Gilles de Rais: The Medieval Serial Killer Who Sold His Soul to The Devil...

[@JohnDoe19xx]

“ The Black Magic didn’t work and he ended up angrier and Poorer “ This statement sums up my CRYPTO experience

[@tranger4579]

Lol... very accurate. A friend of mine lost thousands in crypto

[@jonhall2274]

Should have pulled out when China banned using crypto and and crypto users, especially since China held a exorbitant amount of crypto miners, and owners sin e those go hand & hand. Would have been slightly better if China actually told the public about what laws they're thinking of enacting, instead of doing so in secret, and immediately enacting them over night. Crypto hasn't really recovered since.

[@busyb1513]

All supposition like the lack of bodies

[@joeroganreviewexperience9964]

@@jonhall2274 very good point

[@Nate-bn5kk]

@@jonhall2274 psh that's their fault for ever putting an ounce of trust in the CCP in the first place...

[@absentiambient]

Finally! My father told a story about Gilles de Rais when i was just a kid. Constant nightmares lol

[@ashgonza92]

Cool dad lol

[@Amira_Phoenix]

Stranger danger with a twist

[@angr3819]

Similar! For some reason mine thought Bluebeard was an OK bedtime story to read a little girl when I was 7, then couldn't understand why I couldn't sleep with the light off until my teens. Stupid fathers.

[@leeetchells609]

@@angr3819 I remember having a children's fairy story book with Bluebeard in it Some of those brothers Grimm stories were pretty sick too. They have been altered to make them more acceptable to modern children

[@mustangmckraken1150]

@Lee Etchells In the original Cinderella story the step sisters use cheese graters to grind down their feet to fit in the glass slipper lol

[@newperve]

There is good evidence he was framed by his family who didn't want him spending their inheritance. The stories of the witnesses were inconsistent and nobody who actually was there noticed what should have been obvious.

[@joellaz9836]

Actually a lot did notice. They just didn’t do anything because he was a great lord. *Gilles De Rais ordered de Sillé (his cousin) and another of his men, Robin Romulart (Petit Robin), to dispose of the bones of about forty children ‘from a tower near the lower halls of the said castle’. While the work was going on Robert de Briqueville (Gilles other cousin), who for some reason was not involved in the labours, arranged a peep-show for two noble ladies of the district, who were allowed to watch the operations in progress. Gilles de Sillé’s comments on this were reported more or less verbatim at the trial: “Was not Messire Robert de Briqueville a traitor to let Robin Romulart and me be seen by Madame de Jarville and Madame Tremin d’Arraguin, through a crack when we were removing the bones?”* *This macabre incident is revealing. On the one hand it indicates how sure Robert de Briqueville felt of his position. The second thing which emerges from this incident is the amused tolerance the two ladies felt towards his aberrations. They felt no horror or disgust at what they saw; they were far more likely to be shocked by his extravagance and the destruction of the family estates. A few peasant children more or less made no difference; they died quickly enough. The privileges of the aristocracy were inviolable, providing they did not become politically dangerous.* *Evidently Briqueville’s noble friends were attracted by an unhealthy curiosity. The story need not be invented; it responds to the sensation that Lord de Rais’ crimes provoked in the feudal world: rather vague indignation, outright scandal, occasionally an unspeakable disturbance. The number of accomplices that Gilles easily finds at his service alone illustrates to him that his crimes were then not so monstrous; all in all, it had to do with a great lord and miserable children. Justice reacted on the occasion of another affair; under certain political circumstances, justice might have closed its eyes.*

[@newperve]

@@joellaz9836 No people were tortured until they said they noticed. Gilles was hosting lavish shows and feasts, there were literally hundreds of people around him, many not from the district and not under his control. The bones of those 40 children were never found because they never existed. The stories didn't make sense. It was a frame up.

[@gingerkid1048]

Same for Bathory

[@adelaidefinch6197]

@@newperve thank you! I’m so tired of this yearly excuse around Halloween to create videos with little actual understanding or research just for the spooky views. As a historian who has deeply researched into this story, it really saddens me to see how easy it is for people to fail to do their own research and to believe everything handed to them is accurate. MOST documentaries and articles are not properly researched, little is done to check sources or even have proper sources, and it’s sad to say that they have more mistakes in them than all of the seasons of Horrible Histories combined…. To which they fixed during the Proms stage play. Respect to my HH people! Legends!

[@joellaz9836]

@@adelaidefinch6197 Most medieval historians actually agree that he did it though

[@aSandwich.13]

This one of my favorite medieval psycho stories, right up with Vlad Tepes and Elizabeth Bathory. And now that we're kicking off spooky season, I've never clicked faster.

