Catherine de Montsalvy

Rais, Gilles de, 1404 in Champtocé, read more on Who is Who..
Gilles de Rais lured Catherine into his castle at Champocé. She was able to escape with help from his grandfather. He recognizes Catherine in her disguise as the gypsy girl Tchalaï at Amboise. Arrests her, trying to find out where she has hidden the black diamond. Abuses Catherine the whole night and is only "released" out of his clutches by Georges de la Trémoille - to walk straight into another nightmare.

Benôit Brionne played Gilles de Rais in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour

non fictive character
was a Breton knight, the companion-in-arms of Joan of Arc, and a Marshal of France, but is best known as a prolific serial killer of children.
He was born to Guy de Laval and Marie de Craon, but grew up under the tutelage of his maternal grandfather Jean de Craon following the deaths of his parents in 1415. De Rais' fortunes increased substantially with his marriage in 1420 to the wealthy Catherine de Thouars.
From 1427 to 1435, de Rais served as a commander in the Royal Army, and in 1429 fought beside Joan of Arc in some of the campaigns waged against the English and their Burgundian allies during the Hundred Years War. He was present with Joan when the Siege of Orléans ended.
In 1434–35, he retired from military life, dabbled in the occult, and depleted his wealth by staging an extravagant theatrical spectacle of his own composition.
Sometime between spring 1432 and spring 1433, the first child-murder occurred and was followed by similar crimes. The victims may have numbered in the hundreds. In 1440, de Rais reacted violently in a dispute with a clergyman and the church conducted an investigation in which his crimes were brought to light. At his trial, the parents of missing children in the surrounding area and de Rais' own accomplices-in-crime testified against him. The ecclesiastical court excommunicated him and the secular court condemned him. He was executed by hanging at Nantes on 26 October 1440.

Rallard, Jose, read more on Who is Who..
former Parisian thief - who is saved by Catherine de Montsalvy twice. Marries Marie/Aicha, the Burgundian girl, who was sold into a harem at Granada. He becomes steward in Montsalvy and does not forsake his mistress in a live-threatening bad situation - he follows her to Montsalvy to enter the castle - where people were dying of the pest. The only surving two people were Fatima a young slave girl and his master Arnaud de Montsalvy.

Marc Samuel played Josse Rallard in TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour.

Rallard, Marie, also known as Marie Vermeille and Aicha, read more on Who is Who..
a young pretty blonde girl, who came originally from Auxonne, Burgundy. Ran away with her cousin, who sold her to a Greek merchant - and ended as a odalisque in the harem of the Caliph of Granada. Returns with Catherine and Arnaud to Montsalvy, where she becomes Josse Rallard's beloved wife.

Virginie Lacroix playey Marie Rallard/Aicha in TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour

Ratapennade, La
local old witch of Montsalvy - lived in the forest - even Arnaud de Montsalvy hesitated to do anything against her.
It was she who provided Gonnet d'Apchier with the poison - who was destined for Arnaud de Montsalvy.

there is no La Ratapennade in the tv-series

Reims
The city of Reims in the Champagne-Ardenne region in northeastern France 129 km (80 miles) east-northeast of Paris.
Reims played a very prominent role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the crowning of the kings of France. Thus, the Cathedral of Reims played the same role in France as Westminster Abbey did in England.
It was there that was kept the Holy Ampulla (Sainte Ampoule) containing the Saint Chrême (chrism), which was said to have been brought by a white dove (the Holy Spirit) at the baptism of Clovis in 496, and was used for the anointing, the most important part of the coronation of French kings.
The archbishops held the important prerogative of the consecration of the kings of France - a privilege which they exercised (except in a few cases) from the time of Philippe II Augustus (anointed 1179, reigned 1180-1223) to that of Charles X (anointed 1825).The Treaty of Troyes (1420) ceded it to the English, who had made a futile attempt to take it by siege in 1360; but they were expelled on the approach of Joan of Arc, who in 1429 caused Charles VII to be consecrated in the cathedral.

Richemont, Arthur de, 1393-1458 read more on Who is Who...
Arthur de Richemont was at the inauguration of the new château Montsalvy and was also Isabelle de Montsalyy's (Catherine and Arnaud's daughter) godfather..

François Brincourt played Constable Arthur de Richemont in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour

non fictive character
Arthur was an important figure of the French court even before becoming duke of Brittany. He was one of the supporters of the charismatic Joan of Arc. Arthur was known for his tenacity and bad temper, characteristics that led to his expulsion from the court in 1427. By 1435, however, he had regained influence, enabling him to orchestrate the Treaty of Arras between Charles VII of France and Philip, duke of Burgundy.Arthur sided with the Armagnac faction against the Burgundians during the civil conflict in France between 1410 and 1414. He fought at the Battle of Agincourt on October 25, 1415, where he was wounded and captured. He was released by the English in 1420 and helped persuade his brother, Duke John, to sign the Treaty of Troyes. In 1422, the English created him Duke of Touraine. However, he subsequently returned to the allegiance of the Dauphin in 1424, was made Constable of France with support from Yolande of Aragon in 1425 and fought alongside Joan of Arc during her victory at the Battle of Patay on June 18, 1429. He then helped arrange the Treaty of Arras (1435), which cemented the peace between France and Burgundy leading to the eventual defeat of the English. He was commander of the French army at the Battle of Formigny on April 15, 1450, the next-to-the-last battle of the Hundred Years' War that sealed the reconquest of Normandy.

Roquemaurel Family (Auvergne)

Amaury, Roquemaurel de Cassaniouze read more on Who is Who...
older brother of Béranger - known for fighting and drinking. Like his brother Renard, he was devoted to their mother Dame Mathilde - attachement to his castle and a great hatred for their cousins Vieillevie. He had also enlisted their lances under the banner of Montsalvy - when Arnaud left for Paris - to fight against the English. Wanted to free his friend Arnaud out of the Bastille together with his brother and men.

There is no Amaury in the TV-Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour

Béranger, Roquemaurel de Cassaniouze read more on Who is Who...
youngest son of Ausbert and Mathilde. Fourteen year old Béranger was sent as a page to the Montsalvy household. He was a dreamer and peace-loving boy nothing like his brothers. He was in love with his young cousin Hauvette de Montarnal. He accompanied his lady to Paris and was very brave and would of died for Catherine de Montsalvy.

Hugues Profy played Béranger the page, in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour

Mathilde, Roquemaurel de Cassaniouze read more on Who is Who...
Comtesse Mathilde, mother of Amaury, Renard and Béranger. The resolute but kind Dame, gave shelter to Sara and Catherine's children - when Arnaud de Montsalvy had returned home and was not beside himself. She opened also her arms to the Lady of Montsalvy and promised to help her.

Jacqueline Doyen played Comtesse Mathilde in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour

Renaud, Roquemaurel de Cassaniouze read more on Who is Who...
eldest brother of Béranger - it was to him Arnaud de Montsalvy threatened to send the official of Rodez - to have Catherine taken away as an adulterous wife - her beautiful hair cut of and locked into a convent, after he, Arnaud had cast her of!
When Catherine learned that the pest had arrived in Montsalvy, Renaud wanted to prevent her from going there. But he promised to look after her children should she not return anymore.

Reginald Huguenin played Renaud de Roquemaurel in the TV-Adaption Catherine Il suffit d'un amour.

Roussay, Jacques de, read more on Who is Who..
Captain of the guard in Dijon Burgundy. One of the most loyal servants to Duke Philippe. Was in love with Catherine, since the first time they met in Bruges..where he had to arrest her on the Duke's order..

Jacques Brucher played Jacques de Roussay in the TV Adaption Catherine, Il suffit d'un amour.

Historical facts Wikipedia and other various internet sources 2009