D (4:49)

Giving why get all your holiday decorations delivered through Instacart? Because maybe you only bought two wreaths, but windows? Or maybe your toddler got very eager with the Advent calendar. Or maybe the inflatable snowman didn't make it through the snowstorm. Or maybe the twinkle lights aren't twinkling. Whatever the reason, this season Instacart's here for hosts and their whole holiday haul. Get decorations from the Home Depot, CVS and more through Instacart and enjoy free delivery on your first three orders, service fees and term supply.

Vanessa Richardson (5:23)

In the fall of 1404, the wail of a newborn baby echoed from the black tower at Champ to, say, castle in Brittany. The child was named Gilles, and as the future Baron de Rais, he was destined to possess incredible wealth. His fortune would shape not just his future, but that of his entire country.

Dr. Tristan Engels (5:45)

This is going to be a really interesting case to do, a deep dive into because we are exploring the mind of a serial killer during medieval times. With that in mind, I think it's important that we draw attention to the enormous pressure that children and noble families experienced during those times. It was very classist, which still exists to this day in a lot of ways, but in medieval times, families had children solely to maintain that status and carry on bloodlines. From the moment children are born back in that era, they are being groomed to do just that at all costs. So this can affect someone in a number of ways, but mainly if we're being taught in black and white terms that their value as a child is solely based on them furthering the family status and wealth that can really shape their worldview of other people and value of other people, including children.

Vanessa Richardson (6:41)

So for Gilles, expectations would have been sky high. This was, as you said, the Middle Ages, when heredity determined everything about your social status. You were either a peasant, a, a knight, a noble, or royalty, and that's where you stayed. Gilles de Rais was born about as high on the social ladder as you could get without being a king. He was the child of two powerful houses. His father was descended from one of the oldest noble families in France. Meanwhile, his mother could trace her bloodline back to King Robert II, who'd reigned over France around 400 years earlier. Their union combined vast landholdings throughout the regions of Brittany, Anjou and Western France, making them incredibly rich. And then they died. We don't know how Gilles mother passed away, only that it happened around 1415, when Gilles was 10 or 11. There are also some accounts that say she ran away or remarried. Either way, she was gone from Gilles life. And that same year, his father was gored by a wild boar during a hunting trip. Historians have speculated that Gilles may have been present to witness the event, even if he wasn't there. He sat by his father's bedside for days afterward, watching him slowly succumb to his injuries.

Dr. Tristan Engels (8:08)

Losing a parent at an early age can be very traumatic for children, and the effects of that loss will vary based on the age of the child. In this case, Jill was 10 or 11, which means it would likely manifest with more poor emotional regulation, specifically with regard to anger and resentment. But this is also the Middle Ages and the medieval times, and the mortality rate is quite low. So I would surmise that this is not the first time that Jill witnessed death. I would also imagine that he had witnessed death from disease, famine and violence among lower class villagers as well. But witnessing this could cause unresolved trauma or a desensitization from death and loss, which could allow him to rationalize his future actions based on childhood indoctrinations.

Vanessa Richardson (8:59)

So after his parents died, Gilles and his younger brother Rene, were taken in by their maternal grandfather, Jean de Creon. The aging aristocrat was ruthless, cunning and obsessed with growing his family's wealth. As soon as Gilles and Rene were in his care, he started plotting to marry them off to the Daughters of rich families. Otherwise, Jean pretty much ignored his grandsons, allowing them to get into whatever trouble they could come up with. Gilles exulted in the freedom. He later described his childhood saying, in my youth, I was allowed to go always according to my own sweet will. But that didn't mean his life was completely devoid of structure. While Gilles was free to do what he wanted with his free time, his grandfather at least ensured that he received an education worthy of a nobleman. He enjoyed reading and became fluent in three languages. But he preferred sports and spent most of his time training in horsemanship and hand to hand combat. It was always a foregone conclusion that these skills would eventually be put to use on the battlefield. As a nobleman from a powerful French family, Gilles could be called on to fight for the crown at virtually any moment. Western Europe had been in a state of war for decades. There were always fresh conflicts cropping up that a lord of his status could easily get drawn into. And Gilles couldn't wait to get his hands dirty. His chance came in 1420, when he was about 16 years old. A local count made a play for the French throne by kidnapping the Duke of Brittany. Gilles grandfather supported the duke, and the rebellious count responded by sending bands of thugs onto their lands. Gilles and his grandfather repelled the attack, killing several of the thugs in the process. As far as we know, it was the first time Gilles took a human life on the battlefield or off.

