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Once a celebrated knight and companion of Joan of Arc, Gilles de Rais was one of the most powerful men in fifteenth-century France.

But behind his wealth and status lay something far darker.

Accused of committing horrific crimes against children, Gilles de Rais’s trial in 1440 revealed allegations so disturbing they have echoed through history ever since. Yet his story remains controversial — shaped by confession, power, politics, and the possibility of manipulation.

In this episode of The Eclectic, we explore the rise and fall of Gilles de Rais, examining the historical record, the trial proceedings, and the enduring question: was he truly one of history’s earliest documented serial killers, or the victim of a calculated political downfall?

Because sometimes, the line between truth and accusation is as dark as the crimes themselves.

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Gilles de Rais | French Noble, Marshal of France, Heresy Trial | Britannica

Gilles de Rais - Wikipedia

Gilles de Rais | Biography | Research Starters | EBSCO Research

Gilles de Rais | Criminal Minds Wiki | Fandom

Was Gilles de Rais Really History’s First Recorded Serial Killer? | HistoryExtra

The Trial of Gilles de Rais (1440): An Account

Gilles de Rais – French Noble and Serial Killer – Crime Library

Was Gilles de Rais Really History’s First Recorded Serial Killer? | HistoryExtra

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Gilles de Rais - The Arcana Wiki

UsefulNotes / Gilles de Rais - TV Tropes

French Knight Gilles de Rais Inspired the Folktale “Bluebeard”

Have You Heard of Gilles de Rais? - by Matt Lewis