GILLES DE RAIS

BY Mark Gribben

Timeline

Date	Polital Event	Familial Event
1400	The Hundred Years War has been raging for more than 60 years. The Mad King Charles VI is on the throne of France.	Jeanne la Sage, last of the de Rais line, adopts Guy de Laval as her heir, provided he takes the name and coat of arms of de Rais.
1402	�	Jeanne la Sage renounces Guy de Rais, leaving her property instead to Catherine de Machecoul. Guy de Rais challenges the decision.
1404	�	Jean dCraon, son of Catherine, brokers a marriage between his daughter Marie and Guy de Rais. Gilles de Rais is born. �
1407	�	Catherine dies. Guy de Rais and his family move to Machecoul. Rene de Rais is born. �
1415	Agincourt.	Guy de Rais dies.� Amaury dCraon, heir of Jean dCraon dies at Agincourt.� Marie de Rais dies. �
1416	Civil war in France as the Duke of Burgundy, the Dauphin Charles VII, and others vie for the favor of Charles VI.	Jean dCraon is given custody of Gilles and Rene
1417		Jean dCraon arranges a marriage between 13- year- old Gilles and the orphaned daughter of Lord de Hambye.
1419	Allies of Charles VII murder the Duke of Burgundy during peace negotiations	Gilles de Rais is betrothed to Beatrice de Rohan, niece of the Duke of Brittany. The marriage is never completed.
1420	Charles VI disinherits his son, a peace treaty with England names Henry V heir to the French throne.	Gilles de Rais kidnaps his cousin, Catherine de Thouars.� The wife of Jean dCraon dies. He marries the grandmother of Catherine de Thouars, Anne de Sille. �
1421	�	Gilles de Rais and Catherine de Thouars are married
1422	Henry V of England dies. �Charles VI dies. �	�
1424	�	Gilles assumes control of his property against the wishes of his grandfather.
1426	The French are defeated at St. James and Brittany once again endorses Henry VI as king of France.	�
1427	Jean dCraon is made Lieutenant General of Charles forces.	Poitou enters the service of Gilles
1428	The siege of Orleans begins.	�
1429	Jean of Arc arrives at Charles court in Chinon.� Jean of Arc and Gilles de Rais liberate Orleans.� Charles is crowned at Reims. �	Gilles daughter, Marie, is born at Champtoce� Gilles begins liquidating his vast holdings to pay for his extravagant lifestyle. �
1431	Jean of Arc is executed.	The child murders begin
1432	Jean d Craon dies.
1435	�	Gilles family moves to have his estate protected from his liquidation.
1439	�	Cash-poor and disgraced, Gilles begins work in alchemy and black magic.
1440	�	Gilles and a band of rogues rob a church in St. Etienne.� A secret inquest is convened.� Gilles is arrested and charged with child murder and heresy.� Gilles confesses. Gilles is hanged at Nantes. �

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