Dr. Tristan Engels (11:04)

I had previously worked with veterans who have shared the impact of taking lives in military combat, and every one of them had struggled with the trauma of those experiences. Primarily, they struggled with reconciling that they were trained to do this and that it was legally justified with their own internal guilt. And I worked with Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom veterans, a lot of whom reflected on having to fight against young soldiers, soldiers that are Gilles age and sometimes even younger. Back in those days, it was not uncommon for children to be in combat. And at 16, the brain is not fully developed, specifically the frontal lobe, where our executive functioning is, and the prefrontal cortex, which is the region that makes us uniquely human. So prolonged exposure to stress and trauma as a child, like combat, can cause that prefrontal cortex to be underdeveloped later in life. This can lead to less empathy, less reasoning, and a higher risk of aggression. In the case of Gilles, he was raised to believe he is superior to others simply by blood and status, and encouraged to behave as such. So that kind of fixed belief can really solidify egocentric fantasies, leading to a belief of invincibility which then creates arrogance and the exposure to combat. And the rationalization of killing adds to that picture.

Vanessa Richardson (12:43)

Soon after the battle, Gilles grandfather finally found him a wife. Catherine de Trois was rich, beautiful, and also Gilles first cousin. The incestuous nature of the marriage meant that they needed special permission from the church before going through with the ceremony. But Gilles wasn't interested in waiting. According to Catherine's parents, he kidnapped her and forced her to marry him. He then took control of her land, occupying its many estates and fortresses throughout the French countryside. Catherine's relatives were enraged, but it was this theft rather than the abduction that got them so angry, they pressured Gilles to return ownership of some of Catherine's estates. Gilles responded by capturing his new wife's relatives, imprisoning them in his dungeons until they agreed to drop the issue. News of the conflict eventually reached the French Parliament. Gilles was forced to release his prisoners and return a small portion of the land, but otherwise faced no consequences.

Dr. Tristan Engels (13:50)

I think we should talk about the impact of not facing consequences for acts like that. So in the field of criminology, there's a theory called the broken window theory, which essentially states that if there are visible signs of crime and antisocial behavior, it can create an environment that encourages further crime. I think that this can also be applied not to just the environment itself, but to the person. It's like behavioral theories in psychology regarding reinforcement. In Jill's case, his behaviors appear to be reinforced by those around him. By lack of consequence, he's getting notoriety, he's getting a reputation, he's getting validation and reward for these behaviors, at least in his opinion. His grandfather was the one who immediately set out to arrange a marriage for Jill to maintain the wealth of the family, and made it clear that that was more important than what Jill himself might want. So Jill achieved this at these very horrific costs. And even if his grandfather may not have approved of how he went about it, he got the result. So it's unlikely his grandfather would really be mad or really stay mad after that as a result. But this just serves to inflate Jill's sense of self importance and superiority even more.

Vanessa Richardson (15:14)

The conflict around the wedding marked a critical moment in Gilles young life. He was just 16 or 17 and wouldn't come into his inheritance until he was 21. Until then, he still lived in his grandfather's shadow. And yet he had already internalized several lessons that would guide him for the rest of his life. It was always better to ask for forgiveness than wait for permission. Consequences could be negotiated, delayed, or avoided entirely and most importantly, violence and bullying were effective tools for getting what you wanted. An Gilles wanted a lot. His appetites went far beyond his grandfather's simple greed. Soon he would satisfy them all, unleashing his demons on the people and children of Western France.

Dr. Tristan Engels (16:10)

When you feel a cold coming, shorten it with Zycam, the number one cold shortening brand.

Vanessa Richardson (16:16)

Oh no. Your cold is coming.

Dr. Tristan Engels (16:18)

Your cold is coming. Thanks, Revere. I really should keep Zycam in the house. Only if you want to shorten your cold.

