And when Bathorys husband died in 1604, these views became much more widespread and dramatic. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. 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. 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. Her family betrothed Bathory to Count Ferencz Ndasdy when she was 11 or 12. She told her guard that her hands were cold, and the next day the guard found her dead.20 She was buried somewhere around her castle, Cachtice. It took 35 years and 650 girls for the King of Hungary to take action. Seeing that from a young age she would laugh at the torment of the servants I think it wouldve been only a matter of time. [27][28], She wrote a will in September 1610, in which she left all current and future inheritance possession to her children. 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. (shelved 3 times as elizabeth-bathory) avg rating 3.75 256 ratings published 1997. Also known as Bthori Erzsbet, Elizabeth Bathory was born to an incredibly powerful family on August 7, 1560, in Hungary. [15] Evidence of this pregnancy came up long after Elizabeth's death, through rumors spread by peasants; therefore, the validity of the rumor is often disputed. 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. However, this is a fairly contemporary copy of that original, probably painted in the late 16th century. Many of the witnesses who spoke against Bathory were beholden to Thurz, who oversaw the entire investigation. [23] Ilona J and Dorottya Szentes had their fingers torn out with a pair of red-hot pincers and were then burned alive. [3], The younger branch of the family, the Bthory of Ecsed, were descended from Luke, the youngest son of Briccius. 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] 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. Bthory was a powerful woman, made more so by her control of Ndasdys holdings after his death. [3] The use of needles was also mentioned by the collaborators in court. One of the servants provided a list in Bathorys handwriting of all 650 of her victims. She has since gone on to become an accomplished activist and author. Bthory was born into prominent Protestant nobility in Hungary. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Initially, Thurz made the declaration to Bthory's guests and villagers that he had caught her red-handed. 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. 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. Want to Read. She was raised at the family castle in Ecsd, Hungary. and she had complete control over the lives of the peasants living in the . Elizabeth is 24 degrees from Margaret Atwood, 26 degrees from Jim Carrey, 25 degrees from Elsie Knott, 27 degrees from Gordon Lightfoot, 30 degrees from Alton Parker, 29 degrees from Beatrice Tillman, 27 degrees from Jenny Trout, 23 degrees from Justin Trudeau, 27 degrees from Edwin Boyd, 24 degrees from Barbara Hanley, 33 degrees from Fanny Rosenfeld and 27 degrees from Cathryn Hondros on our single family tree. Ndasdy was the son of Baron Tams Ndasdy de Ndasd et Fogarasfld and Orsolya Kanizsai. Her victims were usually aged between 10 and 14. The two branches of the family positioned themselves on the opposing sides of the conflict. Bathory was born in Nyrbtor, Hungary, on August 7, 1560. 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. An Examination of the Life and Trial of Erzsbet Bthory", "The falling sickness. Elizabeth Bathory was born in 1560 to Baron George VI Bathory and Baroness Anna Bathory in Nyirbator, Hungary. By mid -1596, we know that Erzsbet Bthory had three living children: daughters Anna, Orsolya (Orsika), and Katalin (Kata), and that Erzsbet was pregnant with son Andrs. It is only when problems start affecting the rich that governments actually take action. Today, Elizabeth Bathory is infamously remembered as the Blood Countess who killed up to 650 girls and women in the Kingdom of Hungary. Afterwards, his body was burned on the same pyre as J and Szentes. Likewise, some historians say that witnesses probably provided the incriminating yet contradictory testimonies under duress and that the king called for the death penalty before Bathorys family could intervene on her behalf. Her family controlled Transylvania, and her uncle Stephen Bthory was king of Poland. 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. So, Hungarian King Matthias II sent his highest-ranking representative, Gyrgy Thurz, to investigate the complaints against her. [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. The best-case scenario is that Bathory abused her servants but came nowhere near the level of violence alleged at her trial. The ruse worked. [citation needed] Bthory managed business affairs and the family's multiple estates during the war. Elizabeth Bthory (died 1614), daughter of George VI and through her mother niece of the Polish King Stephen Bthory. 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. the surrounding dragon being the emblem of the Order of the Dragon. 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. But although this story is by far the most memorable, its also extremely unlikely to have been true. 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. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Instead, she was diagnosed as criminally insane.17. He was allegedly as into dark stuff as his wife, cruelly torturing Ottoman captives and sticking pieces of paper between his servants' toes and setting them on fire. The Somly branch, on the other hand, supported John Zpolya, whom the greater part of the Hungarian nobility had elected King. Thurz collected evidence from some 300 witnesses who leveled a bevy of truly horrifying charges against the countess. 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). The ruins of Csejte Castle, where Elizabeth Bathory supposedly committed unspeakable crimes. [3] She was imprisoned within Castle of Csejte. The citizens of Hungary did not even speak Bathorys name for hundreds of years.18 Conspiracy theories argue that Bathory was actually innocent. I also did not know that part of the reason for her sadism came from her upbringing and husband. 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 . Elizabeth Bathory portrait - Bloody Countess, medieval serial killer print, poster (DIGITAL DOWNLOAD) ArtisMortisGallery. 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. In the 15th century, Michael's brothers George and Ladislaus, who both died without issue, had sold their heritage to the then-head of the Somly branch, Nicolaus. 