Everyone or almost everyone has heard at least once in their lives about Joan of Arc, the national heroine of France, through whose efforts the French managed to turn the tide of the Hundred Years' War. Alas, few people have heard the name of her military comrade-in-arms and devoted friend - Baron Gilles de Rais, whose lot is perhaps more tragic than that of Jeanne. The Marshal of France, who received the title of count, nine years after the execution of the Maid of Orleans, was convicted of heresy and witchcraft and violent acts. They tried to cross out his name and keep quiet. In the people's memory there are only legends in which the terrible "Duke Bluebeard" is evil... But what was he really like?