TV-Series
Description
Gilles de Rais appears in the anime and manga series Devils and Realist as a demon bound to the Grand Duke Baalberith. His backstory is rooted in the history of 15th century France, where in his human life he was a nobleman and a soldier who fought alongside Jeanne dArc. He developed deep feelings for her, and her death was the pivotal trauma that destroyed his faith in God and humanity. After witnessing Jeanne being put under a state of religious ecstasy by the archangel Michael, he became utterly disillusioned, believing Heaven had turned her into a mindless pawn. He was later arrested and sentenced to death for numerous crimes, including the murder of children. While awaiting execution, he refused to repent and instead cursed those he held responsible for Jeannes fate. On the verge of death, the demon Baalberith appeared and offered him a contract to become a Nephilim, a half-demon, an offer he accepted in order to escape damnation and eventually reunite with Jeanne.
Gilles possesses a flamboyant, frivolous, and deeply narcissistic personality. He has a flair for the dramatic, behaves in a flirtatious manner, and shows a blatant disregard for personal space, often acting on impulse and for his own amusement. His defining characteristic, however, is his all-consuming and twisted obsession with Jeanne dArc. He is extremely sensitive about any mention of her, and any insult directed at her can trigger an immediate, aggressive, and nearly berserk reaction. He does not regret any of the atrocities he committed as a human, nor does he see himself as a villain, instead viewing his actions through the lens of his broken faith and his singular focus on Jeanne.
His primary motivation is to see Jeanne dArc again, but not for a simple reunion. His goal is corrupted by his hatred for Heaven, which he believes stole her will and made her a puppet. He expresses a fervent desire to defile and violate her, believing that this act of brutal desecration is the only way to shatter the ecstasy imposed by the angels and free her from Heavens control. He wishes to erase the spiritual scars left by Michael and send her into oblivion with his own hands, framing it as a form of salvation. Beyond his fixation on Jeanne, he harbors an utter hatred and disgust for Heaven and all angels, whom he blames not only for turning Jeanne into a pawn but also for condemning him as a heretic. After making his contract with Baalberith, his motivations also include serving the demon dukes faction in Hell, particularly as a soldier following orders.
Within the storys conflict over the fate of William Twining, the Elector of Solomon, Gilles serves as an agent of the demonic faction, specifically as a subordinate to the powerful Grand Duke Baalberith. He is used as a soldier in the ongoing war between Heaven and Hell, acting as a powerful enforcer. He first appears attacking Dantalions domain in an attempt to capture William for his own master. Later, when Heaven attempts a ceremony on William, Gilles is appointed to guard the human and intervene against the angels, leading to a confrontation with Raguel where his hatred for Heaven is made most explicit. Despite his service to Hell, his personal vendetta often takes precedence, and his actions are frequently driven more by his desire to enact his plans regarding Jeanne than by the broader political machinations of the demon lords.
Gilles key relationships are defined by his past and his servitude. His most significant relationship is with the absent Jeanne dArc, who is the singular, distorted focus of his entire existence. He holds a deep and loyal, albeit horrifically twisted, love for her. His relationship with Baalberith is that of a subordinate to his master and savior. Baalberith offered him the contract that saved him from oblivion, and in return, Gilles appears to serve him as a loyal soldier, though his personal obsession often seems to override his orders. He is generally hostile towards other demons unless they serve a purpose for him, and he shows pure contempt for angels and their human agents. He also has a volatile and combative relationship with Dantalion, another demon duke, whom he has directly attacked.
In terms of development, Gilles does not experience a moral redemption or a softening of his character. He first appears as a violent, unpredictable agent of chaos, and his later appearances reinforce these traits, particularly illuminating the depth of his trauma-driven insanity concerning Jeanne. His character is consistently portrayed as a tragic figure who has fully embraced his demonic nature and sees no reason to return to his former human life. He is what he has become: a monster whose every action is a rebellion against the God who, in his view, failed him and the woman he loved. A minor but notable aspect of his character is his histrionic and vain nature, which is comically subverted in extra content where he is sometimes depicted in roles like a bartender or forced into a maids outfit, showcasing a more absurd side to his dramatic personality without contradicting his core ferocity.