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. 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. The servants, accused of aiding her in torture and murder, were put on trial in 1611; three were executed. They were the king's witnesses, but they were executed. ), Hodos was the ancestor of the Szokolvi family, see, Moritz Wertner, "Urgeschlechter in Siebenbrgen. The servants were put on trial in 1611, and three were executed. She eventually was put on trial. Another servant, Erzsi Majorova, initially escaped capture, but was burned alive after being apprehended. 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. Elizabeth Bthory (or Erzsbet, to use the Hungarian spelling) was born into a Hungarian noble family on the 7th August, 1560. Bthory is said to have begun killing daughters of the lesser gentry, who were sent to her gynaeceum by their parents to learn courtly etiquette. Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 49: Bloody Mary, also available on, true story behind the real-life Bloody Mary. [2] Her family ruled Transylvania as an independent region within the Hungarian kingdom. 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. She had several siblings. Elizabeth Bthory (or Erzsbet, to use the Hungarian spelling) was born into a Hungarian noble family on the 7th August, 1560. 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. "of Btor".[4]. 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. Elisabeth Sherman is a writer living in Jersey City, New Jersey. In fact, some modern Hungarian scholars say that it may have been motivated more by others power and greed than her supposed evil. Elizabeth Bathory was technically a subject of the Habsburg crown. 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 book was never revealed and Szilvssy never mentioned it in his testimony. Overall, I believe the author did a good job telling a tragic story. One day, Thurzo showed up to Bathorys castle with armed guards. The Torture. Elizabeth Bathory may have had a secret love child At the age of 11, Elizabeth's family betrothed her to 15-year-old Ferenc Nadasdy, the son of the then Palatine of Hungary. As she was not convicted of a crime, Bathory's holdings passed to family members instead of being seized. Others reported having seen traces of torture on dead bodies, some of which were buried in graveyards, and others in unmarked locations. Wikimedia CommonsA late 16th-century copy of the now-lost portrait of Elizabeth Bathory, painted in 1585 when she was 25 years old. 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. Instant DIGITAL DOWNLOAD . and it is widely believed that the case was to seize her assets. Orsika's year of birth was probably some time between that of Anna and Katalin, around 1590. [31] The location of her body today is unknown but believed to be buried deep in the church area of the castle. Extremely well written article. After hearing the accusations, Thurz ultimately charged Bathory with the deaths of 80 girls. 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. When Nadasdy passed away in 1604, he gave his whole estate away to Bathory including his castle, Cachtice, in modern day Slovakia. During the trial, witnesses explained how Bathory would lure in servant girls to kill. [8] In a 2018 article for Przegld Nauk Historycznych (Historical Science Review) Aleksandra Bartosiewicz stated that when Bthory was persecuted, the accusations were a spectacle to destroy her family's influence in the region, which was considered a threat to the political interests of her neighbors, including the Habsburg empire.[9]. The testimony against Bathory could have included true tales about how harshly she acted with lower classes. Ferenc and Erzsebet Bathory had six children. Bathory sometimes tortured girls by driving needles into their fingers, cutting their noses or lips or whipping them with stinging nettles. [1], There are counter-arguments made against this theory. [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]. It has been said that over hundred young women were among her victims. There is no evidence that she actually committed the crimes she of which she was alleged. Sadistic pleasure is considered a far more plausible motive for Bthory's crimes. At the age of 11, Bathory, who was considered a beautiful and well-educated girl, became engaged to Count Ferenc Nadasdy. 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. Bathing in pure girls blood is heard from a lot in movies but Ive never heard it happening in real life. 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. 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. Majorova convinced Bathory to kill noble women because fewer and fewer servants wanted to work for Bathory. But not everyone is convinced of her guilt. Ive never heard this story before but it reminded me of the move snow white and the huntsman. [8][9] Some scholars have suggested that she served as one of Bram Stoker's influences for writing the novel Dracula but the evidence to support this is slim. It turns out that King Matthias II owed Bathorys late husband, and then her, a sizable debt. Where did Elizabeth Bathory grow up? By that point, Bathory had reportedly killed multiple victims of noble birth, which concerned the authorities far more than the deaths of servants. The Simolin family possessed large estates in Prussia and Courland and members served the Russian Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine as diplomats. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Bathory. with video tutorial . This witch inspired most of Bathorys brutal and sadistic killings. There are only secondary accounts of her actions. By 1578, Ndasdy had become the chief commander of the Hungarian army and embarked on a military campaign against the Ottoman Empire, leaving his wife in charge of his vast estates and the governing of the local populace. The Myth of the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Bathory. If all the stories about her are true, then she is likely the most prolific and vicious female serial killer of all time. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. Great job! In the early 17th century, rumors began to circulate around the village of Trenn in present-day Slovakia. 1560: Elizabeth Bathory is born into one of the oldest and wealthiest families in Transylvania. 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. It is unclear whether he died before or after his sisters Elizabeth and Sophia. 