Gilles de Rais | The Making of a Medieval Killer

In this audio chapter of Empty Night, we examine the later life of Gilles de Rais—once a decorated nobleman, later accused of crimes that remain among the most disturbing in medieval history. Drawing from trial transcripts and contemporary accounts, the episode traces how authority, isolation, and belief intersected in a system unable—or unwilling—to protect the vulnerable.This is not a story of legend, but of record: incomplete, contested, and heavy with consequence. The episode closes by reflecting on what medieval justice reveals about the societies that administer it.For a more exhaustive cinematic version with archival imagery and historical maps, listen and watch on the official YouTube channel, Empty Night.