[@jonathandoe2316]

Best time of the year.

[@SuperMrHiggins]

Except they undeniably did the shit they were accused of. They happily admitted it. Rais was most likely innocent of everything but being a source of both the Church and the Crown's envy. (obviously, shit was like six or seven hundred years ago so we can't know for sure either way)

[@aSandwich.13]

@@SuperMrHiggins There are strong theories Bathory was framed too.

[@Ubu987]

@@aSandwich.13 And evidence that the Knights Templar were framed so the French King could grab their wealth.

[@clavicleofcernunnos]

@@SuperMrHiggins Not sure about Bathory, although very similar questions of guilt have been posited about her, but in the case of Vlad III Dracula, some is embellished and some is historically supported. Depends on the sources. He certainly impaled lots of war prisoners, however this wasn't an unheard of torture in his time. The tales of cannibalism, child murder, and cruel ironic punishments are legendary and most likely invented. The claim that he dipped bread in blood was written about in a fairly recent academic paper where the authors pointed out that Florescu and McNally (authors of In Search of Dracula) made a bad translation or willful embellishment of their source material (one of the infamous German-language pamphlets where most of the really gruesome Vlad Tepes legends originate).

[@ferminmiranda681]

There Was a tiny mistake about the dates, joan of arc died in 1431 not 1341 ahah sorry i needed to correct it. Love absolutely love your videos!!!!!

[@aSandwich.13]

Was just gonna say that. It was probably just a typo in his script, hope he see's this so he can add an annotation.

[@ferminmiranda681]

@@aSandwich.13 yeahh i mean is a minor really minor thing, hahaha its just that i couldnt hold it hahaha

[@paulmcwilliams8641]

Have you heard about the dyslexia sufferer who sold his soul to Santa?

[@taylortaylor8010]

he sold his soul for a lump of coal

[@sean5558]

What about the Ghost song that sounded like “Hail Santa”

[@linwu8701]

Bro this took me 5 minutes to get that shit is fuckin funnnyyy bro 😆😆 I’m tellin that one to my girl

[@brookeg5897]

How else do you think santa gets his elves?

[@elizabethgudgeon3395]

I'm sorry what?

[@Nerathul1]

"The real number is unknown as the bodies were burned or buried." Better mention that literally zero bodies were found, even to this day across any of Gilles de Rais' land

[@lcmiracle]

What can I say? He was a really good murderer

[@busyb1513]

Umm! I find that lack of evidence very suspect If there had have been evidence, I’m sure they could have found it, makes one think !!!!!

[@klaatunecktie7906]

Very interesting. It’s suspected this accusation was politically motivated. There sure was a lot of testimony but it’s interesting that no physical evidence has turned up.

[@ottodidakt3069]

well if cremated then nothing to find no ?

[@Nerathul1]

@@ottodidakt3069 It takes INCREDIBLY high temperatures to cremade a body, far more than anyone's domestic oven, chimney, or any old wood fire will do. Without such heat while soft tissues will burn you will get a charred skeleton left behind. And if he has a cremation oven we would've found it. And cremation ovens were illegal during certain time periods because Christianity mandates burial not cremantion of the dead

[@Svartalf14]

To add to my first statement, please remember that all the underlings that 'bore witness' and confessed to the atrocities of Gilles likely did so under grievous torture... Similarly, Gilles only confessed under dire threat, and likely only confirmed the fables he was questioned about.

[@paulsansonetti7410]

What's the evidence that he was tortured? There isn't any other than people say it Go watch Dan Davis historys video on the subject and become informed

[@Svartalf14]

@Fou If you believe the 'case' that led to his execution, yes, personally, I think 90% of it was made up by people who were after his riches.

[@Svartalf14]

@@paulsansonetti7410 He wasn't tortured, the underlings who were questioned about his doings were. bvut if he confessed, it was under threat of it.

[@Svartalf14]

@@paulsansonetti7410 Davis video is quite sensationalist... looks pretty opinionated to, calls the tune before we listen to the music... Gonna watch it, but it looks like he stars with the conclusion rather than examining anything critically.... well, maybe I'm just prejudiced by the way he starts, I'll finish and see what it's like.

[@paulsansonetti7410]

@@Svartalf14 they were not tortured either

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Was de Rais guilty? Given that torture, or the threat of torture, was used on at least his supposed accomplices, if not Gilles himself, any confessions are invalid. However, as a high-ranking nobleman, allowed to do whatever he wanted from an early age, who returns from a bloody war, where he would have seen horrible sights, I can easily imagine some form of psychiatric disorder driving him. But.....we'll never know for certain.

