Elizabeth Bthory (died 1614), daughter of George VI and through her mother niece of the Polish King Stephen Bthory. Ladislaus, Count of Szabolcs, married Anna Meggyesi and received Somly as dowry. According to widespread misbelief, Elizabeth Bthory was one of the most notorious serial killers in history, supposedly murdering over 600 women in her castle during her lifetime. Before dying, Ndasdy entrusted his heirs and widow to Gyrgy Thurz, who would eventually lead the investigation into Bthory's crimes. It was only when noble girls started disappearing and dying that he demanded Thurzo to look into it. Abridged from Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters by Peter Vronsky. Depictions of Bathory often mention her bathing in the blood of virgin victims in an attempt to recapture her lost youth. Most of the witnesses testified that they had heard the accusations from others, but did not see it themselves. Check out our elizabeth bathory selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our patches shops. [27][28], She wrote a will in September 1610, in which she left all current and future inheritance possession to her children. It seems most likely that the claim of Thurz's discovering Bthory covered in blood has been the embellishment of fictionalized accounts. However, this is a fairly contemporary copy of that original, probably painted in the late 16th century. Overall, I believe the author did a good job telling a tragic story. One witness stated that Bthory herself had listed 650 victims in her papers, though the number of victims varied in other testimonials and the countess' exact death toll remains unknown. [citation needed], Ferenc Ndasdy died on 4 January 1604 at the age of 48. On August 7th, 1560, Elizabeth Bthory de Esced ( Bthory Erzsbet in Hungarian) was born to a very powerful Hungarian family. Elizabeth was raised on Ecsed, an estate in Transylvania. Craft, Kimberly, "Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsbet Bthory." Updates? Instead, she was isolated perhaps walled up in Castle achtice, where she remained until her death in 1614. She was born in 1560 to Baron George Bathory and Baroness Anne Bathory ("Blood Countess," par. [citation needed] Thurz, along with Paul and her two sons-in-law, originally planned for Bthory to be sent to a nunnery, but as accounts of her actions spread, they decided to keep her under strict house arrest.[22]. The best-case scenario is that Bathory abused her servants but came nowhere near the level of violence alleged at her trial. Elizabeth Bthory (1560 - 1614 AD) was a countess from the renowned Bthory family of nobility in the Kingdom of Hungary and cousin of the Hungarian noble Stefan Bthory, King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Duke of Transylvania. The countess is also known as one of the bloodiest women in . . High-quality Elizabeth Bathory pillows, tapestries, mugs, blankets, shower curtains, aprons, jigsaw. This is the turning point where Bathory began killing sporadically, and it eventually led to her arrest.10. The second son, Stephen III rose to become Palatine of Hungary and in 1444 fell in the Battle of Varna as flag-bearer of Wadysaw, King of Poland and Hungary. Then, discover the true story behind the real-life Bloody Mary. and Andrew's sons George (d. 1307), Benedict (d. 1321) and Briccius (d. 1322) for their military services by granting them Btor in the county of Szabolcs. In fact, this prominent family controlled Transylvania. While historical documents seem to support the accusations against her, modern research indicates that Bthory, a powerful woman, might have been the target of politically motivated slander that allowed relatives to appropriate her lands. Her mother's brother Stephen (or Istvn . [17] To support Bthory's innocence, the testimony of around 300 witnesses[citation needed] and the physical evidence collected by the investigators have to be addressed or disputed. After this, Briccius and his descendants named themselves Bthory, i.e. Gabriel Bthory, the younger brother of Stephen XII, was the last male member of the Ecsed line. Liz Torture Throw Pillow. The book was never revealed and Szilvssy never mentioned it in his testimony. The family divided into two major branches, which descended from the sons and grandsons of Yes, there are descendants of Elizabeth Bathory that are living today. [21], Thurz debated further proceedings with Bthory's son Paul and two of her sons-in-law, Nikola VI Zrinski and Gyrgy Drugeth. Instead, she was diagnosed as criminally insane.17. Actress Elizabeth Taylor starred in films like 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' and 'Butterfield 8' but was just as famous for her violet eyes and scandalous love life. As a member of a powerful family, Bathory was not put on trial. When Nadasdy passed away in 1604, he gave his whole estate away to Bathory including his castle, Cachtice, in modern day Slovakia. Her mother's brother was Stephen Bathory who was a Hungarian nobleman and later became the king of Poland. Thurzo heard screaming, which led him to find one of Bathorys torture chambers. A real person, born in 1560, died in 1614. 