D (16:26)

Take it from America's most revered messenger. Shorten your cold at the first sign with cold shortening products from Zycam, the number one cold shortening brand. Available in stores or see where to.

Vanessa Richardson (16:36)

Buy@Zicam.Com In 1425, Gilles de Rais turned 21, the legal age where he could finally take control of his vast inheritance. In addition to paying for clothing, feasts, art and furniture for his many estates, he was waited on by a massive staff and typically traveled with 20 to 30 people. That included not just servants, but also clerks, pages, a personal chaplain and singers to entertain him. His grandfather, Jean de Crayon, was dismayed by Gilles reckless spending, fearing that Gilles would squander the fortune Jean had worked so hard to grow. But there was nothing he could do. Gilles was his own man, with his own vices and appetites. It was around this time that the darkest of those appetites reared its head. Gilles was still married to Catherine de Troyes, but it doesn't seem like he ever paid her much attention. Instead, he was drawn to the many young boys who worked at his castles as pages and apprenticeships. If he felt any shame for these dangerous urges, he didn't resist them for long. In 1427, when Gilles was around 23, he became interested in a 10 year old page nicknamed Poitou. And Gilles probably saw little reason to hold back. As a nobleman who'd been waited on by servants his whole life, a page boy was akin to property. The chances of getting caught were low, and most likely no one would think twice. If the boy disappeared, his parents would be upset, but children often went missing in the Middle Ages. No one would dare question the Baron de Rais for the sake of a commoner. And even if they did, it was unlikely that the French Crown would take their side. So, confident that he would face no repercussions, Gilles assaulted and raped Poitou. It seems that he planned to murder him too, but had a last minute change of heart, deciding that the boy was too beautiful to kill instead, Gilles kept him close, promoting him to his personal valet. At the time, Poitou didn't report the assault, and Gilles abhorrent behavior went unpunished once again.

Dr. Tristan Engels (19:10)

When it comes to pedophilic urges, we often find a lot of ego syntonic behaviors, and those are behaviors that align with the needs of the individual's ego or self image. So in the case of Jill, his view of himself is one of extreme superiority that has been ingrained since he was a child. His extreme grandiosity means that Jill views most things, including people, as property, and uses his privilege and status to prey upon marginalized and disenfranchised individuals. We saw that with his treatment of women, particularly his wife, and now with this young boy. It seems that Jill has a need for power and control, which he has began to exert in sexually deviant ways, first with his wife, but now with Poitou. I am not surprised that he chose to keep this boy near him. Sexually deviant predators often engage in trust building and grooming to maintain control over their victims and their image.

Vanessa Richardson (20:14)

Well before Gilles could seek out any more victims, he was called to war. Around this time, France and England became embroiled in conflict. The two powers had technically been at war for decades, but the actual fighting had ebbed and flowed, depending on who was in power. But with the French throne recently vacated, the question of who would fill it brought the war back in full force. Gilles pledged allegiance to Charles vii, the son of the last French king, and became a commander in the royal army. His violent tendencies and extensive martial training made him a natural warrior. He won several early conflicts, earning a reputation as a brave and capable general. But while his star was rising personally, the big picture situation was dire. His side was losing badly. Decades of conflict had broken the French spirit, and it was starting to look like only a miracle would save the country from British rule. In 1429, when Gilles was about 24, it finally got one. In early spring, a peasant girl around 17 years old named Joan of Arc arrived at the royal court. She announced that she'd had visions from the saints and angels instructing her to become a warrior. If Charles VII would give her men to lead, she would march on the besieged city of Orleans and rescue it from the British invaders. Gilles was present the day Joan of Arc made her bold announcement. Like everyone else, he was fascinated and impressed by her conviction. He may have even seen her as a kindred spirit, someone different from everyone else, above the laws of the common man. Still, he was probably a little worried when Charles VII gave Joan her army, assigning Gilles to fight by her side. Gilles wasn't afraid of battle, but he wasn't interested in throwing his life away either. And even if he believed God was on their side, it would have been hard to fully trust his life with a teenage girl who'd never commanded an army. Then they reached the city of Orleans, where Joan of Arc's prophecies became reality. In only nine days, she drove back the English forces that had laid siege to the city for about six months. For Gilles de Rais, who'd been in the thick of battle, it was now impossible to deny that Joan of Arc was chosen by God. But rather than inspiring him to turn over a new leaf and abandon his violent ways, Gilles ego only grew. He was on Joan of Arc's side, after all. Her mission was his mission. Which meant that he had also been chosen. He'd always known he was special, and now he had proof.

