Gilles de Rais: From Noble War Hero to Monster

Gilles de Rais was one of France's greatest military heroes, fighting alongside Joan of Arc and becoming one of the wealthiest noblemen in Europe. Then he became one of history's first documented serial killers, allegedly murdering hundreds of children in occult rituals at his castle.

After Joan of Arc's execution, Gilles retreated to his estates and his behavior grew increasingly bizarre. He squandered his massive fortune on lavish theatrical productions and began dabbling in alchemy and black magic, desperately trying to restore his wealth through demonic pacts. But his quest for occult power led to something far darker - the systematic abduction, torture, and murder of peasant children from surrounding villages.

When authorities finally investigated in 1440, the testimonies were horrifying. Servants described rooms filled with dismembered bodies, rituals involving children's blood, and Gilles's confession detailed acts so depraved that parts of his trial transcript were destroyed. He confessed to murdering between 80 and 200 children, though some estimates go much higher. He was executed by hanging and burning, but debates still rage about whether he was truly guilty or the victim of a political conspiracy to seize his lands.

This episode explores one of history's most disturbing transformations and asks whether Gilles de Rais was a genuine monster or a wealthy nobleman destroyed by enemies who wanted his fortune.

Keywords: weird history, Gilles de Rais, Joan of Arc, serial killers in history, medieval France, French history, occult history, medieval crimes, historical murders, dark history

Perfect for listeners who love: true crime history, medieval mysteries, dark history, Joan of Arc stories, and the psychology of evil.

Warning: This episode contains discussion of violence against children. Listener discretion is advised.