 |
Erzsebet BathoryHungarian countess, notorious for the massacres of young girls
Date of Birth: 07.08.1560
Country:  Slovakia |
Content:
Biography of Elizabeth Báthory
Elizabeth Báthory, also known as the Blood Countess or Countess Dracula, was a Hungarian countess infamous for her mass murders of young girls. She is recognized, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, as the most prolific female serial killer.
Early Life
Elizabeth was born into the noble Báthory family, the niece of Stephen Báthory, and was the daughter of György Báthory and Anna Báthory. Her parents belonged to different branches of the same family. She spent her childhood in Ecsed Castle. At the age of 11, she was engaged to nobleman Ferenc Nádasdy and moved to his castle in Sárvár. In 1575, Elizabeth married Ferenc Nádasdy, who served as the captain of the imperial stables and a Hungarian general in Vranov. In 1578, her husband was appointed commander of the Hungarian troops in the war against the Turks, earning him the nickname "Black Bey" for his maniacal cruelty towards prisoners. As a wedding gift, Nádasdy presented Elizabeth with Čachtice Castle in the Little Carpathians, which was at that time the property of the emperor. In 1602, Nádasdy bought the castle from Rudolf II. Due to her husband's military campaigns, Elizabeth took on the responsibilities of managing the estate. They had five children together: Anna, Katalin, Miklós, Orsolya, and Pál. However, Ferenc died in 1604, leaving Elizabeth a widow.
The Murders
The exact time when Elizabeth began killing young girls is unknown, but it is believed to have occurred between 1585 and 1610. It is likely that her husband and relatives were aware of her actions and tried to restrict her. The majority of her victims were local peasant girls. In 1610, rumors of the murders reached the court, and Emperor Matthias II ordered Palatine György Thurzó to investigate the case. On December 29, 1610, Thurzó and his armed troops stormed into the castle and caught Elizabeth and her assistants in the act of torturing their victims. Despite the evidence and the fact that she was locked in her own castle for some time, supposedly for her own safety until she could stand trial, Elizabeth never faced trial due to the influence of her powerful family. Nonetheless, she spent the remainder of her life in confinement at Čachtice Castle.
Controversies and Legends
There is a version of the story that portrays Elizabeth as a victim of persecution as the leader of the Protestant movement in Western Hungary, suggesting that most of the evidence against her was falsified. This version was depicted in the 2008 film "Bathory" directed by Juraj Jakubisko. According to legend, Elizabeth once struck her maid in the face, and the blood from the maid's nose dripped onto Elizabeth's skin, making it appear more beautiful. According to further legends, Elizabeth had an iron maiden where the victim would bleed, and the blood would then be collected in a stone bathtub in which Elizabeth bathed. It is said that she killed 650 people.