Dr. Tristan Engels (23:13)

Someone with a pro social mindset that experienced the Battle of Orleans would likely see this as inspirational in living a life of kindness and humility. But for someone like Gilles, who is very egocentric and narcissistic, it just fuels his grandiosity. He already is living with egocentonic fantasies, as I mentioned before, and believing that he has been chosen by God will only fuel that sense of invincibility which makes him that much more dangerous.

Vanessa Richardson (23:48)

Joan of Arc's victory at Orleans revitalized the French spirit and turned the tide of the war. It also turned Gilles de Rais into a war hero and led to Charles VII's coronation. The new king rewarded Gilles for his role in the campaign by naming him Marshal of France. It was a symbolic title, but essentially made him the highest ranked soldier in the country. Gilles had won the respect of his country and his king, but that respect didn't help his growing financial issues. In addition to funding his extravagant lifestyle and massive staff, Gilles was now paying for a personal army that was actively at war. His soldiers might have been inspired by Joan of Arc's victories, but they still had to be paid. By 1429, when Gilles was around 25, his expenses had burned a serious hole in his pocketbook. He was still ridiculously rich, but most of his money was tied up in property. But Gilles had no interest in reducing his expenses. So to free up some cash, he decided to sell off some family land. His grandfather, Jean de Crayon, was furious. For years, his sole obsession had been building up the family's landholdings, which would keep them relevant in French politics for years to come. He'd hoped to protect his legacy and name forever. And now his impulsive grandson was risking it all. Jean quickly bought back the land and publicly insulted Gilles, accusing him of overspending and shirking his responsibilities to the family. It was a humiliating slap in the face. And only a few months later, Gilles was hit with a another disappointment. One that could threaten everything he'd built.

E (25:49)

If you have health insurance, you might be able to see a personal dietitian for $0 out of pocket. Nourish connects you with a dietitian that fits your needs, covered by your insurance. Nourish accepts hundreds of insurance plans and 94% of patients pay $0 out of pocket. Meet with your dietitian online and message them anytime through the Nourish app. With hundreds of five star reviews from real patients, you know you're in good hands. Find your dietitian@usenourish.com that's usenourish.com okay, let's take a poll. How weird does it feel to be called someone's fiance? Right? The first time you hear it, you do like a double take. Your heart kind of flutters and before you know it, you go from let's just enjoy this moment to we're planning a fall wedding. That's where Zola comes in. Zola has everything you need to plan your wedding in one place and have fun along the way. From free planning tools like a budget tracker, super necessary and website, to a venue and vendor discovery tool that matches you with your dream team. Everything on Zola is designed to make your wedding journey as easy as possible. And with invites that can be completely customized and a wedding registry packed with gifts you actually want, Zola takes you from Save our day to thanks so much without breaking a sweat. From getting engaged to getting married, Zola has everything you need to plan your wedding in one place. Start planning@zola.com that's z o l a.com Happy wedding.

Vanessa Richardson (27:23)

In 1430, Joan of Arc was thrown from her horse during battle and captured. Some historians believe that Gilles de Rais may have mounted a rescue attempt. But if he did try, the rescue failed. Joan of Arc was tried for heresy and witchcraft and burned at the stake in front of an estimated 10,000 people. For 25 year old Gilles, it was the end of a dream. By sticking with Joan of Arc, he'd probably hope to earn himself more fame and wealth while securing a place in history, possibly even in heaven. But now that future was gone. His military career continued after Joan of Arc's death, but something had changed in 1432, when Gilles was about 28, he showed unusual ruthlessness while clashing with the English, allowing his men to pillage and plunder their enemies. In the wake of the battle, it's not clear what inspired this shift in tactics. Maybe fighting alongside a woman said to be anointed by God had convinced him to keep his cruelty under wraps. But now there was nothing holding him back. Then, also in 1432, his grandfather died. Jean had never forgiven Gilles for selling off the family land. On his deathbed, he bequeathed his sword and breastplate to Gilles younger brother, Rene. It was a gesture of heavy significance, suggesting that Rene, not Gilles, would carry on the family's name and legacy. In medieval society, that was always the oldest son's responsibility. And legally speaking, nothing had changed. But it was a public symbol of rejection, a way for Jean to shame his grandson. Such a visible humiliation would have been extremely damaging to Gilles reputation within the royal court, insinuating that there was something deeply wrong that made him unworthy of his inheritance. It may have been the first time that he truly faced consequences for his actions, but it was too little, too late.

