In the 1600s, tales emerged of a murderous Hungarian aristocrat. For years, Countess Elizabeth maintained the normal appearance of normality, while in her castle, she was torturing and murdering scores of innocent girls.
Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed born 7 August 1560 – 21 August 1614 was a countess from the renowned Báthory family of Hungarian nobility. In Hungarian folklore, she is often described as "the Countess Dracula" and is known as "the woman who bathed in blood." To others, she was the Countess Elizabeth Bathory, mistress of the Csejte Castle, a powerful transylvanian noblewoman and widow of a great Hungarian hero.
Although in modern times she has been labeled the most prolific female serial killer in history, the number of murders and even her guilt is debated.
The Bathory family was old and industrious, one of the oldest in Transylvania. The long line of heritage however, is tainted by dissapointing marriages, despite the fact that Elizabeth's mother was the sister of King Stephen of Poland and her father, George, was ruler of several countries.
Elizabeth was born in a troubled family in 1560, probably a 2nd child. At age 11, she was betrothed to Count Francis Nadasdy (then aged 15), one of the wealthiest and most eligible bachelors in Hungary. They married in 1975 and Elizabeth was sent to live with her mother-in-law, Lady Ursula Kasnizsai, who was widely regarded as a witch. When her mother-in-law died, she joined her husband at the remote and eerie Csejte Castle. Francis, however, was a soldier and spent most of his time in the Hungarian Army, leaving her alone in the gloomy fortress. While there, she was said to be under influence by a woman called Darvula, an old maid who many said was a sorceress.
In 1600, Count Francis was killed in a battle against the Turks, making his wife mistress of the Csejte Castle.
Legend has it that she was a vain woman and used all manner of oils to preserve her skin. One evening, while brushing her hair, a maid accidentally hurt her and with a long spiked brush, Elizabeth hit her, drawing blood. Later, she noticed that where the blood dropped, her skin seemed much fresher. This began her killing rampage, concocting a vile scheme to obtain it at huge quantities.
Elizabeth set on a long and murderous trail because Darvula advised her that if she were to bathe in the blood of virgins, she would regain her youth and looks.
Between 1600 and 1611, with the help of 4 servants, they lured peasant girls from surrounding areas to the castle who sought employment. Once inside, the girls were subjected to inhuman torture before being brutally murdered. The Countess drank and bathed in their blood.
When the supply of local girls beginning to run out, Elizabeth offered to teach social graces to young women from noble families. The disappearance of poor servant girls had passed largely unremarked, but when ladies go missing, word of suspicious happenings spreaded like fire.
Soon local gossip reached the ears of King Matthais of Hungary. In 1611, the King commenced a series of trails against Elizabeth and her servants. A raid was conducted in the castle in late December 1610 which uncovered an underground torture chamber, its walls spattered with blood, with bones and other remains on the ground along with clothing and belongings of missing girls. Elizabeth was accused of killing 80 girls although there was speculation that she killed many more.
Darvula and several of the others were found guilty and were executed but because of Elizabeth's noble rank, she was not. Matthais thought she had a case to answer and commanded she remain at Csejte as punishment.
Stonemasons were brought in and a section of the castle was walled up with the Countess inside. All windows were sealed with only a small hole where she could receive food.
On 31 July 1613, Elizabeth, aged 54, died alone in the confined room. By order of Matthais, her records were sealed for 100 years and her name was forbidden to be mentioned, as was 'Csejthe.'
Over the years, Elizabeth Bathory's crimes have been embellished and turned into gruesome legend. In many retellings, the number of killings reached more than 600 and the Countess's sadism is explained through the lust for blood, which she bathes and drinks.
Below is a documentary about Elizabeth Bathory
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