Gilles de Rais: Difference between revisions

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Gilles de Rais, due to his knightly status, was still granted a proper burial despite his horrendous crimes and a monument to him remained until its destruction during the French Revolution.

Gilles de Rais is believed to be the inspiration for the 1697 fairy tale "[[Bluebeard]]" ("Barbebleu") by Charles Perrault. His life is the subject of several modern novels, and referenced in a number of ~~[[Rock music|~~rock]] bands' albums and songs.

Gilles de Rais is believed to be the inspiration for the 1697 fairy tale "[[Bluebeard]]" ("Barbebleu") by Charles Perrault. His life is the subject of several modern novels, and referenced in a number of rock bands' albums and songs.

==Early life==

Gilles de Rais was probably born in late 1405<ref>{{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', Paris: Tallandier, 2005, p.11 ; 23-25.</ref> to Guy II de Montmorency-Laval and Marie de Craon in the family castle at Champtocé-sur-Loire.<ref>{{fr icon}} Ambroise Ledru, "Gilles de Rais dit Barbe-Bleue, maréchal de France. Sa jeunesse, 1404-1424", ''L'union historique et littéraire du Maine'', vol. I, 1893, pp.270-284; {{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', 2005, p.11.</ref> He was an intelligent child, speaking fluent Latin, illuminating manuscripts, and dividing his education between military discipline and moral and intellectual development.<ref name="BenedettiP33">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=33}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=13}}</ref> Following the deaths of his father and mother in 1415, Gilles and his younger brother René de La Suze were placed under the tutelage of Jean de Craon, their maternal grandfather.<ref name="BenedettiP35">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=35}}</ref> Jean de Craon was a schemer who attempted to arrange a marriage for twelve-year-old Gilles with four-year-old Jeanne Paynel, one of the richest heiresses in Normandy, and, when the plan failed, attempted unsuccessfully to unite the boy with Béatrice de Rohan, the niece to the Duke of Brittany.<ref name="BenedettiPP37–38">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=37–38}}</ref> On 30 November 1420, however, Craon substantially increased his grandson's fortune by marrying him to Catherine de Thouars ~~of [[Duchy~~ of Brittany~~|Brittany]]~~, heiress of La Vendée and [[Poitou]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=28}}</ref> Their only child Marie was born in 1429.<ref name="BenedettiP45,102">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=45,102}}</ref>

Gilles de Rais was probably born in late 1405<ref>{{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', Paris: Tallandier, 2005, p.11 ; 23-25.</ref> to Guy II de Montmorency-Laval and Marie de Craon in the family castle at Champtocé-sur-Loire.<ref>{{fr icon}} Ambroise Ledru, "Gilles de Rais dit Barbe-Bleue, maréchal de France. Sa jeunesse, 1404-1424", ''L'union historique et littéraire du Maine'', vol. I, 1893, pp.270-284; {{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', 2005, p.11.</ref> He was an intelligent child, speaking fluent Latin, illuminating manuscripts, and dividing his education between military discipline and moral and intellectual development.<ref name="BenedettiP33">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=33}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=13}}</ref> Following the deaths of his father and mother in 1415, Gilles and his younger brother René de La Suze were placed under the tutelage of Jean de Craon, their maternal grandfather.<ref name="BenedettiP35">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=35}}</ref> Jean de Craon was a schemer who attempted to arrange a marriage for twelve-year-old Gilles with four-year-old Jeanne Paynel, one of the richest heiresses in Normandy, and, when the plan failed, attempted unsuccessfully to unite the boy with Béatrice de Rohan, the niece to the Duke of Brittany.<ref name="BenedettiPP37–38">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=37–38}}</ref> On 30 November 1420, however, Craon substantially increased his grandson's fortune by marrying him to Catherine de Thouars of Brittany, heiress of La Vendée and [[Poitou]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=28}}</ref> Their only child Marie was born in 1429.<ref name="BenedettiP45,102">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=45,102}}</ref>

==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 ~~[[John VI, Duke of Brittany|~~Duke John VI]] prisoner in violation of the [[Treaty of Guérande (1365)]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=23}}</ref> The sixteen-year-old Gilles took the side of the House of Montfort. 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 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 took the side of the House of Montfort. 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, Rais was introduced to the court of [[Charles VII ~~of France|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>

In 1425, 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, 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 along with Joan of Arc in some 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>

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==Private life==

In 1434/5, Rais gradually withdrew from military and public life in order to pursue his own interests: the construction of a splendid Chapel of the Holy Innocents (where he officiated in robes of his own design),<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=123}}</ref> and the production of a theatrical spectacle called ''Le Mistère du Siège d'Orléans''. The play consisted of more than 20,000 lines of verse, requiring 140 speaking parts and 500 extras. Gilles was almost bankrupt at the time of the production and began selling property as early as 1432 to support his extravagant lifestyle. By March 1433, he had sold all his estates in Poitou (except those of his wife) and all his property in Maine. Only two castles in [[Anjou]], [[Champtocé-sur-Loire]] and [[Ingrandes~~, Maine-et-Loire|Ingrandes]]~~, remained in his possession. Half of the total sales and mortgages were spent on the production of his play. The spectacle was first performed in [[Orléans]] on 8 May 1435. Six hundred costumes were constructed, worn once, discarded, and constructed afresh for subsequent performances. Unlimited supplies of food and drink were made available to spectators at Gilles' expense.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=128–133}}</ref>

In 1434/5, Rais gradually withdrew from military and public life in order to pursue his own interests: the construction of a splendid Chapel of the Holy Innocents (where he officiated in robes of his own design),<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=123}}</ref> and the production of a theatrical spectacle called ''Le Mistère du Siège d'Orléans''. The play consisted of more than 20,000 lines of verse, requiring 140 speaking parts and 500 extras. Gilles was almost bankrupt at the time of the production and began selling property as early as 1432 to support his extravagant lifestyle. By March 1433, he had sold all his estates in Poitou (except those of his wife) and all his property in Maine. Only two castles in [[Anjou]], Champtocé-sur-Loire and Ingrandes, remained in his possession. Half of the total sales and mortgages were spent on the production of his play. The spectacle was first performed in Orléans on 8 May 1435. Six hundred costumes were constructed, worn once, discarded, and constructed afresh for subsequent performances. Unlimited supplies of food and drink were made available to spectators at Gilles' expense.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=128–133}}</ref>

In June 1435, family members gathered to put a curb on Gilles. They appealed to [[Pope Eugene IV]] to disavow the Chapel of the Holy Innocents (which he refused to do) and carried their concerns to the king. On 2 July 1435, a royal edict was proclaimed in [[Orléans]], [[Tours]], [[Angers]], [[Pouzauges]], and [[Champtocé-sur-Loire]] denouncing Gilles as a spendthrift and forbidding him from selling any further property. No subject of Charles VII was allowed to enter into any contract with him, and those in command of his castles were forbidden to dispose of them. Gilles' credit fell immediately and his creditors pressed upon him. He borrowed heavily, using his ''objets d'art'', manuscripts, books and clothing as security. When he left Orléans in late August or early September 1435, the town was littered with precious objects he was forced to leave behind. The edict did not apply to Brittany, and the family was unable to persuade the [[Duchy of Brittany|Duke of Brittany]] to enforce it.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=135}}</ref>

In June 1435, family members gathered to put a curb on Gilles. They appealed to Pope Eugene IV to disavow the Chapel of the Holy Innocents (which he refused to do) and carried their concerns to the king. On 2 July 1435, a royal edict was proclaimed in Orléans, Tours, Angers, Pouzauges, and Champtocé-sur-Loire denouncing Gilles as a spendthrift and forbidding him from selling any further property. No subject of Charles VII was allowed to enter into any contract with him, and those in command of his castles were forbidden to dispose of them. Gilles' credit fell immediately and his creditors pressed upon him. He borrowed heavily, using his ''objets d'art'', manuscripts, books and clothing as security. When he left Orléans in late August or early September 1435, the town was littered with precious objects he was forced to leave behind. The edict did not apply to Brittany, and the family was unable to persuade the [[Duchy of Brittany|Duke of Brittany]] to enforce it.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=135}}</ref>