Dr. Tristan Engels (29:39)

We're definitely seeing a very significant pattern of narcissism here with Gilles, even with his association with Joan of Arc. Very obvious that anyone around him, he wants around him for a reason, a reason that helps lift up his reputation and his ego. What his grandfather did likely caused what's called a narcissistic injury. The reason a narcissist is so grandiose is because they are trying to convince themselves and those around them that they have a high sense of self worth. When the reality is, it's more often than not an overcompensation for a lack of self worth. So when a narcissist's flaws are highlighted, especially publicly, it devastates their pride and shatters the image that they've carefully crafted to hide that vulnerability. So as you can imagine, somebody with a narcissistic injury will react with extreme defensiveness, as most of what a narcissist does is usually extreme. We are likely to see aggressive reactions, as this is the only way that they know how to restore their image and their attempt to prevent anyone else from daring to hold them to task in the future.

Vanessa Richardson (30:55)

Well after his grandfather's death, whatever self restraint Gilles de Rais had exhibited dissolved completely. His sexual appetite and bloodlust exploded in a crescendo of horror that seemed to come out of nowhere. In 1432, the same year his grandfather died, Gilles sent several members of his inner circle out to local towns in search of boys who fit his tastes. They soon identified a 12 year old boy who was apprenticed to a local craftsman, Gilles. Men asked his master if they could pay to have the boy deliver a note to a nearby castle where Gilles was staying. The man agreed, and the boy ran off with the letter. We don't know the exact details of what happened that night, but the boy never returned. And in the coming weeks, many more victims followed in his path. Okay, a brief disclaimer before I continue. What follows is a broad overview of the methods commonly employed by Gilles de Rais. Even without getting into specific incidents, it's. It's extremely disturbing. Especially since it involves the sexual assault and torture of minors. I'll keep things as brief as I can, but some detail is necessary to understand what he was capable of. If you'd like to skip this section, I'd recommend jumping forward about a minute and a half. The abductions followed a similar pattern. The victims were mostly boys, but some girls were taken too. All of them were approached by members of Gilles entourage, who'd been tasked with getting the children to the castle. Once they arrived, the victims were given food and spiced wine before being taken upstairs to a private chamber. Gilles de Rais soon entered, sometimes alone, but often with one or more friends. He liked to start by telling his victims exactly, exactly what was about to happen, relishing their terror as the hopelessness of their situation became clear. The children were tied up, then briefly hung with a rope or chain connected to a hook in the ceiling. When they were close to passing out, Gilles released them and sexually assaulted them. Before the night was done, he murdered the children himself or had one of his friends do it.

Dr. Tristan Engels (33:21)

We're seeing some sexual sadism here.

Vanessa Richardson (33:24)

Absolutely. The victims were slain in virtually every manner imaginable. But decapitation and dismemberment were some of Gilles favorite methods. He would often sit on the victims chests and look in their eyes as they died. He caressed and performed sex acts with the corpses and liked to keep heads and other body parts as souvenirs. Otherwise, the bodies were cremated in the castle furnaces and the ashes were thrown in the moat.