2 She came from a wealthy, Protestant family that were significant landowners in Hungary. History has a way of turning powerful women into folklore. Thurzo investigated and accumulated hundreds of witnesses, and a few were willing to testify against Bathory. How was Elizabeth Bathory caught? Elizabeth Bthory, by Gavin R.G. The family divided into two major branches, which descended from the sons and grandsons of I also did not know that part of the reason for her sadism came from her upbringing and husband. Bthory of Simolin [ edit] Two died as infants, but two daughters and a son survived. the surrounding dragon being the emblem of the Order of the Dragon. I recognize that most people took little interest in their servants, but I feel like someone would have noticed the mass disappearance of young girls, regardless of their social standing. Her relatives included the governor of Transylvania, The king of Poland, and the prince of Transylvania. While Nadasdy taught her how to torture, yet another person in her life would teach her how to kill. Bthory's other known children include Orsolya (Orsika) Ndasdy (1590 unknown) who would later become the wife of Istvn II Beny; Katalin (Kata or Katherina) Ndasdy (1594 unknown); Andrs Ndasdy (15961603); and Pl (Paul) Ndasdy (15981650), father of Franz III Ndasdy, who was one of the leaders of the Magnate conspiracy against Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. Both her parents' side were nobility and this they had achieved from small beginnings. Countess Elizabeth Bthory de Ecsed (Bthory Erzsbet in Hungarian, Albeta Btoriov in Slovak; 7 August 1560 - 21 August 1614) was a countess from the renowned Bthory family of Hungarian nobility. Just one grandparent can lead you to many Stephen VII first proved himself as Count of Temesvr and in 1519 was elected Palatine of Hungary, as which he had to contend with the opposition of the nobility. This is thought to be one of the reasons she became obsessed over blood. [9], In 1578, three years into their marriage, Ndasdy became the chief commander of Hungarian troops, leading them to war against the Ottomans. Yes, there are descendants of Elizabeth Bathory that are living today. The family rose to significant influence in Central Europe during the Late Middle Ages, holding high military, administrative and ecclesiastical positions in the Kingdom of Hungary. 1). Countess Elizabeth Bathory, or Erzsbet Bthory, was a wealthy and powerful Hungarian noblewoman whose relations included an uncle who was king of Poland and a nephew who was prince of Transylvania. At first, all appeared to have been well under Bathorys leadership. It turns out that King Matthias II owed Bathorys late husband, and then her, a sizable debt. 2008 - 2022 INTERESTING.COM, INC. It has been said that over hundred young women were among her victims. Worst case? I wouldve expected her to get decapitated or more severely punished. 25 of the Most Evil People the World Has Ever Seen. In the 1550s, when Ferdinand briefly gained control of Transylvania in 1551, he installed Stephen's nephew Bonaventura as his lieutenant to govern the country. The Ecsed branch first rises to prominence with the sons of Luke's grandson John V. His eldest son Bartholomew I fell in 1432 fighting against the Hussites. Considering the mythologized elements of Bathorys alleged crimes, it begs the question of how much of her bloody story was actually true and how much was made up just to take a powerful and wealthy woman down. The accusations of murder were based on rumors. The possible causes were very well documented and the cruelty leaves me to wonder how many innocent people died at the hands of sadistic powerful rulers who enjoyed torture. He reportedly surprised Bathory in the middle of tormenting a victim and in response immediately imprisoned her in her home (her high status meant she would not be jailed as a common criminal). [23] Ilona J and Dorottya Szentes had their fingers torn out with a pair of red-hot pincers and were then burned alive. In Hungarian the word btor means "brave". She had several siblings. According to witnesses, Bathorys crimes took place between 1590 and 1610, with most of the vicious murders happening after her husbands death in 1604. I also find intriguing that Bathory was not charged with something more serious. The investigation into Bthory's crimes was sparked by complaints from a Lutheran minister, Istvn Magyari. Later, the interest of the Zpolyas were represented at the Habsburg court by the Voivode's son Stephen IX, who would go on to become Prince of Transylvania and King of Poland. Elizabeth Warren is a Democrat from Massachusetts who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012 and ran for her party's presidential nomination in 2020. [9] The marriage resulted in combined land ownership in both Transylvania and the Kingdom of Hungary. As a wealthy noblewoman, Bathory evaded the law until 1610, according to the History Channel. In this time period, if someone was harmed, or someone even stole a chicken, a letter of complaint was written. These servants denied their culpability in the murders but admitted to burying multiple victims, though the number in their accounts varied between 36 and 51. He had also received the castle Bujak from King Albert of Habsburg. Elizabeth Bthory, Hungarian form Bthory Erzsbet, (born August 7, 1560, Nyrbtor, Hungary-died August 21, 1614, Castle Cachtice, Cachtice, Hungary [now in Slovakia]), Hungarian countess who purportedly tortured and murdered hundreds of young women in the 16th and 17th centuries. Zpolya appointed Stephen VIII Voivode of Transylvania, which he governed until his death in 1534. But not everyone is convinced of her guilt. The most infamous accusation the one that inspired her nickname, the Blood Countess claimed that Elizabeth Bathory bathed in the blood of her young victims in an attempt to maintain a youthful appearance. Countess Elizabeth Bthory de Ecsed (Hungarian: Bthori