==Occult involvement==

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In his confession, Gilles maintained the first assaults on children occurred between spring 1432 and spring 1433.<ref name="BenedettiP109">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=109}}</ref> The first murders occurred at Champtocé-sur-Loire; however, no account of these murders survived.<ref name="BenedettiP112">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=112}}</ref> Shortly after, Gilles moved to Machecoul where, as the record of his confession states, he killed, or ordered to be killed, a great but uncertain number of children after he [[sodomy|sodomized]] them.<ref name="BenedettiP112" /> Forty naked bodies of children were discovered in Machecoul in 1437.<ref name="BenedettiP112" />

The first documented case of child-snatching and murder concerns a boy of twelve called Jeudon (first name unknown), an apprentice to the [[furrier]] Guillaume Hilairet.<ref name="BenedettiP113">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=113}}</ref> Gilles de Rais' cousins, [[Gilles de Sillé]] and [[Roger de Briqueville]], asked the furrier to lend them the boy to take a message to Machecoul, and, when Jeudon did not return, the two noblemen told the inquiring furrier that they were ignorant of the boy's whereabouts and suggested he had been carried off by thieves at [[Tiffauges]] to be made into a [[Page (occupation)|page]].<ref name="BenedettiP113" /> In Gilles de Rais' trial, the events were testified to by Hillairet and his wife, the boy's father Jean Jeudon, and five others from Machecoul.

The first documented case of child-snatching and murder concerns a boy of twelve called Jeudon (first name unknown), an apprentice to the [[furrier]] Guillaume Hilairet.<ref name="BenedettiP113">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=113}}</ref> Gilles de Rais' cousins, [[Gilles de Sillé]] and Roger de Briqueville, asked the furrier to lend them the boy to take a message to Machecoul, and, when Jeudon did not return, the two noblemen told the inquiring furrier that they were ignorant of the boy's whereabouts and suggested he had been carried off by thieves at [[Tiffauges]] to be made into a [[Page (occupation)|page]].<ref name="BenedettiP113" /> In Gilles de Rais' trial, the events were testified to by Hillairet and his wife, the boy's father Jean Jeudon, and five others from Machecoul.

In his 1971 biography of Gilles de Rais, Jean Benedetti tells how the children who fell into Rais's hands were put to death:

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==Descendants and Barony of Rais==

Marie de Rais (d.1457) was married first to (1399–20 July 1450 Cherbourg, France), second to [[André de Laval-Montmorency]] (1408–1486) and had no children from either marriage. After her death the Barony de Rais passed to her uncle (1414–1473) and from him to his daughter Jeanne de Retz (1456–1473), married to Francois de Chauvigny (1430–1491). Their son was André III de Chauvigny (d.1503), who was married to Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier (1482–1561) and had no children. Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier, later married [[Louis, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon]].

Marie de Rais (d.1457) was married first to (1399–20 July 1450 Cherbourg, France), second to André de Laval-Montmorency (1408–1486) and had no children from either marriage. After her death the Barony de Rais passed to her uncle (1414–1473) and from him to his daughter Jeanne de Retz (1456–1473), married to Francois de Chauvigny (1430–1491). Their son was André III de Chauvigny (d.1503), who was married to Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier (1482–1561) and had no children. Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier, later married Louis, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon.

==Question of guilt==

Although Gilles de Rais was convicted of murdering many children by his confessions and the detailed eyewitness accounts of his own confederates and victims' parents,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/rais/execution_13.html |title=Gilles de Rais: The Pious Monster|publisher= The Crime Library|accessdate=17 November 2011}}</ref> doubts have persisted about the court's verdict. Counterarguments are based on the theory de Rais was himself a victim of an ecclesiastic plot or act of revenge by the Catholic Church or French state. Doubts on Gilles de Rais' guilt have long persisted because the Duke of Brittany, who was given the authority to prosecute, received all the titles to Gilles' former lands after his conviction. The Duke then divided the land among his own [[vassal|nobles]]. Writers such as [[secret societies]] specialist [[:fr:Jean-Pierre Bayard|Jean-Pierre Bayard]], in his book ''Plaidoyer pour Gilles de Rais'', contend he was a victim of the [[Inquisition]].

In the early 20th century, Anthropologist Margaret Murray and occultist Aleister Crowley are among those who questioned the involvement of the ecclesiastic and secular authorities in the case. Murray, who propagated the [[witch-cult hypothesis]], speculated in her book ''[[The Witch-Cult in Western Europe]]'' that Gilles de Rais was really a witch and adherent of a [[fertility cult]] centered on the [[Roman mythology|pagan]] goddess, [[Diana ~~(mythology)|Diana]]~~.<ref>{{cite book|pages= 173–174|title=[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20411 The Witch-Cult in Western Europe]|authorlink=Margaret Murray|first= Margaret|last= Murray|quote= Gilles de Rais was tried and executed as a witch and, in the same way, much that is mysterious in this trial can also be explained by the Dianic Cult|publisher=Oxford: Clarendon Press|year=1921}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aeja.org/Murray/index.html "Historical Association for Joan of Arc Studies."]</ref> However, most historians reject Murray's theory.<ref>Trevor-Roper, Hugh. ''The European Witch-craze of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries,'' 1969.</ref><ref>Russell, Jeffrey. ''A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics, and Pagans,'' 1970.</ref><ref>Simpson, Jacqueline. "Margaret Murray: Who Believed Her and Why?" ''Folkrealllore'' 105, 1994, pp. 89–96.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy''. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1991.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999</ref><ref>Kitteredge, G. L. ''Witchcraft in Old and New England''. 1951. pp. 275, 421, 565.</ref> [[Norman Cohn]] argues that her theory does not agree with what is known of Gilles' crimes and trial.<ref>Cohn, Norman. ''Europe's Inner Demons''. London: Pimlico, 1973.</ref><ref>Thomas, Keith. ''Religion and the Decline of Magic'', 1971 and 1997, pp. 514–517.</ref> Historians do not regard Gilles as a [[martyr]] to a pre-Christian religion; other scholars tend to view him as a lapsed Catholic who descended into crime and depravity.<ref>Barett, W.P. ''The Trial of Joan of Arc''. 1932.</ref><ref>Pernoud, Regine and Marie Veronique Clin. ''Joan of Arc, Her Story''. 1966</ref><ref>Meltzer, Françoise. ''For Fear of the Fire: Joan of Arc and the Limits of Subjectivity''. 2001.</ref>