Dr. Tristan Engels (33:59)

If you did not skip this section and you are feeling triggered by this in any way, we have put some resources in the description of today's episode that I encourage you to check out at this point. Back to Gilles. Gilles meets criteria for various paraphilia disorders, starting with pedophilia, necrophilia and sexual sadism. Now, sexual sadism is characterized by intense sexual arousal from recurring fantasies or behaviors involving the physical or psychological harm of another. Sadistic acts include restraint, imprisonment, biting, and more, and should include that with a consenting partner. So if the partner's at consenting, it's not necessarily a pathology in itself, but rather what we would call a sexual kink or interest. So we don't want to shame people who are interested in those sorts of things, provided they're doing it consensually. However, this is much more than that. This is pathological because the acts are done on non consenting partners also whom are minors, and it's causing functional impairment in social, professional and legal areas. And when that's the case, that's when we can have a diagnosis of sexual sadism. What Gilles is doing goes beyond the criteria of sexual sadism because it's combined with not just criminal acts, but narcissistic personality disorder traits. Obviously, I can't say for certain that's what's happening here, because I haven't evaluated him as well as psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder. He is getting psychological gratification from harming others, and not just sexual gratification. This is about maintaining the belief that he is above everyone else and has the power and control at all times. So I think we're seeing this level of depravity from Jill because it's a response to the narcissistic injury of not only his grandfather, but losing his connection to Joan of Arc. That association with her gave him sort of a God complex. He was able to believe that he was chosen by God through association, and now he no longer has that to fuel his ego syntonic fantasies. So he's seeking that superiority in very, very depraved ways.

Vanessa Richardson (36:25)

Whatever it was that drove him to commit such horrific crimes, Gilles de Rais had finally unleashed his inner demons. Clearly, during this period of slaughter, he continued to show no fear of repercussions and took only minimal steps to prevent himself from getting caught. And really, he didn't need to. If any of his victim's parents suspected him, there was little they could do about it. Beyond being incredibly rich. Gilles de Rais was a nobleman and a war hero with powerful friends in the French royal court. But if there was one thing he was good at, it was making enemies. Soon enough, his reckless behavior would put him in conflict with his powerful extended family, eventually landing him in hot water with the King of France himself.

D (37:22)

Did you know that parents rank financial literacy as the number one most difficult life skill to teach? Meet greenlight, the debit card and money app for families with greenlight. You can send money to kids instantly, set up chores, automate allowance, and keep an eye on your kids spending. With real time notifications, kids get to earn, save and spend wisely. And parents can rest easy knowing their kids are learning about money. With guardrails in place, Sign up for Greenlight today@Greenlight.com Odyssey.

Vanessa Richardson (37:56)

Only two years after his grandfather's death, Gilles de Rais seemed to have lost interest in the ongoing war with England. He stopped paying his soldiers and retreated from military life. In addition to tarnishing his reputation as a war hero, this likely likely caused lasting damage to his relationship with King Charles vii. He also spent much less time at the royal court, preferring his private castle deep in the French countryside. Meanwhile, his abductions and murders of local peasant children continued unabated. For the people in those communities, it was impossible to deny that something was wrong. Soon, rumors began to spread of a great evil taking root in the land. There were whispers of child stealers on the roads, talk of a vague beast of extermination preying on the innocents. Whatever was causing the disappearances, they were facing an evil of supernatural proportions. And slowly their gaze began to fix on the castles of Baron Gilles de Rais.

Dr. Tristan Engels (39:04)

So there seems to be a dramatic shift in his behavior ever since he had that public narcissistic injury and also the distancing of his past military experience. But I think this is due to a number of factors. He no longer has anything holding him accountable. It was initially waiting until he was 21 to access his fortune. Then it was waiting for his grandfather to pass his inheritance onto him. It was also Joan of Arc being chosen by God and his belief that he will hold favor of the people and God by fighting alongside her. All of those things are now gone. And when we see that there's been no real consequence, no oversight and full reign to act on his impulses, it makes sense why there was this dramatic shift. This behavior is not explained by unresolved trauma alone, but rather fixed beliefs, poor ego, strength, wealth and stature. The times he was living in and his pathology. Additionally, he has combat exposure at a young age, but during that era there was a lot of depravity in combat in the form of torture. So torture that was normalized by virtue of their military cause could perhaps have taught him how to release pent up anger, restlessness, boredom or resentment.