[@PawelSorinsky]

It was rather because he spent his rightful inheritance for arts.

[@marcelschellekens6386]

his guilt is highly debatable. after all, his lands were highly sought after. fabricating violence against boys, because the man may have been homesexual, has occurred often troughout history. His relatives were not against his disappearance as the family fortune was Quickly evaporating;. and his lands were worth a pretty penny. not to mention the occult part. A contract with the devil? no really?

[@katarinalove8649]

Maybe?

[@Zekander]

Was he guilty?! He said about himself: "there is no man, born under a star like mine" This man literally butchered, tortured and sexually abused hundreds of children. And compared to many before tortured witches and heretics or Jeanne d´ Arc, he avoided not only torture but also being burned alive as his companions were, because of his confessions and his nobility. They strangled him before burning. If he had not openly disrespected the rights of the Church, by capturing someone he chased with armed men from a Chapel, they might have never even brought him to trial for the murders. They did not care about peasant children in those times at all.

[@michaellyons5208]

"I desperately need my fortune back!" Well I can help you, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg

[@Carlos-oo3ig]

Say no more

[@aliciab.6849]

Not usually this early, love your channel. One of the best medieval history KZbin channels

[@WhitneyDahlin]

I completely agree! I love these darker and more horrifying stories and legends he covers. I hope he does some more for Halloween!

[@melvert33]

A powerful warlord picks his peasant child victims at will, finally gets caught and as he's nobility then of course he never did any of the crimes due to the fact he's a "noble"man. When will people ever stop assuming someone who considers themselves better than everyone else could never be a sadistic killer.

[@jasoncreamer5747]

I guess being a sadist in those days was an asset.

[@ganjaman59650]

The real story is he was too wealthy for the king, and the king wanted his money, nothing was ever proven, and to this day no corpse was found on any of his land.

[@morbidmorag]

Nobody assumes he was innocent because he was a nobleman. We examine the available evidence rather than believing everything on the internet.

[@bassemalameddine9827]

I've recently started to watch your channel. I wanted to thank you for your very informative work! And especially making the definition of the middle and dark ages, much much clearer for me! I look forward to seeing more of your future videos. And I thank you so much, once again 🙏🙏😊

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

*Alleged*. He was also a close ally of Joan of Arc. It's quite plausible that this was all just to tear down a very influential and inconvenient guy

[@morbidmorag]

Exactly. People think it was just about money, but it wasn't. He had literally put on a mystery play which strongly implied that Jehanne was some kind of saint. She had been executed for heresy! It was a dangerous thing for him to do & he paid the price.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

@@morbidmorag Yup, people always forget that fact for some reason, as if The Church wasn't known for baseless Witch Hunts and Inquisitions to dispose of people they find "inconvenient"

[@messler5636]

Always happy when you drop a new video, i love all the content you make!

[@spencerwilson3298]

Are we not going to discuss how he even managed to find the body parts of a deceased child? Very disturbing. I wonder if it was one of his victims?

[@maya07_11]

it definitely was

[@miniflem1]

​@@maya07_11 You should change your channel name to " We are the brain dead".

[@miniflem1]

Are We going to dicuss the witnesses threatened with torture, or the lack of physical evidence?

[@maya07_11]

@@miniflem1 chill it's just a video about the middle ages 💀

[@pd9935]

@@miniflem1 chill out marge

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

Dauphin is pronounced _"dough ... fan'_

[@KingFluffs]

It's interesting how Giles alluded to the fact that Joan may not have been executed afterall.

[@rebralhunter6069]

Woah that's crazy. You think she might still be alive and in hiding?

[@KingFluffs]

@@rebralhunter6069 Yeah mate. Hide and seek world champion. Her, Elvis, Princess Dianna and Tupac are chilling out together on an Island. ;)

[@whackadoo]

@@KingFluffs lol

[@inoshikachokonoyarobakayar2493]

​@@KingFluffs Could Amelia Earhart be with them? 😆

[@KingFluffs]

@@inoshikachokonoyarobakayar2493 Ooooh I had forgotten about her! Yes. She's there too, along with Lord Lucan and probably Jimmy Hoffa.

[@johnfw1973]

Love your channel bro ! 👍🏻 Have you ever thought about doing a few longer documentaries about the crusades ? I'd love to see you do something with Baldwin the leper King of Jerusalem

[@gandalfstormcrow8439]

Guys please put these on a playlist!