In the early 20th century, Anthropologist Margaret Murray and occultist Aleister Crowley are among those who questioned the involvement of the ecclesiastic and secular authorities in the case. Murray, who propagated the witch-cult hypothesis, speculated in her book ''The Witch-Cult in Western Europe'' that Gilles de Rais was really a witch and adherent of a [[fertility cult]] centered on the [[Roman mythology|pagan]] goddess, Diana.<ref>{{cite book|pages= 173–174|title=[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20411 The Witch-Cult in Western Europe]|authorlink=Margaret Murray|first= Margaret|last= Murray|quote= Gilles de Rais was tried and executed as a witch and, in the same way, much that is mysterious in this trial can also be explained by the Dianic Cult|publisher=Oxford: Clarendon Press|year=1921}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aeja.org/Murray/index.html "Historical Association for Joan of Arc Studies."]</ref> However, most historians reject Murray's theory.<ref>Trevor-Roper, Hugh. ''The European Witch-craze of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries,'' 1969.</ref><ref>Russell, Jeffrey. ''A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics, and Pagans,'' 1970.</ref><ref>Simpson, Jacqueline. "Margaret Murray: Who Believed Her and Why?" ''Folkrealllore'' 105, 1994, pp. 89–96.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy''. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1991.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999</ref><ref>Kitteredge, G. L. ''Witchcraft in Old and New England''. 1951. pp. 275, 421, 565.</ref> [[Norman Cohn]] argues that her theory does not agree with what is known of Gilles' crimes and trial.<ref>Cohn, Norman. ''Europe's Inner Demons''. London: Pimlico, 1973.</ref><ref>Thomas, Keith. ''Religion and the Decline of Magic'', 1971 and 1997, pp. 514–517.</ref> Historians do not regard Gilles as a martyr to a pre-Christian religion; other scholars tend to view him as a lapsed Catholic who descended into crime and depravity.<ref>Barett, W.P. ''The Trial of Joan of Arc''. 1932.</ref><ref>Pernoud, Regine and Marie Veronique Clin. ''Joan of Arc, Her Story''. 1966</ref><ref>Meltzer, Françoise. ''For Fear of the Fire: Joan of Arc and the Limits of Subjectivity''. 2001.</ref>

Gilles was retried in a [[Moot court]], an unofficial process of rehabilitation in his home country of France.<ref>Alain Jost, ''Gilles de Rais'', Marabout, 1995, pp. 152</ref><ref>http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19921111&id=ATkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6620,2828943</ref> In 1992, [[Freemason]] Jean-Yves Goëau-Brissonnière, the [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] of the [[Grande Loge de France|Grand Lodge of France]], organized a court consisting of former French ministers, [[French Parliament|parliament members]] and UNESCO experts to re-examine the source material and evidence available at the medieval trial. The hearing, which concluded Gilles de Rais was not guilty of the crimes, was turned into a documentary called ''Gilles de Rais ou la Gueule du loup'', narrated by the writer [[Gilbert Prouteau]]. A team of lawyers, writers and politicians led by Gilbert Prouteau and presided over by Judge Henri Juramy found him not guilty, although none of the initiators is a medieval historian by profession. In addition, none of them sought professional advice from certified medievalists.<ref>Jean Kerhervé, « L'histoire ou le roman ? », in ''Le Peuple breton'', n° 347, November 1992, pp. 6-8</ref> "The case for Gilles de Rais's innocence is very strong," Prouteau said. "No child's corpse was ever found at his castle at Tiffauges and he appears to have confessed to escape excommunication...The accusations appear to be false charges made up by powerful rival lords to benefit from the confiscation of his lands.".<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/jun/17/bluebeard-gilles-de-rais-france</ref> However, the journalist Gilbert Philippe from the newspaper ''[[Ouest-France]]'', said that Prouteau was being "facetious and provocative".<ref>Gilbert Philippe, [http://www.ouest-france.fr/2012/08/03/vendee/L-ecrivain-Gilbert-Prouteau-s-est-eteint-a-95-ans-63350035.html « L'écrivain Gilbert Prouteau s'est éteint à 95 ans - Vendée »], in ''Ouest-France'', Friday August 2012.</ref> He also claimed that Prouteau thought the retrial was basically "an absolute joke".<ref>Jean de Raigniac, book review of Gilbert Prouteau's ''Roman de la Vendée'', in ''Lire en Vendée'', June–December 2010, [http://fr.slideshare.net/ecrivains-vendee/lire-envendeejuindecembre2010 pp.5]</ref>

Gilles was retried in a [[Moot court]], an unofficial process of rehabilitation in his home country of France.<ref>Alain Jost, ''Gilles de Rais'', Marabout, 1995, pp. 152</ref><ref>http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19921111&id=ATkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6620,2828943</ref> In 1992, [[Freemason]] Jean-Yves Goëau-Brissonnière, the [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] of the [[Grande Loge de France|Grand Lodge of France]], organized a court consisting of former French ministers, [[French Parliament|parliament members]] and UNESCO experts to re-examine the source material and evidence available at the medieval trial. The hearing, which concluded Gilles de Rais was not guilty of the crimes, was turned into a documentary called ''Gilles de Rais ou la Gueule du loup'', narrated by the writer Gilbert Prouteau. A team of lawyers, writers and politicians led by Gilbert Prouteau and presided over by Judge Henri Juramy found him not guilty, although none of the initiators is a medieval historian by profession. In addition, none of them sought professional advice from certified medievalists.<ref>Jean Kerhervé, « L'histoire ou le roman ? », in ''Le Peuple breton'', n° 347, November 1992, pp. 6-8</ref> "The case for Gilles de Rais's innocence is very strong," Prouteau said. "No child's corpse was ever found at his castle at Tiffauges and he appears to have confessed to escape excommunication...The accusations appear to be false charges made up by powerful rival lords to benefit from the confiscation of his lands.".<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/jun/17/bluebeard-gilles-de-rais-france</ref> However, the journalist Gilbert Philippe from the newspaper ''Ouest-France'', said that Prouteau was being "facetious and provocative".<ref>Gilbert Philippe, [http://www.ouest-france.fr/2012/08/03/vendee/L-ecrivain-Gilbert-Prouteau-s-est-eteint-a-95-ans-63350035.html « L'écrivain Gilbert Prouteau s'est éteint à 95 ans - Vendée »], in ''Ouest-France'', Friday August 2012.</ref> He also claimed that Prouteau thought the retrial was basically "an absolute joke".<ref>Jean de Raigniac, book review of Gilbert Prouteau's ''Roman de la Vendée'', in ''Lire en Vendée'', June–December 2010, [http://fr.slideshare.net/ecrivains-vendee/lire-envendeejuindecembre2010 pp.5]</ref>

==Cultural references==

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===Books, graphic novels===

*The protagonist Durtal, from Huysmans's ''[[Là-bas ~~(novel)|Là-bas]]~~'' (1891), conducts intensive research into Gilles de Rais which forms the basis of many of the chapters in the novel.

*The protagonist Durtal, from Huysmans's ''Là-bas'' (1891), conducts intensive research into Gilles de Rais which forms the basis of many of the chapters in the novel.

*Gilles de Rais is one of the antagonists in the manga Drifters.

*Gilles de Rais is one of the demon lords of Hell seeking to become regent in Lucifer's absence in the manga Devils and Realist.

*Gilles de Rais is the main of antagonists the manga Tetragrammaton Labyrinth. Angela, the protagonist of the manga, is revealed to be one of the young victims of Rais. Gilles de Rais ultimate goal is later revealed to be the revival of Jeanne d'Arc.

*"Classical Scenes of Farewell", a short story by [[Jim Shepard]], is told from the point of view of one of Gilles de Rais' servants.

*"Classical Scenes of Farewell", a short story by Jim Shepard, is told from the point of view of one of Gilles de Rais' servants.

*[[Philip José Farmer]]'s 1968 [[Speculative fiction|sf]] novel [[Image of the Beast (novel)|The Image of the Beast]] features a "she-creature who gives birth to the limbless, ectoplasmic simulacrum of satanic child killer Gilles de Rais".<ref>Philip José Farmer. ''The Image of the Beast''. Creation Oneiros, 2007. ISBN 1 902197-24-0</ref>

*Philip José Farmer's 1968 [[Speculative fiction|sf]] novel [[Image of the Beast (novel)|The Image of the Beast]] features a "she-creature who gives birth to the limbless, ectoplasmic simulacrum of satanic child killer Gilles de Rais".<ref>Philip José Farmer. ''The Image of the Beast''. Creation Oneiros, 2007. ISBN 1 902197-24-0</ref>

*In the science fiction novella "Rumfuddle" by [[Jack Vance]], the main character, Gilbert Duray, is revealed at the end of the story to actually be Gilles de Rais, one of several notorious historical figures taken from their own times to be "rehabilitated" in alternate worlds.

