Gilles de Montmorency-Laval

Gilles de Montmorency-Laval, also known as Gilles de Rais, is a supporting character in Puella Magi Tart Magica: The Legend of "Jeanne d'Arc". He is a nobleman with a crush on Tart, which is likely a reference to his trial as an alleged serial killer and pedophile.

General Info

Physical Features
Date of Birth	c. 1405 (estimated)
Eye colour	Unknown
Hair colour	Unknown
Other
Japanese pronoun	Unknown
Known relatives	Jean de Craon (grandfather, guardian; deceased), Marie de Craon (mother; deceased), Guy de Laval-Rais (father; deceased), Georges de La Trémoille (cousin), René de Rais (younger brother), Robert de Craon (relative, relation unknown)
Origins	Champtocé-sur-Loire, Anjou
School	Not attending

History

Also known as Gilles de Rais. The head of the prestigious noble family Laval and a subordinate of the Duke d'Anjou, a central player in the side supporting the Dauphin Charles. Gilles inherited his estate at eleven years old when his parent died, and he was raised by his grandfather on his mother's side. His mother's side of the family was the pedigreed Craon family that included the second Grand master of the Knights Templar, Robert de Craon. And since there was no male heir bearing the Craon name, Gilles was set to inherit nearly all of the wealth from both sides of his family, meaning that as a young nobleman he was promised more wealth than the king. It's said that he later became the model for the French children's story, Bluebeard.

In Puella Magi Tart Magica: The Legend of "Jeanne d'Arc"

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Gilles makes his first appearance in chapter 5, immediately showing an interest in Tart and her power. He and Charles de Valois decide to test Tart, with the two of them switching places when Tart arrives. Cube warns Tart that the king they see is a fake, and she announces that her angel has told her that "Charles" is not the King. Cube then leads her to the real Charles de Valois. This display causes Gilles to become infatuated with her.
Later, Gilles shows his fighting prowess in many battles alongside La Hire. With his support, Tart and her team are able to win many battles and eventually take down Isabeau de Bavière and her daughters.

In Real Life

Gilles de Montmorency-Laval was born in 1405 and was raised by his grandfather after the death of his parents. He assisted Jeanne d'Arc during her fight to end the Hundred Years' War. After the execution of Jeanne d'Arc, Gilles de Montmorency-Laval secluded himself in his palace and, according to his family, disgraced the name of both Rais and Craon.
He was arrested on the 15th of September, 1440 after assaulting a cleric. During his trial, many people claimed to have witnessed Gilles de Rais lure young boys into his castle, with the boys disappearing soon after. He confessed to murdering 140 young boys after sexually assaulting them. He, along with two of his servants, were sentenced to death. Gilles de Rais was hanged and burned on the 26th of October, 1440.
The actual trial of Gilles de Rais is subject to scrutiny, as many cruel and unusual methods were used to extract information and force confessions. In mock-trials reenacting the trial of Gilles de Rais today, nearly all of them lead to him being found not guilty due to the lack of verifiable evidence.

Etymology

Gilles is a name of Greek origins, meaning "protection" or "kid" (as in a goat).
de Montmorency-Laval references one of the houses he belongs to, the House of Montmorency. "Laval" comes from his father's house, the House of Laval.
Rais is the region of his barony.

Trivia

If his trial is to be believed, then he had an attraction towards young boys. In Tart Magica, however, he says that he is attracted to young girls after being shocked by Tart.