Gilles de Rais: No Kids Left

Was Gilles de Rais the world's first serial killer, or one of history's most infamous victims of a political and religious conspiracy?

In this episode of Torture: A Dark History, Kevin Young and Dan Hourigan explore the disturbing life of Gilles de Rais, the wealthy French nobleman, Marshal of France, and companion of Joan of Arc who went from celebrated war hero to one of the most notorious figures in medieval history.

We follow Gilles from his privileged childhood and military career during the Hundred Years' War to his friendship with Joan of Arc, his incredible wealth, his obsession with the occult, and the increasingly disturbing accusations that eventually brought him before both a secular and ecclesiastical court.

Gilles was accused of the murder and abuse of children, witchcraft, alchemy, and demon summoning, with dozens of alleged victims named during his trials. But how much of the story is actually true? Centuries later, historians still debate whether Gilles de Rais was a monstrous serial killer, the victim of a political plot, or some combination of both.

And because this is Torture: A Dark History, Kevin and Dan bring their twisted humor to one of the darkest stories we've covered.

If you love Gilles de Rais, Joan of Arc, serial killers, medieval history, true crime, dark history, witchcraft, the occult, medieval torture, and historical mysteries, this is the disturbing story of a man whose reputation has survived for nearly 600 years.

Thank you to the In The Nick Of Crime podcast for starting off the show.

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The MIU Podcast

Blue Beard: The Life and Crimes of Gilles de Rais by Leonard Wolf

Gilles de Rais: The Authentic Blue Beard by Jean Benedetti

Baron Gilles de Rais: The Medieval Serial Killer, Dan Davis History