*Gilles de Rais is a central character in the comic series ''Jhen Roque'' by Jacques Martin and Jean Pleyers. He appears at least in the following episodes 1-L’Or de la Mort, 2-Jehanne de France, 3-Les Ecorcheurs, 4-La Barbe Bleue, 5-La Cathedrale, 6-Le Lys et l’Ogre, 7-L’Alchimiste, 8-Le Secret des Templiers, 10-Les Sorcieres.<ref>Marie-Madeleine Castellani, « Les figures du Mal dans la bande dessinée Jhen », Cahiers de recherches médiévales [En ligne], 2 | 1996, mis en ligne le 04 février 2008, consulté le 28 décembre 2013. URL : http://crm.revues.org/2502 ; DOI : 10.4000/crm.2502</ref> These books are published by Casterman.

*Gilles de Rais is a main character in the series "Joan of Arc Tapestries" by Ann Chamberlin. The first book, "The Merlin of St. Gille's Well" was published in 2000.

*Gilles de Rais's career with Joan of Arc and his subsequent decline and execution is a major plot point of [[H. Warner Munn]]'s 1974 fantasy novel [[Merlin's Ring]].

*Gilles de Rais's career with Joan of Arc and his subsequent decline and execution is a major plot point of [[H. Warner Munn]]'s 1974 fantasy novel Merlin's Ring.

*Gilles de Rais is the subject of a 1977 novel by Edward Lucie-Smith titled "The Dark Pageant". The story is narrated by Raoul de Saumur, companion and comrade-in-arms to de Rais.

*Gilles de Rais makes a brief appearance in the 2012 novel, [[The Folly of the World ~~(novel)|The Folly of the World]]~~, by [[Jesse Bullington]].

*Gilles de Rais makes a brief appearance in the 2012 novel, The Folly of the World, by Jesse Bullington.

*Gilles de Rais is defeated by the protagonist, Madison, of [[Chuck Palahniuk]]'s 2011 novel [[Damned (Palahniuk novel)|Damned]].

*Gilles de Rais is defeated by the protagonist, Madison, of Chuck Palahniuk's 2011 novel [[Damned (Palahniuk novel)|Damned]].

*"Bluebeard Brave Warrior, Brutal Psychopath." Valerie Ogden. Palisades, New York. History Publishing Company

*Gilles de Rais (alternatively spelled de Raiz) is stated as a rare example of a true sinner by the sorcerer recluse Ambrose in [[Arthur Machen]]'s short story [[The White People]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = The House of Souls|last = Machen|first = Arthur|publisher = Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.|year = 1922|isbn = |location = US|pages = 118, 119|work = }}</ref>

*Gilles de Rais (alternatively spelled de Raiz) is stated as a rare example of a true sinner by the sorcerer recluse Ambrose in Arthur Machen's short story The White People.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The House of Souls|last = Machen|first = Arthur|publisher = Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.|year = 1922|isbn = |location = US|pages = 118, 119|work = }}</ref>

===Film and television===

*Gilles de Rais is featured as one of the antagonists in the 2011 anime [[Fate/Zero]], in the class of Caster.

*[[David Oxley]] played the part in [[Otto Preminger]]'s 1957 film version of Shaw's play, ''[[Saint Joan ~~(film)|Saint Joan]]~~''.

*David Oxley played the part in [[Otto Preminger]]'s 1957 film version of Shaw's play, ''Saint Joan''.

*The 1974 film ''[[El Mariscal del Infierno]]'' (''The Marshall from Hell'', also known as ''Devil's Possessed'') from director [[León Klimovsky]] is a fictionalized account of the occult life and downfall of Gilles de Rais. [[Paul Naschy]] plays the role of Gilles de Rais.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071415/]</ref>

*The 1974 film ''El Mariscal del Infierno'' (''The Marshall from Hell'', also known as ''Devil's Possessed'') from director León Klimovsky is a fictionalized account of the occult life and downfall of Gilles de Rais. [[Paul Naschy]] plays the role of Gilles de Rais.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071415/]</ref>

*In 1986, the Spanish director [[Agusti Villaronga]] directed the film ''~~[[Tras el cristal|~~Tras El Cristal]]'', with an original script based on the killings of Gilles de Rais.

*In 1986, the Spanish director Agusti Villaronga directed the film ''Tras El Cristal'', with an original script based on the killings of Gilles de Rais.

*[[Vincent Cassel]] played the part in [[Luc Besson]]'s ''[[The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc]]'' in 1999.

*Vincent Cassel played the part in Luc Besson's ''The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc'' in 1999.

*Gilles de Rais was an alias given to "Ray" an openly gay support character in the 7th episode of the 4th season of the animated series ~~[[Archer (TV series)|~~Archer]]. His name was listed as such and the title of "Child-Murderer" in this episode titled ''Live and Let Dine''

*Gilles de Rais was an alias given to "Ray" an openly gay support character in the 7th episode of the 4th season of the animated series Archer. His name was listed as such and the title of "Child-Murderer" in this episode titled ''Live and Let Dine''

*Gilles de Rais was featured as the main antagonist of the 2014 anime Rage of Bahamut: Genesis.

*Gilles de Rais is featured as a demon in the anime, manga, and video game [[Devils and Realist]].

Line 103:

===Music===

*~~[[Macabre (band)|~~Macabre]], (Technical/Death Metal band from Chicago) released a song about Gilles de Rais called "The Black Knight" from the 2011 [[Grim Scary Tales]] album.

*Macabre, (Technical/Death Metal band from Chicago) released a song about Gilles de Rais called "The Black Knight" from the 2011 Grim Scary Tales album.

*[[Cradle of Filth]]'s album ''[[Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder]]'' is centered on the life of Gilles de Rais after Joan of Arc's burning.

*Cradle of Filth's album ''Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder'' is centered on the life of Gilles de Rais after Joan of Arc's burning.

*''La Passion de Gilles'', opera (French libretto), 1983, music: [[Philippe Boesmans]], libretto: [[Pierre Mertens]] based on his 1982 play (same title).

*''La Passion de Gilles'', opera (French libretto), 1983, music: Philippe Boesmans, libretto: Pierre Mertens based on his 1982 play (same title).

*[[The Black Dahlia Murder ~~(band)|The Black Dahlia Murder]]~~'s song "The Window" on their [[Ritual (The Black Dahlia Murder album)|Ritual]] album is based on Gilles de Rais, featuring lyrics such as "I sit upon their chests until they cease/Expressionless ejaculating whilst they die"

*The Black Dahlia Murder's song "The Window" on their [[Ritual (The Black Dahlia Murder album)|Ritual]] album is based on Gilles de Rais, featuring lyrics such as "I sit upon their chests until they cease/Expressionless ejaculating whilst they die"

*[[Celtic Frost]]'s debut album ''[[Morbid Tales]]'' had the song "Into the Crypt of Rays", a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and punishment.

*Celtic Frost's debut album ''[[Morbid Tales]]'' had the song "Into the Crypt of Rays", a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and punishment.

*~~[[Brodequin (band)|~~Brodequin]]'s song "Gilles De Rais" from the album [[Festival of Death (album)|Festival of Death]] is also a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.

*Brodequin's song "Gilles De Rais" from the album [[Festival of Death (album)|Festival of Death]] is also a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.

*[[Ancient Rites]]' song "Morbid Glory (Gilles de Rais 1404–1440)" from the album "The Diabolical Serenades" is a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.

*Ancient Rites' song "Morbid Glory (Gilles de Rais 1404–1440)" from the album "The Diabolical Serenades" is a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.