Gilles de Rais has several notable abilities as a demon. He can fly, a common power among demons in this universe. He has demonstrated the ability to generate and conduct electricity, using it offensively with his hands to attack his enemies. His physical strength is considerable, and his fighting style is aggressive and relentless, matching his volatile personality. His very presence as a Nephilim on the battlefield marks him as a significant threat, requiring the attention of high-ranking demons and angels alike to be subdued.
Gilles possesses a flamboyant, frivolous, and deeply narcissistic personality. He has a flair for the dramatic, behaves in a flirtatious manner, and shows a blatant disregard for personal space, often acting on impulse and for his own amusement. His defining characteristic, however, is his all-consuming and twisted obsession with Jeanne dArc. He is extremely sensitive about any mention of her, and any insult directed at her can trigger an immediate, aggressive, and nearly berserk reaction. He does not regret any of the atrocities he committed as a human, nor does he see himself as a villain, instead viewing his actions through the lens of his broken faith and his singular focus on Jeanne.
His primary motivation is to see Jeanne dArc again, but not for a simple reunion. His goal is corrupted by his hatred for Heaven, which he believes stole her will and made her a puppet. He expresses a fervent desire to defile and violate her, believing that this act of brutal desecration is the only way to shatter the ecstasy imposed by the angels and free her from Heavens control. He wishes to erase the spiritual scars left by Michael and send her into oblivion with his own hands, framing it as a form of salvation. Beyond his fixation on Jeanne, he harbors an utter hatred and disgust for Heaven and all angels, whom he blames not only for turning Jeanne into a pawn but also for condemning him as a heretic. After making his contract with Baalberith, his motivations also include serving the demon dukes faction in Hell, particularly as a soldier following orders.
Within the storys conflict over the fate of William Twining, the Elector of Solomon, Gilles serves as an agent of the demonic faction, specifically as a subordinate to the powerful Grand Duke Baalberith. He is used as a soldier in the ongoing war between Heaven and Hell, acting as a powerful enforcer. He first appears attacking Dantalions domain in an attempt to capture William for his own master. Later, when Heaven attempts a ceremony on William, Gilles is appointed to guard the human and intervene against the angels, leading to a confrontation with Raguel where his hatred for Heaven is made most explicit. Despite his service to Hell, his personal vendetta often takes precedence, and his actions are frequently driven more by his desire to enact his plans regarding Jeanne than by the broader political machinations of the demon lords.
Gilles key relationships are defined by his past and his servitude. His most significant relationship is with the absent Jeanne dArc, who is the singular, distorted focus of his entire existence. He holds a deep and loyal, albeit horrifically twisted, love for her. His relationship with Baalberith is that of a subordinate to his master and savior. Baalberith offered him the contract that saved him from oblivion, and in return, Gilles appears to serve him as a loyal soldier, though his personal obsession often seems to override his orders. He is generally hostile towards other demons unless they serve a purpose for him, and he shows pure contempt for angels and their human agents. He also has a volatile and combative relationship with Dantalion, another demon duke, whom he has directly attacked.
In terms of development, Gilles does not experience a moral redemption or a softening of his character. He first appears as a violent, unpredictable agent of chaos, and his later appearances reinforce these traits, particularly illuminating the depth of his trauma-driven insanity concerning Jeanne. His character is consistently portrayed as a tragic figure who has fully embraced his demonic nature and sees no reason to return to his former human life. He is what he has become: a monster whose every action is a rebellion against the God who, in his view, failed him and the woman he loved. A minor but notable aspect of his character is his histrionic and vain nature, which is comically subverted in extra content where he is sometimes depicted in roles like a bartender or forced into a maids outfit, showcasing a more absurd side to his dramatic personality without contradicting his core ferocity.
Gilles de Rais has several notable abilities as a demon. He can fly, a common power among demons in this universe. He has demonstrated the ability to generate and conduct electricity, using it offensively with his hands to attack his enemies. His physical strength is considerable, and his fighting style is aggressive and relentless, matching his volatile personality. His very presence as a Nephilim on the battlefield marks him as a significant threat, requiring the attention of high-ranking demons and angels alike to be subdued.