Vanessa Richardson (40:27)

In that way, while Gilles had undergone a dark transformation, his rampant spending had only gotten worse. In addition to funding his decadent lifestyle, he was now paying for Several massively expensive projects. In 1435, when Gilles was about 31, he financed a play glorifying his victory at the Battle of Orleans Leon six years earlier. In addition to paying for actors and costumes, he bought unlimited food and wine for the spectators, just to make sure everyone enjoyed themselves. Meanwhile, he poured funds into the construction of a lavish chapel. This was typical of wealthy aristocrats at the time, but it's interesting in Gilles case, since he'd never shown much interest in religion throughout his life, perhaps his experience with Joan of Arc had affected him. Whatever his motivations, the name of the church may offer a telling clue. Gilles dubbed it the Chapel of the Holy Innocents, a reference to the biblical passage in which King Herod orders the death of male children under two. It was ironic, considering that while the church was being built, Gilles and his friends were murdering children by the dozens. The chapel was a major drain on his finances, but Gilles didn't care. Whenever he ran out of money, he simply sold another estate or castle. This enraged his relatives, who feared he would destroy their family's reputation and any potential inheritance their offspring could hope for. Desperate to stop him, they wrote to King Charles VII for help. The king heard their complaints and was quick to intervene. He had a vested interest in keeping powerful noble houses around because they maintained their own armies, which the crown could rely on in times of war. He didn't want to see one of his most powerful supporters go bankrupt. In 1435, he issued a royal edict forbidding Gilles de Rais from selling any more land. Gilles was furious. He'd barely escaped the thumb of his meddling grandfather, and now the king he'd helped put on the throne was telling him what to do with his own property. It was a serious blow, but Gilles was not ready to abandon either his projects or his decadent lifestyle. Instead, he decided that the solution to his problems lay in alchemy, a mystical, pseudoscientific art that professed the power to turn lead into gold.

Dr. Tristan Engels (43:11)

Very interesting. But given that this is the Middle Ages, it's not surprising he would turn to alchemy as possible solutions to his problems, because that was a pretty prolific practice then. But it also begs the question as to why he hadn't tried that first, before he sold nearly all of his family's property. It seemingly adds to his pathology. We have seen that Gilles is prone to ego syntonic fantasies in the idea that he is invincible. He has delusions of grandeur and poor impulse control. These are all common for individuals who have narcissistic personality disorder. But also he's a malignant narcissist with sociopathy. It's hard to say for certain without being able to assess him myself, but whatever the cause, it certainly highlights that Gilles has never had a problem that he was unable to resolve quickly. But I think he will soon learn that there is no quick resolution to his current predicament and he is not going to like that very much.

Vanessa Richardson (44:22)

In 1439, Gilles sent a priest in his entourage to Italy in search of a magician who could help him. The priest soon returned with an alchemist named Francois Prillati. Gilles was instantly smitten with the attractive, charming 22 year old magician and he was relieved when Prilati confirmed that he could help. It wouldn't be easy though. Restoring his fortune was going to cost him an blood, but Gilles de Rais was ready to make sacrifices. He'd already committed some of the worst sins known to man. Why not add black magic and devil worship to the mix? Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next time as we discuss how Gilles de Rais tried to save his fortune and met his downfall.

Dr. Tristan Engels (45:28)

Mind of a Serial Killer is a Crime House Original Powered by Pave Studios Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you'd like what you heard today, reach out on social media at crime house on TikTok and Instagram. Don't forget to rate, review and follow Mind of a Serial Killer wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference and.

Vanessa Richardson (45:54)

To enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Mind of a Serial Killer ad free, along with early access to each thrilling two part series and exciting bonus content. We'll be back next Monday. Mind of a Serial Killer, a Crimehouse original powered by Pave Studios, is executive produced by Max Cutler. This episode of Mind of a Serial Killer was produced and directed by Ron Shapiro, written by Andrew Kelleher, edited by Alex Benedon, fact checked by Catherine Barner and included production assistance from Sarah Carroll and Stacey Warrenker. Mind of a Serial Killer is hosted by Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristan Engels. Of the many sources we used when researching this episode, the one we found the most credible and helpful was the horrific crimes of Gilles de Rais. Life of a Serial Killer of the Middle Ages by Jack Smith.