[[Category:Male]]

[[Category:Criminals]]

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 Gilles de Rais, due to his knightly status, was still granted a proper burial despite his horrendous crimes and a monument to him remained until its destruction during the French Revolution.
-Gilles de Rais is believed to be the inspiration for the 1697 fairy tale "[[Bluebeard]]" ("Barbebleu") by Charles Perrault. His life is the subject of several modern novels, and referenced in a number of [[Rock music|rock]] bands' albums and songs.
+Gilles de Rais is believed to be the inspiration for the 1697 fairy tale "[[Bluebeard]]" ("Barbebleu") by Charles Perrault. His life is the subject of several modern novels, and referenced in a number of rock bands' albums and songs.
 ==Early life==
-Gilles de Rais was probably born in late 1405<ref>{{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', Paris: Tallandier, 2005, p.11 ; 23-25.</ref> to Guy II de Montmorency-Laval and Marie de Craon in the family castle at Champtocé-sur-Loire.<ref>{{fr icon}} Ambroise Ledru, "Gilles de Rais dit Barbe-Bleue, maréchal de France. Sa jeunesse, 1404-1424", ''L'union historique et littéraire du Maine'', vol. I, 1893, pp.270-284; {{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', 2005, p.11.</ref> He was an intelligent child, speaking fluent Latin, illuminating manuscripts, and dividing his education between military discipline and moral and intellectual development.<ref name="BenedettiP33">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=33}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=13}}</ref> Following the deaths of his father and mother in 1415, Gilles and his younger brother René de La Suze were placed under the tutelage of Jean de Craon, their maternal grandfather.<ref name="BenedettiP35">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=35}}</ref> Jean de Craon was a schemer who attempted to arrange a marriage for twelve-year-old Gilles with four-year-old Jeanne Paynel, one of the richest heiresses in Normandy, and, when the plan failed, attempted unsuccessfully to unite the boy with Béatrice de Rohan, the niece to the Duke of Brittany.<ref name="BenedettiPP37–38">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=37–38}}</ref> On 30 November 1420, however, Craon substantially increased his grandson's fortune by marrying him to Catherine de Thouars of [[Duchy of Brittany|Brittany]], heiress of La Vendée and [[Poitou]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=28}}</ref> Their only child Marie was born in 1429.<ref name="BenedettiP45,102">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=45,102}}</ref>
+Gilles de Rais was probably born in late 1405<ref>{{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', Paris: Tallandier, 2005, p.11 ; 23-25.</ref> to Guy II de Montmorency-Laval and Marie de Craon in the family castle at Champtocé-sur-Loire.<ref>{{fr icon}} Ambroise Ledru, "Gilles de Rais dit Barbe-Bleue, maréchal de France. Sa jeunesse, 1404-1424", ''L'union historique et littéraire du Maine'', vol. I, 1893, pp.270-284; {{fr icon}} Matei Cazacu, ''Gilles de Rais'', 2005, p.11.</ref> He was an intelligent child, speaking fluent Latin, illuminating manuscripts, and dividing his education between military discipline and moral and intellectual development.<ref name="BenedettiP33">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=33}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=13}}</ref> Following the deaths of his father and mother in 1415, Gilles and his younger brother René de La Suze were placed under the tutelage of Jean de Craon, their maternal grandfather.<ref name="BenedettiP35">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=35}}</ref> Jean de Craon was a schemer who attempted to arrange a marriage for twelve-year-old Gilles with four-year-old Jeanne Paynel, one of the richest heiresses in Normandy, and, when the plan failed, attempted unsuccessfully to unite the boy with Béatrice de Rohan, the niece to the Duke of Brittany.<ref name="BenedettiPP37–38">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=37–38}}</ref> On 30 November 1420, however, Craon substantially increased his grandson's fortune by marrying him to Catherine de Thouars of Brittany, heiress of La Vendée and [[Poitou]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=28}}</ref> Their only child Marie was born in 1429.<ref name="BenedettiP45,102">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=45,102}}</ref>
 ==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 [[John VI, Duke of Brittany|Duke John VI]] prisoner in violation of the [[Treaty of Guérande (1365)]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Wolf|1980|p=23}}</ref> The sixteen-year-old Gilles took the side of the House of Montfort. 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 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 took the side of the House of Montfort. 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, Rais was introduced to the court of [[Charles VII of France|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>
+In 1425, 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, 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 along with Joan of Arc in some 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>
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 ==Private life==
-In 1434/5, Rais gradually withdrew from military and public life in order to pursue his own interests: the construction of a splendid Chapel of the Holy Innocents (where he officiated in robes of his own design),<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=123}}</ref> and the production of a theatrical spectacle called ''Le Mistère du Siège d'Orléans''. The play consisted of more than 20,000 lines of verse, requiring 140 speaking parts and 500 extras. Gilles was almost bankrupt at the time of the production and began selling property as early as 1432 to support his extravagant lifestyle. By March 1433, he had sold all his estates in Poitou (except those of his wife) and all his property in Maine. Only two castles in [[Anjou]], [[Champtocé-sur-Loire]] and [[Ingrandes, Maine-et-Loire|Ingrandes]], remained in his possession. Half of the total sales and mortgages were spent on the production of his play. The spectacle was first performed in [[Orléans]] on 8&nbsp;May 1435. Six hundred costumes were constructed, worn once, discarded, and constructed afresh for subsequent performances. Unlimited supplies of food and drink were made available to spectators at Gilles' expense.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=128–133}}</ref>
+In 1434/5, Rais gradually withdrew from military and public life in order to pursue his own interests: the construction of a splendid Chapel of the Holy Innocents (where he officiated in robes of his own design),<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=123}}</ref> and the production of a theatrical spectacle called ''Le Mistère du Siège d'Orléans''. The play consisted of more than 20,000 lines of verse, requiring 140 speaking parts and 500 extras. Gilles was almost bankrupt at the time of the production and began selling property as early as 1432 to support his extravagant lifestyle. By March 1433, he had sold all his estates in Poitou (except those of his wife) and all his property in Maine. Only two castles in [[Anjou]], Champtocé-sur-Loire and Ingrandes, remained in his possession. Half of the total sales and mortgages were spent on the production of his play. The spectacle was first performed in Orléans on 8&nbsp;May 1435. Six hundred costumes were constructed, worn once, discarded, and constructed afresh for subsequent performances. Unlimited supplies of food and drink were made available to spectators at Gilles' expense.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|pp=128–133}}</ref>
-In June 1435, family members gathered to put a curb on Gilles. They appealed to [[Pope Eugene IV]] to disavow the Chapel of the Holy Innocents (which he refused to do) and carried their concerns to the king. On 2&nbsp;July 1435, a royal edict was proclaimed in [[Orléans]], [[Tours]], [[Angers]], [[Pouzauges]], and [[Champtocé-sur-Loire]] denouncing Gilles as a spendthrift and forbidding him from selling any further property. No subject of Charles VII was allowed to enter into any contract with him, and those in command of his castles were forbidden to dispose of them. Gilles' credit fell immediately and his creditors pressed upon him. He borrowed heavily, using his ''objets d'art'', manuscripts, books and clothing as security. When he left Orléans in late August or early September 1435, the town was littered with precious objects he was forced to leave behind. The edict did not apply to Brittany, and the family was unable to persuade the  [[Duchy of Brittany|Duke of Brittany]] to enforce it.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=135}}</ref>
