the agony of the fairy tale
Bluebeard fiction, fairy tale, or fact. Would you believe all three? In George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan", Bluebeard is a man of twenty-five who takes the place of the Dauphin to fool Joan. But Joan is not fooled. Perrault's (who was the forerunner of the Brothers Grimm) fairy tale turns Bluebeard into a multiple wife killer with a strange set of keys. How he went from reality to fable and fiction is unknown. But he was real. His life was a strange mixture of politics, war, riches, honor, witchcraft, and crime. Bluebeard who was really Gilles de Rais. Other spellings have Gilles Rais, Retz, de Laval (Wilson 1.). Gilles was born in the late months of 1404. His proud parents were Guy de Laval and Marie de Craon. (Wilson 3.) But his birth was a legal and political device started by his Great grandmother Jeanne Chabot. Jeanne Chabot as known as Jeanne la Sage was heiress to the Rais fortunes and lands. In 1400, Jean IV Duke of Brittany was campaigning against her to acquire some castles to protect the Duke from France. Jeanne la Sage asked for the protection of the Parliament of Paris. The Parliament granted her a dispensation to let her grandson from her first marriage inherit. Since during her second marriage she disinherited all the children from the first. However, she had one condition; Guy de Laval would take the de Rais name. (Benedetti 27-28.) Guy de Laval signed the paperwork on September 23, 1401. On January 1, 1402 Guy became Guy de Rais. A problem arose. Jeanne la Sage changed her mind and named the only other living relative: Catherine de Machecoul. Her son Jean de Craon would inherit. However, Guy sued. Jean de Craon defended. The case was being dragged through the courts. A compromise was reached which basically Guy de Laval married Marie de Craon. Jean de Craon was named godfather. Various papers were signed to let Gilles take all. (Benedetti 28-30.) Gilles parents provide for his raising but did not take an active hand. Being the first son, he was spoiled rotten. Rene' de la Suze born in 1407 was his brother. His education divided between military training and regular noble's education. In 1415 it is assumed both his parents died. Gilles father was gored by a wild boar and drew up his will on September 28, 1415. Guy de Laval named Jean Tournemine de la Junaudaye as guardian. However no mention is made of his mother after 1415. So it is assumed she died. On October 25,1415 Agincourt took the life of Jean de Craon's son. The death would leave the Craon estates to Gilles after Jean death. Jean de Craon moved quickly; by the end of the year he was in charge of Gilles and the estates. Jean de Craon was astute politician and bandit. He would charge merchants a toll to cross his lands. When the merchants sued or protested, "bandits" would attack them and steal their goods. Jean manipulated and exploited whomever he could to get riches and power. Jean found Gilles a wife. Her name was Jeanne Paynel, one of the richest heiresses in Normandy. She was four years old. Jean pushed aside the current deal of her marrying into the family of Roche-Guyons. Jean paid off her grandfather's debts. However, the French court overturned the deal. So Jean found Beatrice de Rohan, niece of the Duke of Brittany. However the contract was never fulfilled. Finally in 1420, Jean settled on Catherine de Thouars. Her father estates bordered the Craon lands. Catherine's father was away on pilgrimage. Jean kidnapped Catherine on November 22. Catherine was married to Gilles on November 30.