# Gilles de Rais — Là-Bas character guide

> Gilles de Rais in Là-Bas by J.-K. Huysmans.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Gilles, Undoubtedly Gilles, de Rais

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

The Marshal of France turned child-murderer, whose castles, confessions, and unholy remorse Durtal reconstructs chapter by chapter as the book's dark mirror.

## Who they are

Gilles de Rais is the subject Durtal cannot put down: a baron so powerful that peasants flee at his approach and his liege lord shields him for the sake of his lands. Only the Church, in the person of the Bishop of Nantes, finally moves against him — after Gilles commits sacrilege at Saint-Étienne by seizing a tonsured clerk in the middle of mass. He is the novel's true center of gravity: the monster Durtal studies, and the abyss Durtal keeps circling.

## Relationships

### [Jean de Malestroit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/jean_de_malestroit)

_professional_

Gilles de Rais and Jean de Malestroit are depicted as historical figures in a lord-vassal or ecclesiastical relationship during the trial.

### [Durtal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/durtal)

_psychological_

Durtal is morbidly fascinated by Gilles de Rais, studying his crimes and psyche as a case of extreme evil and obsession.

### [Francesco Prelati](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/francesco_prelati)

_psychological_

Francesco Prelati, an alchemist and sorcerer, is Gilles de Rais' manipulative accomplice, feeding his delusions and crimes.

### [Des Hermies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/des_hermies)

_psychological_

Des Hermies is intellectually obsessed with Gilles de Rais, analyzing him as a historical monster and cautionary figure.

### [Des Hermies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/des_hermies)

_psychological_

Des Hermies is intellectually obsessed with Gilles de Rais, analyzing him as a historical monster and cautionary figure.

### [Durtal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/durtal)

_psychological_

Durtal is morbidly fascinated by Gilles de Rais, studying his crimes and psyche as a case of extreme evil and obsession.

### [Francesco Prelati](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/francesco_prelati)

_psychological_

Francesco Prelati, an alchemist and sorcerer, is Gilles de Rais' manipulative accomplice, feeding his delusions and crimes.

### [Durtal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/durtal)

_psychological_

Durtal is morbidly fascinated by Gilles de Rais, studying his crimes and psyche as a case of extreme evil and obsession.

### [Des Hermies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/des_hermies)

_psychological_

Des Hermies is intellectually obsessed with Gilles de Rais, analyzing him as a historical monster and cautionary figure.

### [Jean de Malestroit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/jean_de_malestroit)

_professional_

Gilles de Rais and Jean de Malestroit are depicted as historical figures in a lord-vassal or ecclesiastical relationship during the trial.

### [Jean de Malestroit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/jean_de_malestroit)

_professional_

Gilles de Rais and Jean de Malestroit are depicted as historical figures in a lord-vassal or ecclesiastical relationship during the trial.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/ii)

The historical figure with whom Durtal now lives mentally, cloistered in the château de Tiffauges.

### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/iv)

Portrayed as a complex figure: a brave captain, a patron of the arts, and later a sacrilegious sadist and murderer.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/v)

Referenced as a key figure in the history of Satanism, marking the end of the 15th century.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/vi)

Subject of Durtal's research; his quest for the philosopher's stone and dealings with Prelati are discussed.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/viii)

Durtal reflects on Gilles de Rais as an embodiment of Satanism, considering his crimes and the medieval context.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/xi)

Detailed account of his descent into spiritualized evil, systematic child murders, and the terror he spreads across the countryside.

### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/xvi)

Durtal compares him to Chantelouve, noting his three personas: brave soldier, artistic criminal, and repentant mystic.

### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/xviii)

Appears before his judges, confesses his crimes in detail, breaks down, and is embraced by Jean de Malestroit.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/xx)

Referenced as a standard of satanic excess compared to Docre.

### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/chapters/xxi)

Mentioned by Durtal as a more interesting subject than Mme. Chantelouve, as his book on de Rais nears completion.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters/gilles_de_rais
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/l_bas_se/characters