[@i_am_aladeen]

How does one sell his soul? How much is a soul worth? And how come that anyone who has apparently done so, didn't make a very good deal as to not get caught?

[@bobfaam5215]

These things do indeed exist . And they are not a joke .

[@i_am_aladeen]

@@bobfaam5215 Do they? How do you know?

[@bobfaam5215]

@@i_am_aladeen There are many things which exist in the world that are not so obvious to human Eye . You can call them ENERGY or VIBRATIONS or whatever . Some of the energy is very good and positive which can benefit you . On the other hand , some of this Energy is really Dangerous and Evil . It is this Evil Energy that people try to harness for their own benefit . This Evil Energy comes from DEVIL or SATAN . It’s like making a Deal with a Gangster or a Mafia Don . Same thing is with this SATAN . If you want SATAN to do something for you . You should also give something to him . The most desirable thing to SATAN is the soul of a little innocent child who has never done anything wrong . And these things are called WITCHCRAFT or OCCULT and they have existed in every culture of the world and they have existed since the existence of mankind . Africans , Native Americans , Asians , Europeans all have these kind of rituals .

[@silvermainecoons3269]

He sounds a lot like Elizabeth Bathory, where children and servants started to disappear in great numbers. Creepy.

[@darkworlddenizen]

There was a villain in castlevania 64 named after him.

[@katarinalove8649]

Yup

[@wongfeihung9]

Ord De Rais

[@bramiwami]

Highly recommend "The Trial of Gilles de Rais" by Georges Bataille for a thorough exploration of de Rais depravity.

[@MikeHunt-fo3ow]

its a book? i hate reading lol know of a good video?

[@cascadianrangers728]

Illustrated illuminated manuscripts is a bit redundant isnt it? I thought that by definition an illuminated manuscript had to have some sort of picture drawn or painted along the margins and in other places, along with other embellishments?

[@hoibsh21]

Hey, I got a summer job working for Gilles De Rais. THey say it's gonna cost an arm and a leg.

[@sethdawson5196]

You can't fool me that's Lord Farqaad

[@winterwraith1934]

Cradle of Filth did a whole album on him, Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder. Great stuff!

[@bencross3759]

Great album! probably there last great album!

[@scallopohare9431]

Wha? That's a real band? Not just a joke on a Britcom?

[@mortensen1961]

Celtic Frost (R.I.P.) Did "Into the Crypts of Rais" on their first album (Morbid Tales) about him.

[@winterwraith1934]

@@mortensen1961 indeed! And in the special edition album, CoF do a nice cover of the song as a bonus track duly giving credit to Celtic Frost! 🤘🏻

[@MrBank325]

Yeah. Great Album.

[@NinjaGrrrl7734]

Medieval crimes!!!!!!!! My favorite topic!

[@viciousdope66]

This guy has always interested me…Especially the tale of Edward Paisnel aka- “The Beast of Jersey”, who set up an altar to Satan which he worshipped at before going into the night hunting victims to r@p3. One last Story Before Midnight has an excellent 3 part series on him. Paisnel apparently idolized Gilles de Rais and his child-murdering/occult behaviors.

[@My_Alchemical_Romance]

He rapes,but he saves. -Dave Chappelle. Lol

[@annodomini7250]

'victims to RAPE' try not to be too woke in your comments as you are not being censored as you believe.

[@barriolimbas]

though the Jersey Beast was more serial rapist than serial killer though. Often can't find him on a serial killer list.

[@highlordin_visible978]

should have censored the other creepy words like 'child-murdering' or 'victims' sissy

[@mostafaal-ghurabi640]

In Iraq, Karbala, we still have that religious tradition by shia muslims annually, which is based on whipping their backs when they commemorate Imam hussein (a shiite figure), just like in the middle ages practices or how things are done in some christians sects . I am surprised of how ideas and practises can be shared, inherited and taught between two various religions or races who live on different far geographic areas. And how some people still not evolved till this moment.

[@leightonolsson4846]

The lengths some people will go to improve their credit rating...

[@SuperMrHiggins]

The guy who got the Ultimate Finger for being more loved and wealthier than a king. And despite this, people still say this shit about him as if it was true. I get it, if it was true that's some crazy shit, but for it to be true would be so absolutely out of character and so unbelievable fortunate for the people who went after his money while also being the main people calling for his witchcraft.

[@dr.rockzo]

“What you got ain't nothin' new. This country's hard on people. You can't stop what's coming. It ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity” - Ellis Bell

[@BlackBearCustomKydex]

And here I thought the Democrat party came about in more recent history...

