MAP#58: Gilles de Rais – Gallant Knight, Occultist and Serial Killer

MAP#58: Gilles de Rais – Gallant Knight, Occultist and Serial Killer

Author: The Archivist October 29, 2014 Duration: 38:06
Gilles de Rais, an esteemed knight and the Marshall of France, who fought alongside Joan of Arc. Then he turned to the occult and tried to deal with the devil. Gilles isn't remembered as a hero of France, instead he is remembered as a gruesome child murderer. On today's episode we are going to look at Gilles de Rais, a knight who fought alongside Joan of Arc and was her trusted adviser. He was granted the title of Marshal of France by King Charles VII for his loyalty and military victories. But as the Hundred Years War started to end he turned to black magic. Gilles de Rais would stop at nothing to keep his wealth and gain more. He tried Alchemy to turn matter into gold, which lead to sorcery and summoning demons. Through it all he was a vile child killer, who killed so many children by his own admission he cannot count them all. In his testimony de Rais confessed to beating, hanging and beheading children, and that was just the start! His crimes are so vile they will make your stomach turn. Join us today on the Halloween episode of the Medieval Archives Podcast as we look at the valiant knight turned gruesome monster, Gilles de Rais. Please send any comments or suggestions to podcast@medievalarchives.com If you are enjoying the podcast please considering leaving a rating on iTunes. Rate the Medieval Archives Podcast now! Listen to the episode now In this episode we discuss: Gilles de Rais childhood Gilles de Rais rise to greatness Gilles de Rais, the occultist and summoner of demons Gilles de Rais as a serial killer And more... Check out our Halloween Podcast page for more great spine-chilling podcasts! Get your free audio book from Audible.com at: http://www.medievalarchives.com/AudioBook Download the MP3 and listen to it on your favorite MP3 player. Subscribe to the feed so you do not miss a single episode. iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Download MP3 | RSS Feed The music was provided by Tim Rayburn. It is available at Magnatune.com

Step into the world of Medieval Archives, where host The Archivist guides you through the sprawling, complex landscape of a thousand-year era. This isn't just a parade of dates and famous names. Instead, each episode is a deep exploration, peeling back the layers of popular legend to examine the tangible realities of medieval life. You'll hear about the strategic calculations behind what we call epic battles, the fragile alliances within courtly intrigue, and the quiet rhythms of survival in villages far from castle walls. The podcast is built on a foundation of historical evidence, carefully separating enduring fact from compelling fiction. By focusing on the people-from monarchs and saints to merchants and peasants-and the beliefs that guided them, the narrative connects these distant events to our understanding of today. Whether discussing the rise of a kingdom, the fall of a dynasty, or the evolution of a simple tool, the aim is to provide context and clarity. Tune in for a thoughtful, accessible journey that treats history not as a static record but as a continuous, human story. The medieval world was one of profound transformation, and this series seeks to illuminate how it was truly lived, felt, and shaped by those who were there.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Medieval Archives
Podcast Episodes
MAP Bonus: Top Five Borgia Myths and Book Giveaway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Cesare Borgia in a Nutshell MadeGlobal’s History in a Nutshell Series aims to give readers a good grounding in a historical topic in a concise, easily digestible and accessible way. Cesare Borgia in a Nutshell outlines t…
MAP#71: The Children’s Crusade 1212 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Duration: 50:30
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MAP#68: Combat of the Thirty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:26
During the first phase of the Hundred Years War a smaller war broke out in France, the Breton War of Succession. Wars of Succession always start the same way, a Nobleman dies without an heir. In this case it was the Duke…
MAP#67: Warrior Princess: Female warriors of the Middle Ages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:07
Women in the Middle Ages were docile, meek and subservient. Or at least that's what we were led to believe. But that isn't always the case. In previous lessons we looked at Black Agnes, the defender of Dunbar Castle and…
MAP#66: The Battle of Sluys (1340) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:39
The Battle of Sluys was the first major battle of the Hundred Years' War. There were a few battles before it but nothing that compared to the size and ramifications of Sluys. The Hundred Years' War was a series of wars b…
MAP#65: The Pardoner’s Tale (Canterbury Tales) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:19
Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales toward the end of the 14th century. The tales are a story telling contest by a group of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Today w…
MAP#64: Terry Brooks and The Shannara Chronicles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:22
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MAP#63: Marc Morris, King John and the Road to Magna Carta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
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