History Focus
October 26

Executed on charges of witchcraft and murder on October 26, 1440.

This is not a pleasant topic. It is a frightening one. Nevertheless, this evil activity does exist in the world. Read this knowing that God has given us weapons against the demonic influences in the world. Do not take Satan and his powers lightly. Do not hide you head in the sand and pretend that this kind of activity does not exist. But do not be afraid of the evil in the world. God has given us authority over them.

Joan of Arc's greatest friend in the French army was Gilles de Rais (or Retz). Gilles de Raise was born sometime in 1404. He married Catherine de Thonars on the 30th of November, 1420, thus becoming the richest noble in Europe. Gilles de Rais was so vain that he dyed his beard blue, thus his nickname, 'Bluebeard.' At the time he was the confidant of Joan he was in his early twenties. Then he was a very earnest and able soldier. He became a Marshal, at the age of twenty-five, and he was considered one of the finest intelligences of the time.

Within a decade of the Joan’s burning at the stake, and the crowing of the Dauphin he left the army to pursue his magical studies in his princely chateau. He began alchemical studies under the instruction of Gilles de Sille, a priest of St. Malo. He fell into the most scandalous excesses and satanic practices. Some of his experiments included even killing and torturing children. He lived extravagantly until his arrest by the Church. A church inquisition established that de Rais’ dabbling in “Black Arts” accounted for the disappearance of, perhaps, eight hundred children. Most of the children killed were boys. In some of his experiments he would order his servants to stab them in the jugular vein so their blood would shoot all over him while he would stimulate himself sexually. He was accused of sitting on the bowels of a boy and drinking his blood while the boy lay bleeding to death.

He is the original of the Bluebeard story. He frankly confessed that he had been a witch and he was executed as such. It is said that at the time of his execution he renounced his religion as a witch and said that he deserved death. After confessing his sins and reaffirming his love of Christ he was hanged and burned on October 26 in 1440.

Source:
The Many Masks of Satan