+In June 1435, family members gathered to put a curb on Gilles. They appealed to Pope Eugene IV to disavow the Chapel of the Holy Innocents (which he refused to do) and carried their concerns to the king. On 2&nbsp;July 1435, a royal edict was proclaimed in Orléans, Tours, Angers, Pouzauges, and Champtocé-sur-Loire denouncing Gilles as a spendthrift and forbidding him from selling any further property. No subject of Charles VII was allowed to enter into any contract with him, and those in command of his castles were forbidden to dispose of them. Gilles' credit fell immediately and his creditors pressed upon him. He borrowed heavily, using his ''objets d'art'', manuscripts, books and clothing as security. When he left Orléans in late August or early September 1435, the town was littered with precious objects he was forced to leave behind. The edict did not apply to Brittany, and the family was unable to persuade the  [[Duchy of Brittany|Duke of Brittany]] to enforce it.<ref>{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=135}}</ref>
 ==Occult involvement==
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 In his confession, Gilles maintained the first assaults on children occurred between spring 1432 and spring 1433.<ref name="BenedettiP109">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=109}}</ref> The first murders occurred at Champtocé-sur-Loire; however, no account of these murders survived.<ref name="BenedettiP112">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=112}}</ref> Shortly after, Gilles moved to Machecoul where, as the record of his confession states, he killed, or ordered to be killed, a great but uncertain number of children after he [[sodomy|sodomized]] them.<ref name="BenedettiP112" /> Forty naked bodies of children were discovered in Machecoul in 1437.<ref name="BenedettiP112" />
-The first documented case of child-snatching and murder concerns a boy of twelve called Jeudon (first name unknown), an apprentice to the [[furrier]] Guillaume Hilairet.<ref name="BenedettiP113">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=113}}</ref> Gilles de Rais' cousins, [[Gilles de Sillé]] and [[Roger de Briqueville]], asked the furrier to lend them the boy to take a message to Machecoul, and, when Jeudon did not return, the two noblemen told the inquiring furrier that they were ignorant of the boy's whereabouts and suggested he had been carried off by thieves at [[Tiffauges]] to be made into a [[Page (occupation)|page]].<ref name="BenedettiP113" /> In Gilles de Rais' trial, the events were testified to by Hillairet and his wife, the boy's father Jean Jeudon, and five others from Machecoul.
+The first documented case of child-snatching and murder concerns a boy of twelve called Jeudon (first name unknown), an apprentice to the [[furrier]] Guillaume Hilairet.<ref name="BenedettiP113">{{Harvnb|Benedetti|1971|p=113}}</ref> Gilles de Rais' cousins, [[Gilles de Sillé]] and Roger de Briqueville, asked the furrier to lend them the boy to take a message to Machecoul, and, when Jeudon did not return, the two noblemen told the inquiring furrier that they were ignorant of the boy's whereabouts and suggested he had been carried off by thieves at [[Tiffauges]] to be made into a [[Page (occupation)|page]].<ref name="BenedettiP113" /> In Gilles de Rais' trial, the events were testified to by Hillairet and his wife, the boy's father Jean Jeudon, and five others from Machecoul.
 In his 1971 biography of Gilles de Rais, Jean Benedetti tells how the children who fell into Rais's hands were put to death:
@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 ==Descendants and Barony of Rais==
-Marie de Rais (d.1457) was married first to  (1399–20 July 1450 Cherbourg, France), second to [[André de Laval-Montmorency]] (1408–1486) and had no children from either marriage. After her death the Barony de Rais passed to her uncle  (1414–1473) and from him to his daughter Jeanne de Retz (1456–1473), married to Francois de Chauvigny (1430–1491). Their son was André III de Chauvigny (d.1503), who was married to Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier (1482–1561) and had no children. Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier, later married [[Louis, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon]].
+Marie de Rais (d.1457) was married first to  (1399–20 July 1450 Cherbourg, France), second to André de Laval-Montmorency (1408–1486) and had no children from either marriage. After her death the Barony de Rais passed to her uncle  (1414–1473) and from him to his daughter Jeanne de Retz (1456–1473), married to Francois de Chauvigny (1430–1491). Their son was André III de Chauvigny (d.1503), who was married to Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier (1482–1561) and had no children. Louise de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier, later married Louis, Prince of La Roche-sur-Yon.
 ==Question of guilt==
 Although Gilles de Rais was convicted of murdering many children by his confessions and the detailed eyewitness accounts of his own confederates and victims' parents,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/rais/execution_13.html |title=Gilles de Rais: The Pious Monster|publisher= The Crime Library|accessdate=17 November 2011}}</ref> doubts have persisted about the court's verdict. Counterarguments are based on the theory de Rais was himself a victim of an ecclesiastic plot or act of revenge by the Catholic Church or French state. Doubts on Gilles de Rais' guilt have long persisted because the Duke of Brittany, who was given the authority to prosecute, received all the titles to Gilles' former lands after his conviction. The Duke then divided the land among his own [[vassal|nobles]]. Writers such as [[secret societies]] specialist [[:fr:Jean-Pierre Bayard|Jean-Pierre Bayard]], in his book ''Plaidoyer pour Gilles de Rais'', contend he was a victim of the [[Inquisition]].
-In the early 20th century, Anthropologist Margaret Murray and occultist Aleister Crowley are among those who questioned the involvement of the ecclesiastic and secular authorities in the case. Murray, who propagated the [[witch-cult hypothesis]], speculated in her book ''[[The Witch-Cult in Western Europe]]'' that Gilles de Rais was really a witch and adherent of a [[fertility cult]] centered on the [[Roman mythology|pagan]] goddess, [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]].<ref>{{cite book|pages= 173–174|title=[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20411 The Witch-Cult in Western Europe]|authorlink=Margaret Murray|first= Margaret|last= Murray|quote= Gilles de Rais was tried and executed as a witch and, in the same way, much that is mysterious in this trial can also be explained by the Dianic Cult|publisher=Oxford: Clarendon Press|year=1921}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aeja.org/Murray/index.html "Historical Association for Joan of Arc Studies."]</ref> However, most historians reject Murray's theory.<ref>Trevor-Roper, Hugh. ''The European Witch-craze of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries,'' 1969.</ref><ref>Russell, Jeffrey. ''A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics, and Pagans,'' 1970.</ref><ref>Simpson, Jacqueline. "Margaret Murray: Who Believed Her and Why?" ''Folkrealllore'' 105, 1994, pp. 89–96.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy''. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1991.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999</ref><ref>Kitteredge, G. L. ''Witchcraft in Old and New England''. 1951. pp. 275, 421, 565.</ref> [[Norman Cohn]] argues that her theory does not agree with what is known of Gilles' crimes and trial.<ref>Cohn, Norman. ''Europe's Inner Demons''. London: Pimlico, 1973.</ref><ref>Thomas, Keith. ''Religion and the Decline of Magic'', 1971 and 1997, pp. 514–517.</ref> Historians do not regard Gilles as a [[martyr]] to a pre-Christian religion; other scholars tend to view him as a lapsed Catholic who descended into crime and depravity.<ref>Barett, W.P. ''The Trial of Joan of Arc''. 1932.</ref><ref>Pernoud, Regine and Marie Veronique Clin. ''Joan of Arc, Her Story''. 1966</ref><ref>Meltzer, Françoise. ''For Fear of the Fire: Joan of Arc and the Limits of Subjectivity''. 2001.</ref>