[@mikedomar2465]

This was most likely political slander so the men around him could take his holdings and money.

[@dariusalexandru9536]

he was brooke whe the trail took place

[@Svartalf14]

In all honesty, I think Gilles de Retz (funny thing, we now write Rais, but his name came from his lordship of what is still known as pays de Retz, an area sitting across the Loire, though mostly south of it, not far from Nantes, and bordering Brittany) was mostly maligned and falsely accuses. Even after he started squandering his fabulous wealth, he still had so much that many were those who wanted to get it, and they thought they had to get rid of him before he lost even more, so they concocted that tale of witchcraft, selling soul to devil, and child sacrifice to have him out of the way. It's quite possible he was a kiddy fiddler, it's even likely he dabbled in alchemy in an attempt to regain what wealth he had lost, but I don't see an outstanding character who built an army on his own penny, was BFF with Joan of Arc, and was deemed worthi of the title of Marshal of France to be able to fall as low as they said he did.

[@MVProfits]

This is what is most likely. He was likely gay and a kiddie fiddler, probably dabbled in the occult later in his life and was deranged from war, losing his parents early, and his near absolute power over his commoners probably allowed for very bad behavior,, but the overall tale is most likely an exaggeration of facts and rumors to cause his fall, for the obvious money squandering reasons.

[@mrspeigel3593]

I think losing Joan may turned him against God and the church and he may have gone whole hog into living up to (medieval) pop cultural conceit of a devil worshiper.

[@kgrimes4934]

Agreed but for different reasons someone did a great book on the French courts back then and this was the second case they covered on about a decade and a half ago. The researcher did a great job comparing evidence of brutal crimes that certainly did happen vs how this cases was treated.

[@Svartalf14]

@@kgrimes4934 Interesting, would you remember the title or author of that book?

[@pasindudinusha6507]

There have been lot of serial killers that had good personalities.

[@Theturtleowl]

I still doubt very much if he was a serial killer. Personally, I think this is a case of 'follow the money'. I think that the family members profited a lot of his death and I find the accusations far too much to be realistic. Did he kill someone? Maybe. Was his death convenient? Very much so.

[@morbidmorag]

The family members didn't profit, although after a century of lawsuits all the estates were reclaimed. Everything was sequestered by the Duchy of Brittany (a fortnight BEFORE Gilles was arrested). My personal feeling is that his brother was part of the conspiracy but was cheated of his share.

[@hutch1319]

What evidence do you have to support your claim that the blood countess was a victim and not guilty as charged?

[@TheKinoCorner]

Pasolini was going to make a movie about Gilles de Rais as his follow up to Salo

[@Svartalf14]

Also, careful of your sources, while the Montmorency Laval family was indeed Angevin, Pays de Retz was conddered a Breton area. and to the best of my knowledge, Gilles was not born at Machecoul (which would later be his favorite residence), but in Champtocé, closer to Nantes

[@leeetchells609]

Do you have a special interest in this perverted child killer?

[@marisapaola9010]

Nantes boy

[@Svartalf14]

@@marisapaola9010 Uh what?

[@hunterkline7972]

I only know about this guy because of the anime Fate Zero

[@eagsalazar]

adverse != averse. Great content otherwise, just FYI.

[@michaellyczak9337]

You might want to edit the parts where Joan of Arc went to war with the English in 1429 (2:52) and was burned at the stake in 1341 (3:24). But otherwise, very good video.

[@monsterwatchtruecrime]

I made a video on my (much) smaller channel about this guy. A strong theory is that he was framed.

[@blaznskais2048]

You should do your own full video on Lady Bathory

[@shellyraymond4337]

Interesting story. I enjoyed it. Thanks!

[@vasp99]

I first heard of Gilles De Rais in an extra creepy novelette by Filip Jose Farmer . Extra creepy .

[@rbarnett3200]

Jeanne D'Arc came on the scene in 1429 but she was burned to death in 1341??? That aside, the story of Gilles de Rais is weirdly similar to the Templars. He was incredibly wealthy (like the Templars) and was maligned as a homosexual and devil worshipper (like the Templars). It's not that it's not possible but the similarities are so strong that it sounds like propaganda. The same thing also happened with Elizabeth Bathory. Again, it's not that its not possible that De Rais or Bathory or the Templars did these things its just the consistency of the charges against them make it seem implausible. Fast forward to today and Qanon and such people are still levelling the exact same allegations at politicians. So the popularity of suggesting that people you don't like are gay satan worshipping paedophiles is apparently as old as time itself.

