The original Bluebeard. From Matt Lewis at Made by History:
Gilles de Rais might not be a very familiar name, but if you do know it, you’ll be aware of the terrible associations it carries. If you don’t know it yet, prepare to be shocked. He’s a confessed serial killer of children whose victims might number in the hundreds.
A reasonably significant nobleman and an accomplished knight, he might have been remembered as one of the most significant companions of Joan of Arc at the pinnacle of her achievements. Instead, when he died aged around 35 in 1440, he was doomed to be only begrudgingly recalled as one of medieval France’s greatest criminal monsters, and perhaps the first well-recorded serial killer. Is he all that history has cast him as? (Read more.)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Courteous comments are welcome. If a comment is not published, it may be due to a technical error. At any rate, do not take offense; it is nothing personal. Slanderous comments will not be published. Anonymity may be tolerated, but politeness is required.
I would like to respond to every comment but my schedule renders it impossible to do so. Please know that I appreciate those who take the time to share their thoughts.