+In the early 20th century, Anthropologist Margaret Murray and occultist Aleister Crowley are among those who questioned the involvement of the ecclesiastic and secular authorities in the case. Murray, who propagated the witch-cult hypothesis, speculated in her book ''The Witch-Cult in Western Europe'' that Gilles de Rais was really a witch and adherent of a [[fertility cult]] centered on the [[Roman mythology|pagan]] goddess, Diana.<ref>{{cite book|pages= 173–174|title=[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20411 The Witch-Cult in Western Europe]|authorlink=Margaret Murray|first= Margaret|last= Murray|quote= Gilles de Rais was tried and executed as a witch and, in the same way, much that is mysterious in this trial can also be explained by the Dianic Cult|publisher=Oxford: Clarendon Press|year=1921}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aeja.org/Murray/index.html "Historical Association for Joan of Arc Studies."]</ref> However, most historians reject Murray's theory.<ref>Trevor-Roper, Hugh. ''The European Witch-craze of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries,'' 1969.</ref><ref>Russell, Jeffrey. ''A History of Witchcraft: Sorcerers, Heretics, and Pagans,'' 1970.</ref><ref>Simpson, Jacqueline. "Margaret Murray: Who Believed Her and Why?" ''Folkrealllore'' 105, 1994, pp. 89–96.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy''. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 1991.</ref><ref>Hutton, Ronald. ''The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft''. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999</ref><ref>Kitteredge, G. L. ''Witchcraft in Old and New England''. 1951. pp. 275, 421, 565.</ref> [[Norman Cohn]] argues that her theory does not agree with what is known of Gilles' crimes and trial.<ref>Cohn, Norman. ''Europe's Inner Demons''. London: Pimlico, 1973.</ref><ref>Thomas, Keith. ''Religion and the Decline of Magic'', 1971 and 1997, pp. 514–517.</ref> Historians do not regard Gilles as a martyr to a pre-Christian religion; other scholars tend to view him as a lapsed Catholic who descended into crime and depravity.<ref>Barett, W.P. ''The Trial of Joan of Arc''. 1932.</ref><ref>Pernoud, Regine and Marie Veronique Clin. ''Joan of Arc, Her Story''. 1966</ref><ref>Meltzer, Françoise. ''For Fear of the Fire: Joan of Arc and the Limits of Subjectivity''. 2001.</ref>
-Gilles was retried in a [[Moot court]], an unofficial process of rehabilitation in his home country of France.<ref>Alain Jost, ''Gilles de Rais'', Marabout, 1995, pp. 152</ref><ref>http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19921111&id=ATkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6620,2828943</ref> In 1992, [[Freemason]] Jean-Yves Goëau-Brissonnière, the [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] of the [[Grande Loge de France|Grand Lodge of France]], organized a court consisting of former French ministers, [[French Parliament|parliament members]] and UNESCO experts to re-examine the source material and evidence available at the medieval trial. The hearing, which concluded Gilles de Rais was not guilty of the crimes, was turned into a documentary called ''Gilles de Rais ou la Gueule du loup'', narrated by the writer [[Gilbert Prouteau]]. A team of lawyers, writers and politicians led by Gilbert Prouteau and presided over by Judge Henri Juramy found him not guilty, although none of the initiators is a medieval historian by profession. In addition, none of them sought professional advice from certified medievalists.<ref>Jean Kerhervé, « L'histoire ou le roman ? », in ''Le Peuple breton'', n° 347, November 1992, pp. 6-8</ref> "The case for Gilles de Rais's innocence is very strong," Prouteau said. "No child's corpse was ever found at his castle at Tiffauges and he appears to have confessed to escape excommunication...The accusations appear to be false charges made up by powerful rival lords to benefit from the confiscation of his lands.".<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/jun/17/bluebeard-gilles-de-rais-france</ref> However, the journalist Gilbert Philippe from the newspaper ''[[Ouest-France]]'', said that Prouteau was being "facetious and provocative".<ref>Gilbert Philippe, [http://www.ouest-france.fr/2012/08/03/vendee/L-ecrivain-Gilbert-Prouteau-s-est-eteint-a-95-ans-63350035.html « L'écrivain Gilbert Prouteau s'est éteint à 95 ans - Vendée »], in ''Ouest-France'', Friday August 2012.</ref> He also claimed that Prouteau thought the retrial was basically "an absolute joke".<ref>Jean de Raigniac, book review of Gilbert Prouteau's ''Roman de la Vendée'', in ''Lire en Vendée'', June–December 2010, [http://fr.slideshare.net/ecrivains-vendee/lire-envendeejuindecembre2010 pp.5]</ref>
+Gilles was retried in a [[Moot court]], an unofficial process of rehabilitation in his home country of France.<ref>Alain Jost, ''Gilles de Rais'', Marabout, 1995, pp. 152</ref><ref>http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=19921111&id=ATkdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6620,2828943</ref> In 1992, [[Freemason]] Jean-Yves Goëau-Brissonnière, the [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] of the [[Grande Loge de France|Grand Lodge of France]], organized a court consisting of former French ministers, [[French Parliament|parliament members]] and UNESCO experts to re-examine the source material and evidence available at the medieval trial. The hearing, which concluded Gilles de Rais was not guilty of the crimes, was turned into a documentary called ''Gilles de Rais ou la Gueule du loup'', narrated by the writer Gilbert Prouteau. A team of lawyers, writers and politicians led by Gilbert Prouteau and presided over by Judge Henri Juramy found him not guilty, although none of the initiators is a medieval historian by profession. In addition, none of them sought professional advice from certified medievalists.<ref>Jean Kerhervé, « L'histoire ou le roman ? », in ''Le Peuple breton'', n° 347, November 1992, pp. 6-8</ref> "The case for Gilles de Rais's innocence is very strong," Prouteau said. "No child's corpse was ever found at his castle at Tiffauges and he appears to have confessed to escape excommunication...The accusations appear to be false charges made up by powerful rival lords to benefit from the confiscation of his lands.".<ref>http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/jun/17/bluebeard-gilles-de-rais-france</ref> However, the journalist Gilbert Philippe from the newspaper ''Ouest-France'', said that Prouteau was being "facetious and provocative".<ref>Gilbert Philippe, [http://www.ouest-france.fr/2012/08/03/vendee/L-ecrivain-Gilbert-Prouteau-s-est-eteint-a-95-ans-63350035.html « L'écrivain Gilbert Prouteau s'est éteint à 95 ans - Vendée »], in ''Ouest-France'', Friday August 2012.</ref> He also claimed that Prouteau thought the retrial was basically "an absolute joke".<ref>Jean de Raigniac, book review of Gilbert Prouteau's ''Roman de la Vendée'', in ''Lire en Vendée'', June–December 2010, [http://fr.slideshare.net/ecrivains-vendee/lire-envendeejuindecembre2010 pp.5]</ref>
 ==Cultural references==
@@ Line 75: / Line 75: @@
 ===Books, graphic novels===
-*The protagonist Durtal, from Huysmans's ''[[Là-bas (novel)|Là-bas]]'' (1891), conducts intensive research into Gilles de Rais which forms the basis of many of the chapters in the novel.
+*The protagonist Durtal, from Huysmans's ''Là-bas'' (1891), conducts intensive research into Gilles de Rais which forms the basis of many of the chapters in the novel.
 *Gilles de Rais is one of the antagonists in the manga Drifters.
 *Gilles de Rais is one of the demon lords of Hell seeking to become regent in Lucifer's absence in the manga Devils and Realist.
 *Gilles de Rais is the main of antagonists the manga Tetragrammaton Labyrinth. Angela, the protagonist of the manga, is revealed to be one of the young victims of Rais. Gilles de Rais ultimate goal is later revealed to be the revival of Jeanne d'Arc.
-*"Classical Scenes of Farewell", a short story by [[Jim Shepard]], is told from the point of view of one of Gilles de Rais' servants.
+*"Classical Scenes of Farewell", a short story by Jim Shepard, is told from the point of view of one of Gilles de Rais' servants.
