gilles de Rais

Gilles de Rais ( 1405 5 April- 26 October 1440)Matei Cazacu, Gilles de Rais, Paris: Tallandier, 2005, pp.11 ; pp.23-25  was a Marshal of France, Joan of Arc's comrade in arms, and a murderer.Opie pp. 104-5 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.Benedetti p. 198 He spent much of his money putting on a play that he wrote. He dabbled in alchemy.Benedetti p. 199 His criminal career began in 1434. In 1440, he was arrested, tried, and hanged.Benedetti p. 200 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.

 References 

Bibliography
 Benedetti, Jean. 1971. Gilles de Rais. Stein and Day. .
 Opie, Iona and Peter. 1974. The Classic Fairy Tales. Oxford UP. .

Category:1440 deaths
Category:French murderers
Category:French generals
Category:Marshals of France
Category:People excommunicated by the Catholic Church