Erzsbet, pronounced [batori rebt]; Slovak: Albeta Btoriov; 7 August 1560 - 21 August 1614) was a Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer from the family of Bthory, who owned land in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Slovakia).. Bthory and four of her servants were accused of torturing and killing hundreds of . At the time of Thurzs investigation, some accused her of being a vampire, while others claimed to have seen her have sex with the Devil. Many modern Hungarian scholars believe that the accusations against Elizabeth Bathory were exaggerated. Elizabeth Carmichael promised to revolutionize the automotive industry with a fuel-efficient car called the Dale, but the vehicle was never manufactured. But before long, many locals began to point their fingers at Countess Elizabeth Bathory. What struck me the most was how they had seen a girl run out of her castle with a knife still in her foot but did nothing because she was a peasant and only did something once she killed a noble girl. After all, legend has it that she bathed in the blood of at least 650 servant girls she had tortured and killed. Elizabeth Bthory, or Bthory Erzsbet in her native Hungarian, was born in Nyrbtor on August 7, 1560. Legend has it that. It pains my mind just to think of it! And Bathory's support of her nephew Prince Gbor Bthory of Transylvania, who was in conflict with the ruling Habsburgs, potentially placed her in danger. Although in modern times she has been labelled the most prolific female serial killer in . Of Stephen's six sons, Ladislaus V (d. 1474) was supreme count of the counties Szatmr and Zarnd, the second Andrew III (d. 1495) was confirmed in his possession of Bujak. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In the early modern period, the family brought forth several Princes of Transylvania and one King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (Stephen Bthory). This legend appeared in print for the first time in 1729, in the Jesuit scholar Lszl Turczi's Tragica Historia, the first written account of the Bthory case. Imprisonment allowed family members to take control of the powerful widow's possessions (her sons-in-law knew beforehand that her arrest was coming). I never new much about Elizabeth Bathory other than her obsession with Virgin blood and the occult, but boy did some of these accounts just turn my stomach. In the early 17th century, rumors began to circulate around the village of Trenn in present-day Slovakia. Serial Killer Elizabeth Bathory (aka) The Blood Countess, The achtice Countess, was active for 20 years between 1590-1609, known to have ( 80 confirmed / 650 possible ) victims. Bthory was born in 1560 on a family estate in Nyrbtor, Royal Hungary. Countess Elizabeth Bthory de Ecsed ( Hungarian: Bthory Erzsbet, pronounced [batori rebt]; Slovak: Albeta Btoriov ; 7 August 1560 - 21 August 1614) [1] was a Hungarian noblewoman from the family of Bthory, who owned land in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Hungary, Slovakia and Romania ). Her family lands, dotted across today's Slovakia, were part of the 'Kingdom of Hungary' that was absorbed by the Habsburgs in 1536. Enter a grandparent's name. The Simolin family possessed large estates in Prussia and Courland and members served the Russian Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine as diplomats. [citation needed] Bthory managed business affairs and the family's multiple estates during the war. [citation needed], On 8 May 1575, Bthory and Ndasdy were married at the palace of Vranov nad Topou (Varann in Hungarian). Ndasdy was the son of Baron Tams Ndasdy de Ndasd et Fogarasfld and Orsolya Kanizsai. Another woman, who'd supposedly used magic to aid Bathory, was also soon killed. Though previous accounts of the murder of peasant women had apparently been ignored, the claims in 1609 that she had slain women from noble families attracted attention. Elizabeth was not the mother of the youngsters she murdered, yet ''she was related by blood or marriage to nearly all the victims named in the testimonies'' (Thorne 31). However, it's possible Bathory was not guilty of all the crimes that have been laid at her feet. The servants, accused of aiding her in torture and murder, were put on trial in 1611; three were executed. After hearing the accusations, Thurz ultimately charged Bathory with the deaths of 80 girls. Some accounts of her life include her giving birth to an illegitimate child, fathered by another man, before her marriage. She has since gone on to become an accomplished activist and author. She tried to cover it up by saying the girl committed suicide. Secret societies, paranormal elements, and twist and turns galore. For years, citizens were frightened of Elizabeth Bathory. In an attempt to maintain her vast network of servants and victims, she began luring peasant girls to her estate with the promise of work. Lancer's True Name is Elizabeth Bthory (, "Erzsbet Bthory"), the virginal fourteen year old aspect that had yet to become the monster Carmilla like her older aspect. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. While slightly lower down the social . Bthory was born into prominent Protestant nobility in Hungary. A legendary account, placing the Bthorys' origin in the year 900 (preceding the advent of the Gutkeled clan), relates how a god-fearing warrior called Vitus (a namesake of a member of the first generation of the Gutkeled clan) set out to fight a dragon, which lurked in the swamps next to the castle of Ecsed (actually built only in the 14th century) and harassed the countryside. Elizabeth Bthory, Hungarian form Bthory Erzsbet, (born August 7, 1560, Nyrbtor, Hungarydied August 21, 1614, Castle Cachtice, Cachtice, Hungary [now in Slovakia]), Hungarian countess who purportedly tortured and murdered hundreds of young women in the 16th and 17th centuries. [12] Nicknames and literary epithets attributed to her include The Blood Countess and Countess Dracula. Elizabeth (Bathory) Bthory de Ecsed is Notable. Elizabeth Bathory was born in 1560 to Baron George VI Bathory and Baroness Anna Bathory in Nyirbator, Hungary. Although in modern times she has been labelled the most prolific female serial killer in history, her guilt is debated. She used tools such as knives, razors, and wax to torture them.12 She would also bite pieces of flesh off of her victims.13 The people who lived in the same town as Bathory saw the girls that she tortured while they ran errands. In addition to shifting blame to their mistress and each other, they also implicated a deceased servant, Darvulia, who'd served as a maid and governess. Elizabeth Bathory was the Countess of Ecsed, born on August 7, 1560, in Hungary. 1560: Elizabeth Bathory is born into one of the oldest and wealthiest families in Transylvania. [3][6][7][bettersourceneeded] In 1602 a priest wrote a letter that discussed the excessive cruelty exhibited by Bathory and her husband towards their servants. Her mother was Baroness Anna Bthory (15391570), daughter of Stephen Bthory of Somly, also voivode of Transylvania, who was of the Somly branch. Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory is thought to have murdered hundreds of young women in the early 17th century. She went to sleep and was found dead the following morning. [3] She was imprisoned within Castle of Csejte. Great job! My jaw dropped the moment I read that she had more than 600 victims. They were the king's witnesses, but they were executed. At the age of 13, before her first marriage, Bthory allegedly gave birth to a child. Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 49: Bloody Mary, also available on iTunes and Spotify. Bathorys husband enjoyed killing so much, especially during wars, that he received the nickname Black Knight of Hungary.7 Nadasdy taught Bathory new techniques or tricks when torturing her servants. Bthory was a powerful woman, made more so by her control of Ndasdys holdings after his death. Elizabeth pleaded her innocence to Thurzo, though he did not believe her, and he eventually arrested her.15 Bathory was only put on house arrest, because they did not want to cause a scene to the public, but rumors were already going around about what she did. Wikipedia, 2019, s.v. Better known in the West as Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad Dracula, they were in their own places and ages already infamous, though for different reasons. [37], Bthory has been labelled by Guinness World Records as the most prolific female murderer, though the number of her victims is debated.[38]. It is more likely that the stories were made up by rival families. Descendants of Elizabeth Bathory the Blood Queen being hunted by descendants of her supposed victims. According to the opinions of a majority of historians, legends such as her bathing in the blood of the young women were based on later rumors. There is no evidence that she actually committed the crimes she of which she was alleged. She met Erzsi Majorova soon after, who practiced witchcraft. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Peasant girls looking for servant work in the Csejte Castle were disappearing, and no one knew why. Two of the women and the male servant were sentenced to death, which was quickly carried out. Wertner, Moritz, "Urgeschlechter in Siebenbrgen. Bthory was born into prominent Protestant nobility in Hungary. There she died in 1614 at age 54. George strengthened his alliance to Stephen by marrying his sister Anna, uniting the branches. Login to find your connection. [29][7][contradictory] On the evening of 20 August 1614, Bthory complained to her bodyguard that her hands were cold, whereupon he replied "It's nothing, mistress. [19] Her family, which ruled Transylvania, sought to avoid the loss of Bthory's property which was at risk of being seized by the crown following a public scandal. Tony Thorne. However, she was arrested and detained prior to the discovery or presentation of the victims. 2023 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. The Chilling Story Of Simon Monjack, The 'Disturbed' Husband Of Brittany Murphy, Michael Hutchence Was One Of The World's Biggest Rock Stars Then He Choked Himself To Death In A Sydney Hotel, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. She spent her childhood at Ecsed Castle. According to widespread misbelief, Elizabeth Bthory was one of the most notorious serial killers in history, supposedly murdering over 600 women in her castle during her lifetime. During colder parts of the year young women might be stripped naked and forced into deadly ice baths. [15], Bthory was raised a Calvinist Protestant. Elizabeth Smart spent nine months in captivity after being abducted from her home at age 14 in 2002. The first mention of Bathory's blood baths came 100 years after her death and thus seems to be an invention. Hambly. She was a widow of one of the most powerful and wealthy noblemen of Hungary, she managed enormous estates and was documented to have been very good to her people offering scholarships and running practically a hospital in her castle. The evidence gathered by Thurz also included 289 witness statements. For other uses, see. [2][13][16] Born into a privileged family of nobility, Bthory was endowed with wealth, education and a prominent social rank.