[@morbidmorag]

If you read through the allegations, taking careful note of where they're inconsistent or downright improbable - trust me, it's not possible.

[@zacharyb2723]

... except our leaders ARE sex criminals.

[@spencerwilson3298]

I don't understand why and when people are having serious financial issues that go and hire people! I'm sure those sorcerers he hired were very expensive! What if their spells didn't work? He would've lost even more money!

[@spencerwilson3298]

Oops! Looks like I spoke to soon! The spells didn't work and he was left even poorer! 🤔

[@MR67UToob]

There's a good horror yarn based on this in Shaun Hutson's novel Renegades.....

[@nadas9395]

Dude makes me feel sick 🤢

[@joellaz9836]

I think the worst part is a lot of people actually knew what he was doing but didn’t do anything *Gilles De Rais ordered de Sillé (his cousin) and another of his men, Robin Romulart (Petit Robin), to dispose of the bones of about forty children ‘from a tower near the lower halls of the said castle’. While the work was going on Robert de Briqueville (Gilles other cousin), who for some reason was not involved in the labours, arranged a peep-show for two noble ladies of the district, who were allowed to watch the operations in progress. Gilles de Sillé’s comments on this were reported more or less verbatim at the trial: “Was not Messire Robert de Briqueville a traitor to let Robin Romulart and me be seen by Madame de Jarville and Madame Tremin d’Arraguin, through a crack when we were removing the bones?”* *This macabre incident is revealing. On the one hand it indicates how sure Robert de Briqueville felt of his position. The second thing which emerges from this incident is the amused tolerance the two ladies felt towards his aberrations. They felt no horror or disgust at what they saw; they were far more likely to be shocked by his extravagance and the destruction of the family estates. A few peasant children more or less made no difference; they died quickly enough. The privileges of the aristocracy were inviolable, providing they did not become politically dangerous.* *Evidently Briqueville’s noble friends were attracted by an unhealthy curiosity. The story need not be invented; it responds to the sensation that Lord de Rais’ crimes provoked in the feudal world: rather vague indignation, outright scandal, occasionally an unspeakable disturbance. The number of accomplices that Gilles easily finds at his service alone illustrates to him that his crimes were then not so monstrous; all in all, it had to do with a great lord and miserable children. Justice reacted on the occasion of another affair; under certain political circumstances, justice might have closed its eyes.*

[@HAYAOLEONE]

No he does not.

[@HAYAOLEONE]

@@joellaz9836 Also had a homicidal gas chamber. TRUE STORY _

[@nadas9395]

@@HAYAOLEONE your mom joke here

[@HAYAOLEONE]

@@nadas9395 typical reaction..

[@dangermouse9348]

I'd heard pf him, but not his connection to Joan of Arc.

[@joellaz9836]

Interestingly selling his soul to the devil is one thing Gilles De Rais did not do according to the surviving records *What is more, we know from Prelati’s testimony that before this invocation, Gilles had given him this letter (or note) for the devil written in French in his own hand, of which this is the text: “Come at my bidding, and I will give you whatever you want, except my soul and the curtailment of my life.” The devil did not come, and François, that same day, returns the note to Gilles.* Gilles always remained religious and often felt guilty for his crimes *With astonishing impudence, Rais imagined saving himself to the end, despite his abominable crimes, and escaping Hell’s flames. Even though he invoked the devil and expected from him the reestablishment of his fortune, up to the end he was naively a good and devout Christian. A few months before his death, still free, he confessed and approached the Sacred Altar. He even had a feeling of humility on this occasion; in the church at Machecoul, the common people moved aside, leaving room for the great lord. Gilles refused, asking the poor folk to stay beside him. This was a moment when anguish perhaps took him by the throat, when he wanted to renounce his orgies of blood. He decided then to go abroad, to go crying in front of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. He dreamed of the endless voyage that would save him … But he contented himself with the intention. He was hardened, and during his last days of freedom he again began cutting children’s throats* Also does anyone think Gilles known religious devotion to the cult of Holy innocent is a giveaway? The Massacre of the Innocents is the incident in the bible which King Herod orders the execution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem.

[@daniellamunoz8894]

For those that are so convinced of his innocence because of reasons, I'd recommend Dan Davis History's video on Gilles de Rais, where he does a more in depth analysis and pattern of behaviour and a final section doing a critical analysis on the myth of innocence.

[@morbidmorag]

There's a lively debate on that video. Dan Davis read three books to become such an authority - the court transcripts in Bataille (that's the absolute minimum), the shortest available biography in English (by Jean Benedetti) & the only revisionist biog in English (by Margot K Juby). To say he does anything like a "critical analysis" would be very kind. He simply refuses to accept that the quasi Inquisition trial of a French war hero in Brittany, which signed a treaty with England part way through, could be anything other than just & impartial.

