Gilles de Montmorency-Laval, better known as Baron Gilles de Rais, was a profound figure in the French nobility of the 15th century. Born in 1404, de Rais was a member of aristocratic lineage steeped in wealth and nobility.
However, despite his illustrious birth and considerable wealth, he would later become an infamous figure in French history, known more for his heinous crimes than his noble lineage.
From a young age, de Rais exhibited a streak of bravery and military prowess, which would aid him in becoming a comrade and bodyguard to the legendary Joan of Arc.
He rose to prominence during the Hundred Years War and was appointed a Marshal of France, one of the highest military distinctions in the country, at a mere 25 years old. However, his heroic deeds in the war belied the unspeakable atrocities he would later commit, casting a dark shadow over his noble legacy.
Gilles de Rais and Joan of Arc: A Historic Friendship Marred by Crimes
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