[17]. Omissions? Highly interesting and indulging article that I enjoyed reading. Uncanny parallels between the two. Elizabeth Bathory was born on August 7th 1560 in Nyrbtor, Kingdom of Hungary, Habsburg . A powerful terror ruled over lands in Hungary in the 16th century. The citizens of Hungary did not even speak Bathorys name for hundreds of years.18 Conspiracy theories argue that Bathory was actually innocent. [33] Moreover, Matthias owed a large debt to Bthory, which was cancelled after she was arrested. Descendant of both the Ecsed and Somly branches of the Bathory family. Transylvania is also infamous for the reputation of . Stammtafel nach Alexander von Simolin - printed in Farin, Voivode (and later Prince) of Transylvania, List of titled noble families in the Kingdom of Hungary, "Bram Stoker, Elizabeth Bathory and Dracula", "A genealogy of the founders of the Bthory family", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bthory_family&oldid=1105322508, Articles lacking reliable references from August 2012, Short description is different from Wikidata, All articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases, Articles with specifically marked weasel-worded phrases from February 2019, Pages using infobox family with unknown parameters, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. George and Anna Bthory produced the most infamous member of the family, Elizabeth, a widow Countess who was eventually tried and found guilty of murdering hundreds of young peasant girls over the course of twenty years, making her the most prolific serial killer in history. Some of Bathory's victims were covered with honey and left outside for insects to devour. Elizabeth Bthory, a Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer from the 16th and 17th centuries, is certainly at the top of the. A few years later, Elizabeth Bathory died in solitary confinement on August 22, 1614. Her father was Baron George VI Bthory, brother of the voivode of Transylvania, Andrew Bonaventura Bthory. They included no references to blood baths. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In 1575 she married Count Ferencz Ndasdy and moved to Castle Csejte (now in Cachtice, Slovakia), a wedding gift from Ndasdys family. There is a rumor that Elizabeth became pregnant by a peasant right before she married Nadasdy, and he castrated the peasant and gave his body to wild dogs to eat. Ive never heard this story before but it reminded me of the move snow white and the huntsman. The most common motif of these works was that of the countess bathing in her virgin victims' blood to retain beauty or youth. 1590 is when she was said to have started her crimes. In the way that governments and authorities dont act if something happens to the poor or unprivileged. This page has been accessed 12,844 times. In 1526, he fought in the disastrous Battle of Mohcs against the Ottomans, in which King Louis II fell. And the fact that Bathory's servants were tortured makes their confessions unreliable. Ferenc Ndasdy 's wife, and after his death, the wealth and properties were inherited by her. If so, login to add it. She celebrated 70 years on the throne in June 2022 with her Platinum Jubilee. Elizabeth Bathory was born on August 7, 1560, in Nyrbtor, Hungary. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: Slovakia. All of Elizabeth's children were cared for by governesses, as Bthory herself had been. She also supposedly kidnapped local girls in the area who would never have come to the castle of their own free will. This article was incredible! Inside her castles, there were torture chambers. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. Such acts weren't illegal at the time Bathory was only punished because her victims were said to have included noblewomen but would still make Bathory responsible for many ruined lives. A genealogy of the Nadasdy family, including her descendants Arkiveret 7. juni 2008 hos Wayback Machine; A genealogy of the Bthory family Arkiveret 7. juni 2008 hos Wayback Machine; A Brief on the life and death of Hungary's infamous Blood Countess, Elizabeth Bathory-Nadasdy Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Their court proceedings began early in January 1611. Anna (Ndasdy) Ndasdy de Ndasd et Fogarasfld, Mikls (Ndasdy) Ndasdy de Ndasd et Fogarasfld, Katalin (Ndasdy) Ndasdy de Ndasd et Fogarasfld, Orsolya (Ndasdy) Ndasdy de Ndasd et Fogarasfld, Pl (Ndasdy) Ndasdy de Ndasd et Fogaras-Fld, Erzsbet (Bathory) Bthory de Ecsed (1560-1614), http://www.macse.hu/gudenus/mfat/fam.aspx?id=15945, http://genealogy.euweb.cz/hung/bathori3.html#EG, Erzsbet (Bthory) Bthory de Somly (bef.1528-1562). The Blood Countess, as she would be known in the centuries to come, was born into a prominent family who held power over an ironic region: Transylvania, which was then part of Hungary. Wikimedia CommonsThe ruins of Csejte Castle, where Elizabeth Bathory supposedly committed unspeakable crimes. [2] Her servants were put on trial and convicted, whereas Bthory was confined to her home. That's because of digital content theft! Orsika's year of birth was probably some time between that of Anna and Katalin, around 1590. As was the custom, the young bride to be left her own home once the betrothal was official and the family of her fiance took over her education. ", in. She was sentenced to life imprisonment (but living in relative luxury) in one of the Bthory castles, instead of being executed, due to her family's influence. Elizabeth received a strong education, and she became fluent in several languages.3 Although she seemed to be a regular noble woman, there was a dark truth behind her family and her. In the years after Bathorys husband passed, whispers floated around about Bathorys actions, specifically her killing young girls. After learning about Elizabeth Bathory, the infamous Blood Countess, read about Britains most notorious female serial killer, Myra Hindley. Elizabeth Bathory Home & Living. No one living in Bthory's century alleged she was a vampire or a witch. Both make for a compelling story even if only one of them is actually true. This branch, since they retained the possession of Btor, are sometimes called of Btor or, as the younger branch, Nyrbtor (New Bathory).