[@spacekoalalove]

@@morbidmorag it’s such a pain to learn about the past when every source is muddied and incomplete.

[@morbidmorag]

@@spacekoalalove It is. When I was a kid, I read how Henry Ford said "History is more or less bunk" & I laughed at the cute quote. But he was right. If your sources are rubbish (& pretty much everybody agrees that, with GdR, they're highly compromised), you're screwed.

[@luxeford547]

6:10 that's the cover of "The Tragicall Hiftoy of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus"

[@heikonpeikon2]

Whats the name of the song that plays during the trail part of the video?

[@themaestroslady1812]

Just FYI... his name is pronounced "Zhill" not "Gill."

[@jonnysith]

Lol I'm bothered by it too

[@siosiri9129]

The story on both Joan of Arc and Bluebeard is told by Eliphas Levi in his book titled, "History of Magic," originally pub. 1860, see 2001 reprint, pages 213 to 218 for the story: see also pages 158 to 161: ether-space "Cosmic Criminal Insanity," the focus of Nazi Occult Satanism: see the Classic book, "Occult Causes of the Present War," by Lewis Spence, pub. 1940, the Introduction book to Himmler's "Witch Library," where Bluebeard is also referenced.

[@morbidmorag]

Eliphas Levi (real name Alphonse Louis Constant) knew absolutely nothing about Gilles de Rais & the passage about him is simply lurid fiction. It segues from a not especially accurate account of GdR into a version of Bluebeard & back again. There was no plucky wife, no walled-up tower, no Satanic chapel, no copper vessels of blood, no sister Anne or avenging brothers. There are reputable accounts of the life of Gilles de Rais; this is not one of them. No nineteenth century version of his life can be trusted an inch, largely because of a bizarre attempt at that time to link him with a very old story that had nothing to do with him.

[@iamTnastii]

Hmm, maybe a demon was actually summoned. 🤔

[@anuszbizsergetokommentek2171]

The man behind the slaughter in medieval france?!

[@hazakurasuyama9016]

Beat me to it

[@nealmcgloin2984]

In the 1990's the Courts of France found him innocent I think ?but someone could enlighten me. Personally I don't see anyone either French or English that survived this period didn't sadly carry alot of personal demons from their experiences. As for his guilt or innocence,well only Gilles himself knew?..

[@morbidmorag]

1992. It was unofficial, & pissed off a lot of people.

[@enloemetzloff9079]

So... Repenting for mass child slaughter, keeps you out of Hell, and he plead guilty? It all makes no sense, the past was the worst..... Great video mate!

[@jeromesullivan4015]

The Wealthy could purchase Absolution..I’ll check with the Vatican.. perhaps they still can..

[@enloemetzloff9079]

That is a good point, and am sure it still happens to this day. Not saying the man wasn't a champion, the whole thing is just odd. I'm going to go and get some Absolution right now.... Cheers mate

[@Julia-uh4li]

You a fan of Simon Whistler, by chance? "The Past Was The Worst" is his catch phrase, well along with "Danny, get Back In The Basement" 😉😄

[@jeromesullivan4015]

@@Julia-uh4li I am a fan of Simon and several of his endeavors..

[@enloemetzloff9079]

Allegedly....

[@AlcibiadesMD]

Well, I don’t know about any Devil, but know the Spaghetti 🍝 Monster and Flying Tea Pot 🫖 though, I must confess I fear those two much more.

[@somniumisdreaming]

Sacrfice of body parts are still going on in places like Uganda, its a terrible crime that poor childrena and even adults are taken for orders from businesmen and others, usually for health reason or good luck.

[@Tconcept]

Why oh why have you slowed down all your videos? For effect?

[@10.dayulaksmi78]

What a fun title

[@theilliad4298]

Lol I just remember in ‘Archer’ they used a joke about him with Ray 😂

[@Experiment_626]

I wonder if he was targeted for being openly gay

[@chrissibersky4617]

Wasn't he French? How do you tell the difference?

[@peterbushby9009]

Was he gay ?

[@Experiment_626]

@@peterbushby9009 it says he was

[@Experiment_626]

@@chrissibersky4617 love me some French bois😉😂

[@johnessmyer4665]

Sounds like a medieval french version of Nero.

[@bizzyizzy9526]

It should be noted that there's absolutely no physical evidence written or otherwise whatsoever that he committed any of these crimes. Everything it's based on hearsay, It's very obvious that all of these accusations are false, from his political and financial enemies who wanted his inheritance 😒

[@ovhek1]

Lucky day!

