# Gilles de Rais

> leader in the French army, companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc, convicted serial killer of children

**Wikidata**: [Q311634](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q311634)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_de_Rais)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gilles-de-rais

## Summary
Gilles de Rais was a prominent French military leader and a companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years' War. While he served as a key figure in the French army, he is historically defined by his conviction as a serial killer of children. His life represents a stark duality between national heroism and heinous criminality in 15th-century France.

## Biography
- **Born**: Data not available in source material
- **Nationality**: France
- **Education**: Data not available in source material
- **Known for**: Serving as a leader in the French army and companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc; convicted serial killer of children
- **Employer(s)**: French army
- **Field(s)**: Military personnel

## Contributions
Gilles de Rais did not produce academic papers, commercial products, or open-source projects. His historical "contributions" are strictly defined by his military leadership and his criminal actions:
- **Military Leadership**: He served as a leader in the French army, participating in the Hundred Years' War, a series of conflicts between England and France lasting from 1337 to 1453.
- **Siege of Orléans**: He was involved in the Siege of Orléans, a specific siege occurring in 1428–1429 within the country of France.
- **Battle of Jargeau**: He participated in the Battle of Jargeau, a battle fought in 1429 during the Hundred Years' War.
- **Criminal Acts**: He is identified as a serial killer, defined as an individual who has killed three or more people over a period of more than a month, specifically targeting children. He is also categorized as a rapist, a person who has committed rape.

## FAQs
**Who was Gilles de Rais in relation to Joan of Arc?**
Gilles de Rais served as a companion-in-arms to Joan of Arc, fighting alongside her as a leader in the French army during the critical campaigns of the Hundred Years' War.

**What specific military engagements did he participate in?**
He took part in major conflicts such as the Siege of Orléans in 1428–1429 and the Battle of Jargeau in 1429, both occurring in France during the war against England.

**Why is he historically infamous?**
Beyond his military service, he is notorious for being a convicted serial killer of children and a rapist, crimes that led to his conviction and define his legacy alongside his role as a human and military personnel.

**What is the historical context of his life?**
His life unfolded within the context of France, a country in Western Europe with overseas territories, during the Hundred Years' War, a conflict spanning from 1337 to 1453.

## Why They Matter
Gilles de Rais matters historically as a complex figure who embodies the extremes of the medieval era, transitioning from a celebrated military commander to a condemned criminal. His involvement in the Siege of Orléans and the Battle of Jargeau places him at the center of the French resistance during the Hundred Years' War, a pivotal moment in the formation of the French nation. However, his lasting impact is equally defined by his crimes; his conviction as a serial killer of children serves as a grim historical record of violence and judicial proceedings in 15th-century France. Without his dual existence as both a hero of the French army and a perpetrator of heinous acts, the historical narrative of the Hundred Years' War would lack this specific, dark counterpoint to the glory of Joan of Arc.

## Notable For
- **Military Rank**: Leader in the French army.
- **Association**: Companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc.
- **Criminal Conviction**: Convicted serial killer of children.
- **War Participation**: Active participant in the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453).
- **Specific Battles**: Involved in the Siege of Orléans (1428–1429) and the Battle of Jargeau (1429).
- **Aliases**: Also known as Gilles de Retz and Gilles de Rays.
- **Classification**: Identified as a human, military personnel, serial killer, and rapist.

## Body

### Identity and Nationality
Gilles de Rais was a human being and a citizen of France, a country located in Western Europe with additional territories in America, Africa, and Oceania. He is recognized by several aliases, including Gilles de Retz and Gilles de Rays. In the context of historical classification, he is categorized as military personnel, indicating his service in an organized armed military force.

### Military Career and the Hundred Years' War
His primary professional role was as a leader in the French army during the Hundred Years' War, a prolonged series of conflicts and wars between England and France that took place between 1337 and 1453. His military service was marked by direct involvement in significant historical events. He fought during the Siege of Orléans, a siege that occurred in 1428–1429 within the country of France. Additionally, he participated in the Battle of Jargeau, a specific battle fought in 1429 during the same war. His most notable military distinction was serving as a companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc, linking his career directly to one of the most famous figures in French history.

### Criminal Convictions and Legacy
Despite his military achievements, Gilles de Rais is historically defined by his conviction as a serial killer of children. The definition of a serial killer applied to him is an individual who has killed three or more people over a period of more than a month. Furthermore, he is categorized as a rapist, a person who has committed rape. These criminal actions stand in stark contrast to his role as a military leader. His life serves as a documented instance of a high-ranking French military figure who was ultimately convicted for these severe crimes.

### Historical Context and Data
The historical record places his life within the broader timeline of France, which has various inception dates associated with different political entities, such as West Francia (843), Francia (481), and the First French Empire (1804). His story is a specific data point within the sitelink count of 409 related to France and 125 related to the Hundred Years' War. The specific battles he fought in, such as the Siege of Orléans and the Battle of Jargeau, are recorded with specific sitelink counts of 39 and 12 respectively, highlighting their significance in historical databases. His dual nature as a military hero and a convicted criminal makes him a unique subject in the study of medieval history.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. CiNii Research
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
6. [Source](https://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/r/rais.htm)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Integrated Authority File
9. BBC Things
10. Quora
11. LIBRIS. 2017
12. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands