One of the most prolific serial killers in the history of the world was a noblewoman from Hungary. Was it all made up or is there some truth to how Elizabeth Bathory got away with murdering innocent young girls for over 14 years? Did she torture and murder due to her love of sadomasochism or did she lust after their blood in a desperate attempt to keep her youthful appearance? Listen and decide for yourself.
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TuneInWealthy, Well Educated, Noblewoman
Elizabeth Bathory was born in Nyírbátor, Hungary, on August 7, 1560. She was born into privilege and nobility. Her father George VI Báthory was a baron and her mother the daughter of a Voivode of Transylvania. A Voivode was the highest-ranking official in the country.
Through her mother, she was the niece of noble Stephen Báthory the king of Poland and the grand duke of Lithuania of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the prince of Transylvania. All this to say Elizabeth was rich, of high rank, and well educated. As a child, it is believed that she suffered from epilepsy and had multiple seizures. Could this have been due to her inbreeding??
At the time, rumor has it that a cure for epilepsy (falling illness) was to run the blood of a non-sufferer on the lips.
Child Bride
At the age of ten, Elizabeth was betrothed to Ferenc Nádasdy, a nobleman and heir to one of the wealthiest dynasties in the region. He was not as highly ranked as his wife, but he was rich. Four years later they would be married and approximately 4,500 guests would attend their wedding. There is a rumor that before her marriage Elizabeth gave birth to an illegitimate child fathered by someone from the village, but these didn’t come until years after Elizabeth’s death.
Ferenc took Elizabeth’s last name and gave her his household and home, the Castle of Csejte as a wedding gift. A few years after they were married, Ferenc was promoted to chief commander of Hungarian troops and sent to war against the Ottoman Empire. While her husband was away the care of the castle as well as the local villages fell to Elizabeth. She was responsible for defending the villages from Ottoman attacks as well as caring for the villagers, which sometimes including medical care.
Ten years into their marriage Elizabeth and Ferenc welcomed their first child, Anna. Throughout their marriage, Elizabeth would give birth to 5 children, 3 of which survived infancy. All of their children would take their fathers last name, Nádasdy.
Ferenc Bathory Dies
Ferenc Bathory died of illness on January 4, 1604 at the age of 48. His exact illness is unknown, but we know that it began with pain in his legs in 1601 and progressed from there. Before dying, Nádasdy entrusted his heirs and widow to György Thurzó.
Rumors around Elizabeth Bathory had always been spread, but after her husband’s death, they became worse and harder to ignore. It was rumored that Elizabeth would abduct, torture, and kill young women with the help of her staff. Early on her victims were sevant and peasant girls aged 10-14. Later the daughters of the lesser gentry would fall victim as well. They would come to her for schooling on etiquette and be subjected to a sadomasochist.
Investigating Rumors
In 1610, György Thurzó, the very man Ferenc choose to care for his family, was assigned to investigate the rumors. He assigned András Keresztúry and Mózes Cziráky to begin collecting statements in March of 1610. By October they had collected 52 statements and by 1611, they had over 300. According to these statements, Elizabeth burned her victims with hot irons; beat them to death with clubs; and stuck needles under their fingernails. She would also pour ice water over their bodies and leave them to freeze to death outside or cover them in honey and allow ants to eat their bodies.
She sewed their lips together and bit chunks of flesh off their breasts and faces. Some would accuse her of cannibalism or forcing her victims to cook and eat their own flesh. She liked using scissors to torture her victims and used the instrument to cut off their hands, noses, and genitals. One of her favorite pastimes, witnesses said, was using scissors to slice open the skin between her victims’ fingers.
The Blood Countess
Her nickname, the Blood Countess, would come from accusations that she would bathe in the blood of virgins as a way to keep her looking youthful. Thèse accusations would not be made until 1729 and are seen more as a legend.
On December 29, 1610 Thurzo came to her home and imprisoned her there. Because of her rank, she would not be treated as a common criminal. It is said that he found girls, both alive and dead strewn throughout the Countess’ torture chamber, apparently a gift from her late husband. Four of her servants said to be involved were arrested, questioned, and tortured. They denied assisting with the crimes but did admit to burying the bodies of victims. Their counts varied from 36 to 51 bodies. They also spoke of a deceased servant, Darvulia, who’d served as a maid and governess who assisted in the torture.
Two of the women and the male servant were sentenced to death, which was quickly carried out. The fourth was spared immediate execution, but it is not known what became of her. There was another woman accused of using magic to assist Elizabeth, who was burned at the stake for witchcraft.
No Justice for the Poor!
Elizabeth would only be held responsible for the deaths of 80 noblewomen. There would be no punishment for the torture and death of servants and peasants.
There are varying ideas on the source of Elizabeth’s habits. Some blame her husband while others say that he was the one that kept her “controlled” while he was alive. There are also reports of family, particularly an uncle, showing her the ropes. In one instance, when she was younger than 10, Gypsies came to entertain their family. It was made known that one of the troop members had sold his children to the Turks, who were enemies. Because of this, a horse was killed, his abdomen cut open and the man was sewn inside with just the head sticking out.
Inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula?
For her crimes, she was put on house arrest, and possibly confined to her room, where she would stay until her death, from illness, in 1614.
Looking back, some historians look at Elizabeth’s story in a different light. It turns out that King Matthias II owed Bathory’s late husband, and then her, a sizable debt. Matthias was not inclined to pay that debt, which historians say may have fueled his move to incriminate the countess and deny her the opportunity to defend herself in court. Of 289 witness accounts, more than 250 offered either hearsay or no information whatsoever. The information from her servants was gained through torture and the hope of release which makes it unreliable.
Most likely, the Countess did torture and kill young girls. These acts were somewhat controlled while her husband was alive but became worse when he passed. The Hungarian powers looked the other away until it became more convenient to have her in prison due to her power and influence. Many believe that it is the Blood Countess that served as inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula due to her obsession with blood giving her youth.
Resources
- Elizabeth Bathory – Death, Children & Facts
- Elizabeth Báthory
- Hungarian countesses’ torturous escapades are exposed – HISTORY
- Elizabeth Bathory, The Blood Countess: Fact Vs. Fiction