[@jacobmartinelli7496]

he wasn't church's zombie, he was the devil's minion~!-!-!-!

[@russellg5022]

His heart was a war-drum beat by jugular cults in eerie jungle vaults...

[@viciousdope66]

That sounds like an excerpt of Mars Volta lyrics…

[@russellg5022]

@@viciousdope66 Cradle of Filth, actually "My ambition is to slay anon A sinner in the hands of a dirty god Who lets me pray, a Gilles de Rais Of light where faith leads truth astray"

[@ghastlyvestment1]

@@russellg5022 I love that song and would continue with the lyrics but you know :)

[@Happyheart146]

Bathory springs to mind, along with Canada and QEII...

[@gladteer873]

With the economy this bad, save up and buy the devil's soul. it'll be a good investment

[@spencerwilson3298]

It's ironic that someone who sold their soul to the devil would go on to become the right hand man Joan of Arc, someone who did what she did because God told her to do it and later became a Saint.

[@joellaz9836]

Selling his soul is one thing he didn’t do actually *What is more, we know from Prelati’s testimony that before this invocation, Gilles had given him this letter (or note) for the devil written in French in his own hand, of which this is the text: “Come at my bidding, and I will give you whatever you want, except my soul and the curtailment of my life.” The devil did not come, and François, that same day, returns the note to Gilles.*

[@pogo9876]

@@joellaz9836 Smh. You might wanna be careful with "testimonials" from an era that known for extracting information via torture....This can be no more true than a testimony at witch trial.......Just stating facts.

[@antoinemozart243]

Joan was captured by the BURGUNDIANS, who quickly sold her to the...English as she was very popular in Burgundy 😂😂😂😂! The Duke said : the english are so naïve they dont know yet they will pay twice. The ransom but more importantly the political price. The assistance laughed !😂😂

[@rheverend]

Wasn’t dealing with devils a common lie told by false accusers?

[@officialmcdeath]

Into The Crypts of Rays \m/

[@Michael-Douglas]

It really grinds my gears how you mispronounce words. Really good videos no the less.

[@poeticsilence047]

Torwards the end sounded like you had to relive yourself. Lol little rushed..

[@Janems999]

Please look in to your pronunciation

[@ronaldgrove3283]

The Baron didn't seem to have been a very pleasant fellow ?

[@chriselson7413]

At 7.55, there appears be He-man on the left, and Wal De Frey from Game of Thrones on the right, a strange combination 😅😂

[@kartos.]

Wait, did you just try and say Elizabeth Bathory was framed because people wanted her land???

[@quentincollins1825]

Another Vincent Price film that never was. 😞

[@whiskeywight7844]

Any Black Dahlia Murder fans here? If so, you know what I'm referring to.

[@raventoocute3006]

At 10:04 when speak about his education, the picture you show is of an all-girl School. Just wondering why?

[@Femaiden]

i know this name from cradle of filth lyrics. . ". . . a Gilles de Rais . Of light where faith leads truth astray"

[@darthmullet6138]

Did you misspeak @3:22 and say Joan was burned alive I'm 1341 and not 1431?

[@Pawelec801]

This is a ready script for a great horror

[@Jacob-cn7ez]

That was really interesting, I don't get the little tid-bit about the two sorcerers who were helping him being clerics of some sort, would that have been common for members of the church to be involved in satanism and the like? Always thought it would be mostly pagans.

[@PurgeYourSins]

The same fake charges were used by the French King against the Knights Templar, to whom he owed a ton of gold!

[@kurtisrobertson2151]

Was he a traumatised war veteran that was on a permanent tweek?

[@akatsukigajou1639]

Ryonusuke seeing this be like:"hey i know this guy"

[@Shortbus122]

Ad on this video is butcher box. 😂

[@ethanarnold4441]

The video's title is a bit misleading. De Rais was involved in the occult but there's no mention of selling his soul.

[@amanfromthewest7326]

I would look more into who his grandfather was and who ended up stealing the inheritance after the man was killed, and it’s not like he had any lawyer to help him, there’s way more to this story that gets lost because of time and greed, not to mention the sick bald freaks who held those courts

[@morbidmorag]

We know exactly what happened to the estates. They were sequestered by the Duke of Brittany a fortnight BEFORE GdR was arrested. Eventually they were all restored to the Rais family, but only after a hundred years or more of lawsuits.

[@alchemira]

The inquisitor in "The Name of the Rose"