Gilles de Laval, Baron de Rais, was a 15th century french marshal with a side hobby of satanism and the murder and rape of children.
At an early age Gilles distinguished himself militarily, fighting first in the wars of succession to the duchy of Brittany (1420) and
then for the Duchess of Anjou against the English in 1427. He was assigned to Joan of Arc's guard and fought several battles at her
side, including the relief of Orleans in 1429. He accompanied her to Reims for the consecration of Charles VII, who made him marshal of
France. He continued to serve in Joan of Arc's special guard and was at her side when Paris was attacked. After her capture, he
retired to his lands in Brittany.
Inheriting extensive domains from both his father and his maternal grandfather (Guy de Laval and Jean de Craon, respectively), de Rais
had also married a rich heiress, Catherine de Thouars (1420). He kept a more lavish court than the king, dissipating his wealth on
the decoration of his ch?aux and the maintenance of a large train of servants, heralds, and priests. He was a munificent patron of
music, literature, and pageants, in one of which he figured (The Mystery of Orl?s). When his family secured a decree from the king in
July 1435, restraining him from selling or mortgaging the rest of his lands, he turned to alchemy. He also developed an interest in
satanism, hoping to gain knowledge, power, and riches by invoking the devil, such as searching for the famous Philosopher's stone.
Gilles was eventually brought before the Inquisition after he insulted the brother of the Treasurer of Brittany. Forty-seven charges
were brought against him in three categories: 'abuse of clerical privilege (for attacking a priest), 'the conjuration of demons' and
sexual perversions against children.
After hearing one hundred and ten witnesses the court decided to put Gilles and his servants under torture to extract more
incriminating evidence from them. One of his servants called Etienne Corillait testified:
"...to practise his debauches with the said boys and girls, against the dictation of nature, he first took his rod in his hand
and rubbed it so it became erect and sticking out; then placing it between the limbs of the boys or girls, not bothering with the
natural female receptacle, and rubbed his rod or virile member on the belly of the said boys and girls with much libidinous excitement
until he emitted his sperm on their stomachs....
...he had cosiderable pleasure in watching the heads of children separated from their bodies. Sometimes he made an incision behind
the neck to make them die slowly, at which he became very excited, and while they were bleeding to death he would sometimes
masturbate on them, and sometimes he would do this after they had died and their bodies were still warm....
...sometimes he would ask, when they were dead, which of them had the most beautiful head."
Even by the standards of the Inquisition, the trial of Gilles de Rais was a farce. Most of the incriminating evidence came under the
conditions of torture or was given out of self-interest or spite. Eventually Gilles himself succumbed to torture and admitted whatever
the court told him. He was executed by garrotte and thrown onto a pyre, although his family were allowed to remove the body before it
was lit.
Although it is certain that Gilles was one of Europe's worst child rapist and murderers, it is doubtful that his death toll ever
reached as high as the 500 to 800 that is quoted.
(Note: Comic book writer Alan Moore, when creating his Maxwell the Magic Cat strip, took the pen name of Jill de Ray after Gilles.)
Gilles de Laval, Baron de Rais, was a 15th century french marshal with a side hobby of satanism and the murder and rape of children.