Gilles de Rais

"The boy was pampered and dressed in better clothes than he had ever known. The evening began with a large meal and heavy drinking, particularly hippocras, which acted as a stimulant. The boy was then taken to an upper room to which only Gilles and his immediate circle were admitted. There he was confronted with the true nature of his situation. The shock thus produced on the boy was an initial source of pleasure for Gilles" ~ Jean Benedetti (1971 biography of Gilles de Rais)

Gilles de Rais was a Breton Knight active in 1404 until 1440 and was infamous as a prolific serial-killer, mainly of children. Gilles was also a practictioner of the occult and indeed it was a violent incident with a clergyman that ultimately exposed the knight for his true nature and as a result on the 26th October 1440 he was hanged for his crimes. Due to the nature of his crimes Gilles has become somewhat infamous and is said to be one of the inspirations for Bluebeard.

Gilles de Rais was said to be extremely sadistic and a pedophile who took sexual pleasure out of the murder of children, although some at the time claimed he was a victim of the Church most modern historians have agreed he was most like a Catholic who gave into criminality and depravity later in life, although a practitioner of the occult Gilles was said to of actually been quite disappointed and angry with the occult since none of the promised wealth or magic his occult advisors promised him came to fruitation.

Gilles de Rais, due to his Knightly status, was still granted a proper burial despite his horrendous crimes and a monument to him remained until its destruction during the French Revolution.

As well as Bluebeard some believe the French origin of the word "ogre" may also of been inspired at least partially by the crimes of this man.