[3]. I think it wouldve been a little more beneficial to focus on a specific killing story of hers if there was evidence of one. [citation needed] Some chronicles also indicate that the couple had another son, named Mikls Ndasdy, although this cannot be confirmed, and it could be that he was simply a cousin or died young, as he is not named in Bthory's will from 1610. [3], In 1310, Btor came into the sole possession of Briccius when he reached an agreement with his nephew Michael and his cousin Vid to divide the joint possessions. During this time, no laws protected servants or peasants from being tortured. While I had known that this Elizabeth Bathory character would kill her servant girls for blood, I had no idea that she would delight in torturing them. . She allegedly tortured and murdered these women between 1585 and 1609. Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) was a countess who lived in Transylvania, then a part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Although it is commonly believed that Bthory was caught in the act of torture, she was having dinner. She was a bloodsucking demon sent from Hell to murder young women. Her mother was Baroness Anna Bthory, daughter of another voivode of Transylvania. Beauty pioneer Elizabeth Arden opened the doors of her first salon in 1910. Transylvanian Countess Elizabeth Bthory "The Blood Countess" (1560-1614) is often described as the first atypical and very rare, pathological hedonist lust female serial killer, as opposed to the more typical profit-motivated "black widows . It took 35 years and 650 girls for the King of Hungary to take action. She supposedly used the instrument to cut off their hands, noses, and genitals. . Bthory, though never tried, was confined to Castle Csejte (now Cachtice), reportedly kept in a bricked-in room. It was a political arrangement within the circles of the aristocracy. Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 49: Bloody Mary, also available on, true story behind the real-life Bloody Mary. Bthory and four of her servants were accused of torturing and killing hundreds of girls and women between 1590 and 1610. There were many suspected forms of torture carried out by Bthory. Her family had many powerful relatives -- a cardinal, princes, and a cousin who was prime minister of Hungary are among these relatives. [4][6][24] Two trials were held in the wake of Bthory's arrest: the first was held on 2 January 1611, and the second on 7 January 1611. Her trial was not fair by the standards of her time (torturing witnesses, etc.) in order to explain Bthory's cruelty later in her life is that she was trained by her family to be cruel. Bthory was born into prominent Protestant nobility in Hungary. She did this by saying she would give them a higher salary.11 The testimonies included how she killed the girls by mutilating their bodies, starving them, freezing them, and torturing them. While she lived unharmed by any authority for years, many young girls went missing or ended up dead. [35] In his book Hungary and Transylvania, published in 1850, John Paget describes the supposed origins of Bthory's blood-bathing, although his tale seems to be a fictionalized recitation of oral history from the area. She had received it as a wedding gift from her husband, the famed Hungarian war hero Ferenc Ndasdy. [15] The woman was paid for her actions, and the child was taken to Wallachia. Elizabeth Bthory's subsequent trial would see over 300 witnesses and survivors testify against her, weaving a story of suffering and death that made the court shudder, and it became a major scandal that would become intertwined with folklore and whispered amongst the populace. On December 30, 1609, Elizabeth Bthory and her servants were arrested. The Myth of the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Bathory. (2009). One of those children (Pl) had two children. [5][bettersourceneeded] Ladislaus' younger brother George II is the ancestor of the Simolin family, later called Bthory of Simolin (see below). As her husband was a soldier who was often off fighting Ottoman Turks, the couple spent most of their marriage apart. Many of the witnesses who spoke against Bathory were beholden to Thurz, who oversaw the entire investigation. Some say that Countess Elizabeth Bthory, considered by many to be the world's worst female serial killer, was the true inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. Raised in a noble family, Bathory knew a life of privilege from an early age. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Another indication that I am an irrelevant old fart! The Bthory family belonged to the Gutkeled, a clan of Hungarian nobles, which traced its descent to the Swabian brothers Gut and Kelad, who immigrated into Hungary from the castle Stof (probably Staufen im Breisgau or Hohenstaufen in Wrttemberg) during the reign of King Peter (reigned 10381046), who himself was partly of Venetian descent. Great job! It is sad to know the number is so high for the number of deaths caused by her, but she was noticeably, permanently ill in the head from a young age. This diary, however, appears to have only been a legend. The couple's first child was born 10 years later, in 1585. While Elizabeths husband was away at war, she met a witch named Anna Darvulia. Although it is commonly believed that Bthory was caught in the act of torture, she was having dinner. After these executions Thurz continued to investigate the countess. Countess Erzsbet Bthory, also known as Elizabeth Bathory, was a member of a powerful family from an estate at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, the Bathory family. Although the exact nature of the illness which led to his death is unknown, it seems to have started in 1601, and initially caused debilitating pain in his legs. The ruins of Csejte Castle, where Elizabeth Bathory supposedly committed unspeakable crimes. The Blood Countess, as she would be known in the centuries to come, was born into a prominent family who held power over an ironic region: Transylvania, which was then part of Hungary. Extremely well written article. 1 Colonization and Settlement (1500-1763), 2 Revolution and Early Republic (1754-1801), 4 Civil War and Reconstruction (1850-1877), 5 Emergence of Modern America (1877-1929), 4 Late Middle Ages-Renaissance-Reformation Europe (1300-1648), 3 Post-Classical History (600 CE-1492 CE), HS 1302 United States History since 1877, SP 3392 Language Variation and Dialectology of Spanish, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Bthory. [34] The story came into question in 1817 when the witness accounts (which had surfaced in 1765) were published for the first time. The servants confessed under torture, which is not credible in contemporary proceedings. I really liked the introduction of this article because it made me wonder what she did and ask why should she have gotten a stricter punishment, and boy did I find out. I do wonder though, how coincidental is it that she found a husband that was practicing the same satanist things as her family? [31] The location of her body today is unknown but believed to be buried deep in the church area of the castle. I really liked your article! Elizabeth Bthory was born on a family estate in Nyrbtor, Royal Hungary in 1560 or 1561, the daughter of Baron George VI Bthory and Baroness Anna Bthory. Hungarian countess and alleged serial killer, This article is about the Hungarian countess. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. She was raised at the family castle in Ecsd. Printable . Between 1602 and 1604, after rumors of Bthory's atrocities had spread throughout the kingdom, Lutheran minister Istvn Magyari made complaints against her, both publicly and at the court in Vienna. Despite being a noblewoman, she was a famous serial killer. The youngest son, Nicolaus III (d. 1506), bishop first of Syrmia and after 1474 of Vc, excelled as a renaissance scholar and served as counselor to King Matthias Corvinus. The two branches of the family positioned themselves on the opposing sides of the conflict. [citation needed]. People grew more suspicious after she killed one noble girl. Why might Bathory have been subject to outside machinations? George and Anna were both Bathorys by birth; he a member of the Ecsed branch of the family and of the Somlyo. Bathory was born in Nyrbtor, Hungary, on August 7, 1560. Elizabeth Bathory's Chilling Secret to Eternal Youth. In the 19th century, long after the demise of the other branches, the family claimed name and title of Counts Bthory, since their ancestor Michael had never consented to the sale conducted by his brothers, and in 1852 the Russian government confirmed the legitimacy of their claims.[6][11][12]. It is unclear whether he died before or after his sisters Elizabeth and Sophia. Matthias was not inclined to pay that debt, which historians say may have fueled his move to incriminate the countess in multiple crimes and deny her the opportunity to defend herself in court. After the death of the count on the battlefield in January 1604, horrifying suspicions of torture, murder and vampirism were voiced against Elizabeth. There were several instances where Bthory intervened on behalf of destitute women, including a woman whose husband was captured by the Ottomans and a woman whose daughter was raped and impregnated. I will start with the claims where the evidence is clearest: No, Bthory did not keep a list of her victims/"patients". [citation needed], After the wedding, the couple lived in Nadasdy's castle at Srvr. Katarna Benick received a life sentence after evidence showed that she'd been abused by the other women. Just go lie down." Today, Elizabeth Bathory is infamously remembered as the Blood Countess who killed up to 650 girls and women in the Kingdom of Hungary. At times, Bathorys husband went away at war, but when he was at home, he shaped Bathory in how she killed.6 Nadasdy enjoyed torturing peasants and servants in brutal ways. Stories about Bthory quickly became part of national folklore. Instant DIGITAL DOWNLOAD . Her family betrothed Bathory to Count Ferencz Ndasdy when she was 11 or 12. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Bathory. The testimony against Bathory could have included true tales about how harshly she acted with lower classes. The Bthory coat of arms, granted in 1325 to the sons of Briccius, was styled in reference to this legend: three horizontally placed teeth surrounded by a dragon biting its own tail,[4] Bathory gave birth to five children. Bthory was the great-great-granddaughter of Barbara Aleksandrwna and Bolesaw IV of Warsaw, and Mikalojus Radvila the Old; the 3rd great-granddaughter of Bolesaw Januszowic; the 4th great-granddaughter of Vladimir Olgerdovich; and the 5th great-granddaughter of Algirdas. The theory is consistent with Hungarian history at that time, which included religious and political conflicts, especially relating to the wars with the Ottoman Empire, the spread of Protestantism and the extension of Habsburg power over Hungary. The Somly branch, on the other hand, supported John Zpolya, whom the greater part of the Hungarian nobility had elected King. It is not known if Elizabeth was actually caught in the act of harming her servants. Her mother's father had been the Voivod (or Prince) of Transylvania, as had her father's brother - in fact, her parents came from two branches of the Bthory family. Answer (1 of 8): Jesus Christ of Nazareth is God, He is more than a prophet or a saint, He never married because He considered all women as His sisters and daughters and men as His sons and brothers, He is pure hearted and completely innocent unlike people today. No, Bthory was not a doctor/scientist/midwife. [16] The threat of attack was significant, for the village of Csejte had previously been plundered by the Ottomans while Srvr, located near the border that divided Royal Hungary and Ottoman-occupied Hungary, was in even greater danger. This article caught my eye because there is a Swedish extreme Metal band that goes by the same name (Bathory). Her father was Baron George VI Bthory of the Ecsed branch of the family, brother of Andrew Bonaventura Bthory, who had been voivode of Transylvania. This role usually included responsibility for the Hungarian and Slovak people, providing medical care during the Long War (15931606), and Bthory was charged with the defense of her husband's estates, which lay on the route to Vienna. One girl even came running out of the castle with a knife still in her foot.14 The king showed no compassion or care for the peasants or servants being killed. This family was literally so powerful, they had multiple branches. The servants were put on trial in 1611, and three were executed. According to Biographics, Bthory also had a steady supply of victims since she had almost 400 peasant women and girls working as servants across her estates. She remained there until she died. [4][32] Nagy argued that the proceedings against Bthory were largely politically motivated, possibly due to her extensive wealth and ownership of large areas of land in Hungary, which increased after the death of her husband. Together with four of her servants, she was accused of . Sadistic pleasure is considered a far more plausible motive for Bthory's crimes. Her uncle, Stephen Bathory, was king of Poland. Also known as Bthori Erzsbet, Elizabeth Bathory was born to an incredibly powerful family on August 7, 1560, in Hungary. The fact that her parents started this sadistic behavior instead of helping her. Elizabeth I was a long-ruling queen of England, governing with relative stability and prosperity for 44 years. [citation needed] He had been married to Bthory for 29 years. Bathory is reputed to have killed at least six hundred victims, earning her a Guinness World Record for most prolific female murderer. Thurzo found a dead body of a girl and two other girls wounded. She would soon be accused of not only torturing but killing hundreds of girls and women who entered her castle. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. That said, families of her stature could pretty much do as they wished provided that they were not overtly disloyal to the crown. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. [citation needed] The castle had been bought by his mother in 1569 and given to Ndasdy, who transferred it to Elizabeth during their nuptials, together with the Csejte country house and seventeen adjacent villages. These theories suggest that the King brought these charges against her because he did not like that she was Protestant and a powerful women.19 However, no evidence exists to back up these theories. Elizabeth's father was George VI Bthory, who was from the Bthory family's Esced branch. [9], Ndasdy's wedding gift to Bthory was his household, Castle of Csejte,[9] situated in the Little Carpathians near Vg-Ujhely and Trencsn (present-day Nov Mesto nad Vhom and Trenn, Slovakia). Bathory was accused of a haunting litany of crimes against both female servants and minor noblewomen who'd come to her for training and education. [18] This does not contribute to the notion of a Catholic/Habsburg plot against the Protestant Bthory, although religious tension is still a possible source of conflict, as Bthory was raised Calvinist, not Lutheran. [26], On 25 January 1611, Thurz wrote a letter to King Matthias describing that they had captured and confined Bthory to her castle. and she had complete control over the lives of the peasants living in the . The Ecsed branch commonly sided with the Habsburgs: Stephen VII, who had escaped the battle, fled with Louis' widow to Pozsony (now Bratislava), where he organized the election of Ferdinand of Austria as King of Hungary. One of the servants provided a list in Bathorys handwriting of all 650 of her victims. 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