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. Have you taken a DNA test? 2008 - 2022 INTERESTING.COM, INC. The testimony that Bathory had listed 650 victims was a secondhand accounting of what a court official had discovered yet the official who'd supposedly seen this information didn't testify. In a way, things that happened back then are still happening now. Ladislaus, Count of Szabolcs, married Anna Meggyesi and received Somly as dowry. 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. According to SyFy, this claim didnt even appear in print until after shed been dead for more than a century. [34] The story came into question in 1817 when the witness accounts (which had surfaced in 1765) were published for the first time. She allegedly tortured and murdered these women between 1585 and 1609. Then, discover the true story behind the real-life Bloody Mary. The servants confessed under torture, which is not credible in contemporary proceedings. While Elizabeths husband was away at war, she met a witch named Anna Darvulia. Worst case? [6] A further division occurred under the great-grandsons of Ladislaus (latter half of the 15th century): John and Stephen dropped the name Bthory and founded the Szaniszlfi family, while Nikolaus continued the Somly branch. She was born in 1560 to Baron George Bathory and Baroness Anne Bathory ("Blood Countess," par. (2009). 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. She was born on a family estate in Nyrbtor, Hungary, and spent her childhood at Ecsed Castle. Bthory was born in 1560 on a family estate in Nyrbtor, Royal Hungary. [19] On 31 December, Thurz went to Csejte Castle and arrested Bthory along with four of her servants, who were accused of being her accomplices: Dorotya Semtsz, Ilona J, Katarna Benick and Jnos jvry ("Ibis" or Fick). No, Bthory was not a doctor/scientist/midwife. Therefore, the idea of evil inside the family bond emerges in the Countess's massacres. Elizabeth Bathory was the Countess of Ecsed, born on August 7, 1560, in Hungary. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. However, it's possible Bathory was not guilty of all the crimes that have been laid at her feet. However, Thurzo ordered her bricked into a windowless room in Cjsethe Castle. She was born into a powerful and very well connected Transylvanian family. 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. 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. This article was incredible! Peasant girls looking for servant work in the Csejte Castle were disappearing, and no one knew why. Bathory is reputed to have killed at least six hundred victims, earning her a Guinness World Record for most prolific female murderer. Wikipedia, 2019, s.v. On December 30, 1609, Bthory and her servants were arrested. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. Elizabeth's father was George VI Bthory, who was from the Bthory family's Esced branch. 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. When the trial ended, Bathorys alleged accomplices one of whom had worked as a wet nurse for the countess children were convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Legend has it that. Her father was Baron George VI Bthory, brother of the voivode of Transylvania, Andrew Bonaventura Bthory. The historical evidence on Bthory fundamentally contradicts your source (s). And some say she would later use that power to commit heinous acts. A real person, born in 1560, died in 1614. In 1575 she married Count Ferencz Ndasdy and moved to Castle Csejte (now in Cachtice, Slovakia), a wedding gift from Ndasdys family. 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. Her actions resulted in a nickname of the "Blood Countess" and may have been a source of inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. 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. [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. Wikimedia CommonsMany modern Hungarian scholars believe that the accusations against Elizabeth Bathory were exaggerated. She was forty-three at the time of Ferencz's death and known to be terrified of growing old and losing her beauty. 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. Thurzo investigated and accumulated hundreds of witnesses, and a few were willing to testify against Bathory. She remained there until she died. I truly never realized how sadistic she wasshe definitely puts some of the modern centurys serial killers to shame. 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. Ancient Origins - Elizabeth Bathory 16th century deranged serial killer or victim of betrayal. Anna Bthory was the widow of the last descendant of the Dragfi family and George now seized the castles of the Dragfi. Countess Elizabeth Bathory. Tony Thorne. I wonder if she wouldve grown up to be different if all these people in her life wouldnt have helped her torment her servants. Elizabeth was born in 1560 to George and Anna Bathory, a baron and baroness. Login to find your connection. High-quality Elizabeth Bathory pillows, tapestries, mugs, blankets, shower curtains, aprons, jigsaw. Most of her alleged assaults and murders took place after she was widowed in 1604. In the years after Bathorys husband passed, whispers floated around about Bathorys actions, specifically her killing young girls. The Csejte church and the castle of Csejte do not bear any markings of her possible grave. The third son, Stephen V (d. 1493) excelled as a military commander and was made Voivode of Transylvania, the first of a long line of Bthory rulers of that country. In 1526, he fought in the disastrous Battle of Mohcs against the Ottomans, in which King Louis II fell. Her cousin, Gyrgy Thurz, count palatine of Hungary, was ordered by Matthias, then king of Hungary, to investigate. Despite being a noblewoman, she was a famous serial killer. Elizabeth Bathory, a Hungarian countess, was the daughter of Ann and George Bathory. This page has been accessed 12,844 times. Elizabeth Bathory was born on the family estate of Nyirbator in eastern Hungary on the 7th of August 1560. The Countess came from a very influential family. (726) $5.00. [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). We strive for accuracy and fairness. However, this depraved action isn't backed up by contemporaneous witness accounts (which otherwise didn't shy away from gore). Bathory gave birth to five children. While Nadasdy taught her how to torture, yet another person in her life would teach her how to kill. 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