Editing Gilles de Rais (section)

==Military career==
[[File:Blason Gilles de Rais.svg|right|thumb|Coat of arms of Gilles de Rais]]

In the decades following the [[Breton War of Succession]] (1341–64), the defeated faction led by Olivier de Blois, Count of Penthièvre, continued to plot against the Dukes of the House of Montfort.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|pp=22,24}}</ref> The Blois faction, who still refused to relinquish their claim to rule over the [[Duchy of Brittany]], had taken Duke John VI prisoner in violation of the [[Treaty of Guérande (1365)]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=23}}</ref> The sixteen-year-old Gilles de Rais took the side of the House of Montfort. De Rais was able to secure the Duke's release, and was rewarded with generous land grants which were converted to monetary gifts.<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=26}}</ref>

In 1425, de Rais was introduced to the court of Charles VII at Saumur and learned courtly manners by studying the [[Dauphin of France|Dauphin]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=37}}</ref> <br>At the battle for the Château of Lude, he took prisoner the English captain Blackburn.<ref>Jean de Bueil, ''Le Jouvencel'', Paris, Librairie Renouard, Part 1, 1887, [http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k331566/f22.image.r pp.XV-XVII] ; Part 2 II, 1889, [https://archive.org/stream/lejouvencelparj00bueigoog#page/n285/mode/2up pp.273-275]</ref><ref>Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', Taillandier, 2005, pp.79</ref>

From 1427 to 1435, de Rais served as a commander in the Royal Army, distinguishing himself by displaying reckless bravery on the battlefield during the renewal of the [[Hundred Years War]].<ref name="BenedettiPP63–64">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=63–64}}</ref> In 1429, he fought alongside Joan of Arc in several of the campaigns waged against the English and their [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundian]] allies.<ref name="BenedettiP198" /> He was present with Joan when the Siege of Orléans ended.<ref name="BenedettiPP83–84">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=83–84}}</ref>

On Sunday 17 July 1429, de Rais was chosen as one of four lords for the honor of bringing the Holy Ampulla from the Abbey of Saint-Remy to Notre-Dame de Reims for the consecration of [[Charles VII of France|Charles VII]] as King of France.<ref name="BenedettiP93">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=93}}</ref> On the same day, he was officially created a Marshal of France.<ref name="BenedettiP198">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=198}}</ref>

Following the Siege of Orléans, Rais was granted the right to add a border of the royal arms, the fleur-de-lys on an azure ground, to his own. The letters patent authorizing the display cited de Rais’ "high and commendable services", the "great perils and dangers" he had confronted, and "many other brave feats".<ref name="BenedettiP101">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=101}}</ref>

In May 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at the stake; de Rais was not present. His grandfather died 15 November 1432, and, in a public gesture to mark his displeasure with Gilles' reckless spending of a carefully amassed fortune, left his sword and his breastplate to de Rais' younger brother René de La Suze.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=106,123}}</ref>