-*[[Philip José Farmer]]'s 1968 [[Speculative fiction|sf]] novel [[Image of the Beast (novel)|The Image of the Beast]] features a "she-creature who gives birth to the limbless, ectoplasmic simulacrum of satanic child killer Gilles de Rais".<ref>Philip José Farmer. ''The Image of the Beast''. Creation Oneiros, 2007. ISBN 1 902197-24-0</ref>
+*Philip José Farmer's 1968 [[Speculative fiction|sf]] novel [[Image of the Beast (novel)|The Image of the Beast]] features a "she-creature who gives birth to the limbless, ectoplasmic simulacrum of satanic child killer Gilles de Rais".<ref>Philip José Farmer. ''The Image of the Beast''. Creation Oneiros, 2007. ISBN 1 902197-24-0</ref>
 *In the science fiction novella "Rumfuddle" by [[Jack Vance]], the main character, Gilbert Duray, is revealed at the end of the story to actually be Gilles de Rais, one of several notorious historical figures taken from their own times to be "rehabilitated" in alternate worlds.
 *Gilles de Rais is a central character in the comic series ''Jhen Roque'' by Jacques Martin and Jean Pleyers.  He appears at least in the following episodes 1-L’Or de la Mort, 2-Jehanne de France, 3-Les Ecorcheurs, 4-La Barbe Bleue, 5-La Cathedrale, 6-Le Lys et l’Ogre, 7-L’Alchimiste, 8-Le Secret des Templiers, 10-Les Sorcieres.<ref>Marie-Madeleine Castellani, « Les figures du Mal dans la bande dessinée Jhen », Cahiers de recherches médiévales [En ligne], 2 | 1996, mis en ligne le 04 février 2008, consulté le 28 décembre 2013. URL : http://crm.revues.org/2502 ; DOI : 10.4000/crm.2502</ref>  These books are published by Casterman.
 *Gilles de Rais is a main character in the series "Joan of Arc Tapestries" by Ann Chamberlin. The first book, "The Merlin of St. Gille's Well" was published in 2000.
-*Gilles de Rais's career with Joan of Arc and his subsequent decline and execution is a major plot point of [[H. Warner Munn]]'s 1974 fantasy novel [[Merlin's Ring]].
+*Gilles de Rais's career with Joan of Arc and his subsequent decline and execution is a major plot point of [[H. Warner Munn]]'s 1974 fantasy novel Merlin's Ring.
 *Gilles de Rais is the subject of a 1977 novel by Edward Lucie-Smith titled "The Dark Pageant".  The story is narrated by Raoul de Saumur, companion and comrade-in-arms to de Rais.
-*Gilles de Rais makes a brief appearance in the 2012 novel, [[The Folly of the World (novel)|The Folly of the World]], by [[Jesse Bullington]].
+*Gilles de Rais makes a brief appearance in the 2012 novel, The Folly of the World, by Jesse Bullington.
-*Gilles de Rais is defeated by the protagonist, Madison, of [[Chuck Palahniuk]]'s 2011 novel [[Damned (Palahniuk novel)|Damned]].
+*Gilles de Rais is defeated by the protagonist, Madison, of Chuck Palahniuk's 2011 novel [[Damned (Palahniuk novel)|Damned]].
 *"Bluebeard Brave Warrior, Brutal Psychopath." Valerie Ogden. Palisades, New York. History Publishing Company
-*Gilles de Rais (alternatively spelled de Raiz) is stated as a rare example of a true sinner by the sorcerer recluse Ambrose in [[Arthur Machen]]'s short story [[The White People]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = The House of Souls|last = Machen|first = Arthur|publisher = Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.|year = 1922|isbn = |location = US|pages = 118, 119|work = }}</ref>
+*Gilles de Rais (alternatively spelled de Raiz) is stated as a rare example of a true sinner by the sorcerer recluse Ambrose in Arthur Machen's short story The White People.<ref>{{Cite book|title = The House of Souls|last = Machen|first = Arthur|publisher = Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.|year = 1922|isbn = |location = US|pages = 118, 119|work = }}</ref>
 ===Film and television===
 *Gilles de Rais is featured as one of the antagonists in the 2011 anime [[Fate/Zero]], in the class of Caster.
-*[[David Oxley]] played the part in [[Otto Preminger]]'s 1957 film version of Shaw's play, ''[[Saint Joan (film)|Saint Joan]]''.
+*David Oxley played the part in [[Otto Preminger]]'s 1957 film version of Shaw's play, ''Saint Joan''.
-*The 1974 film ''[[El Mariscal del Infierno]]'' (''The Marshall from Hell'', also known as ''Devil's Possessed'') from director [[León Klimovsky]] is a fictionalized account of the occult life and downfall of Gilles de Rais. [[Paul Naschy]] plays the role of Gilles de Rais.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071415/]</ref>
+*The 1974 film ''El Mariscal del Infierno'' (''The Marshall from Hell'', also known as ''Devil's Possessed'') from director León Klimovsky is a fictionalized account of the occult life and downfall of Gilles de Rais. [[Paul Naschy]] plays the role of Gilles de Rais.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071415/]</ref>
-*In 1986, the Spanish director [[Agusti Villaronga]] directed the film ''[[Tras el cristal|Tras El Cristal]]'', with an original script based on the killings of Gilles de Rais.
+*In 1986, the Spanish director Agusti Villaronga directed the film ''Tras El Cristal'', with an original script based on the killings of Gilles de Rais.
-*[[Vincent Cassel]] played the part in [[Luc Besson]]'s ''[[The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc]]'' in 1999.
+*Vincent Cassel played the part in Luc Besson's ''The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc'' in 1999.
-*Gilles de Rais was an alias given to "Ray" an openly gay support character in the 7th episode of the 4th season of the animated series [[Archer (TV series)|Archer]]. His name was listed as such and the title of "Child-Murderer" in this episode titled ''Live and Let Dine''
+*Gilles de Rais was an alias given to "Ray" an openly gay support character in the 7th episode of the 4th season of the animated series Archer. His name was listed as such and the title of "Child-Murderer" in this episode titled ''Live and Let Dine''
 *Gilles de Rais was featured as the main antagonist of the 2014 anime Rage of Bahamut: Genesis.
 *Gilles de Rais is featured as a demon in the anime, manga, and video game [[Devils and Realist]].
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 ===Music===
-*[[Macabre (band)|Macabre]], (Technical/Death Metal band from Chicago) released a song about Gilles de Rais called "The Black Knight" from the 2011 [[Grim Scary Tales]] album.
+*Macabre, (Technical/Death Metal band from Chicago) released a song about Gilles de Rais called "The Black Knight" from the 2011 Grim Scary Tales album.
-*[[Cradle of Filth]]'s album ''[[Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder]]'' is centered on the life of Gilles de Rais after Joan of Arc's burning.
+*Cradle of Filth's album ''Godspeed on the Devil's Thunder'' is centered on the life of Gilles de Rais after Joan of Arc's burning.
-*''La Passion de Gilles'', opera (French libretto), 1983, music: [[Philippe Boesmans]], libretto: [[Pierre Mertens]] based on his 1982 play (same title).
+*''La Passion de Gilles'', opera (French libretto), 1983, music: Philippe Boesmans, libretto: Pierre Mertens based on his 1982 play (same title).
-*[[The Black Dahlia Murder (band)|The Black Dahlia Murder]]'s song "The Window" on their [[Ritual (The Black Dahlia Murder album)|Ritual]] album is based on Gilles de Rais, featuring lyrics such as "I sit upon their chests until they cease/Expressionless ejaculating whilst they die"
+*The Black Dahlia Murder's song "The Window" on their [[Ritual (The Black Dahlia Murder album)|Ritual]] album is based on Gilles de Rais, featuring lyrics such as "I sit upon their chests until they cease/Expressionless ejaculating whilst they die"
-*[[Celtic Frost]]'s debut album ''[[Morbid Tales]]'' had the song "Into the Crypt of Rays", a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and punishment.
+*Celtic Frost's debut album ''[[Morbid Tales]]'' had the song "Into the Crypt of Rays", a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and punishment.
-*[[Brodequin (band)|Brodequin]]'s song "Gilles De Rais" from the album [[Festival of Death (album)|Festival of Death]] is also a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.
+*Brodequin's song "Gilles De Rais" from the album [[Festival of Death (album)|Festival of Death]] is also a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.
-*[[Ancient Rites]]' song "Morbid Glory (Gilles de Rais 1404&ndash;1440)" from the album "The Diabolical Serenades" is a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.
+*Ancient Rites' song "Morbid Glory (Gilles de Rais 1404&ndash;1440)" from the album "The Diabolical Serenades" is a lyrical recounting of Rais' crimes and execution.
 [[Category:Male]]
 [[Category:Criminals]]