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Erzsebet Bathory (1560–1614), often referred to as Countess Elizabeth Bathory, is one of history's most notorious serial killers. Many know of her gruesome habit of murdering young girls and bathing in their blood to preserve her youth, but her story contains even more horrifying details that are deeply unsettling.
10. She Was Exposed to Cruelty During Her Childhood
Although details about Bathory's early years are scarce, one specific event from her childhood may have exposed her to the brutal realities of the world.
It is believed that between the ages of 6 and 11, Bathory witnessed a disturbing event when a group of gypsies visited her family's estate. One of the gypsies was accused of selling his children to the Turks, a grave offense during a time of constant conflict with the Ottoman Empire. The man was deemed a traitor and sentenced to death.
Bathory overheard the condemned man's cries during the night. The next day, she slipped away from her governess to watch the execution. The method involved cutting open a horse's stomach, stuffing the man inside while he was still alive, and sewing the horse's belly back up with the man's head exposed.
This brutal execution technique was favored by the ancient Romans. The horse's decaying body, left under the scorching sun, would slowly cook the condemned man. He endured not only the unbearable heat but also the stench and maggots as he met his gruesome end.
9. She Married at a Young Age
In the 16th century, it was customary for noble families to arrange marriages for their children. At just 10 or 11 years old, Bathory was betrothed to Ferenc Nadasdy, who was significantly older. Before their marriage, Bathory became pregnant by a peasant boy. To avoid scandal, she was sent away to give birth, and the child was given to another family.
Bathory married Nadasdy at 15. Soon after, her husband left to fight in the war against the Turks, leaving her alone for long periods. During this time, she began to indulge in her darker impulses, displaying increasing cruelty toward her servants and the peasants on her estate.
8. A Unique Kind of Murderer
Elizabeth Bathory stands out as a unique figure in history, being the first documented female serial killer. Unlike other female killers, she acted independently, driven by her own sadistic and sexual desires rather than the influence of a male partner.
Bathory's murders were not motivated by power or political ambition, which were common reasons for noblewomen to kill. Instead, she killed purely for pleasure, showing no remorse. Estimates suggest she tortured and killed between 50 to 650 girls, deriving greater satisfaction from the more brutal and savage acts.
7. The Methods of Torture
Bathory’s atrocities extended beyond bathing in the blood of young girls; she also derived immense pleasure from torturing them. Her castle featured a specially designed torture chamber, ominously named “Her Ladyship’s Torture Chamber.”
Her victims endured unspeakable horrors. Bathory would sometimes bite her victims to death or tear their mouths apart with her bare hands. She took delight in burning them, using candles on their genitals or hot metal rods to inflict pain. Pins were driven under fingernails, toenails, and even through nipples and lips.
During winter, she would strip her victims naked, throw them into the courtyard, and douse them with cold water until they froze to death. She also poured boiling water over them, reveling in peeling away their scalded skin like the skin of a tomato.
6. She Was a Devoted Mother
During Bathory’s era, those below the nobility were considered property and could be disposed of at will, while those of higher status were treated according to their rank.
It’s no surprise that Bathory was a devoted and affectionate wife to Nadasdy. For the first ten years of their marriage, they were unable to have children due to his military campaigns. However, she eventually bore three daughters and a son—Anna, Ursula, Katherina, and Paul.
In her correspondence with relatives, she spoke fondly of both her husband and children. They received far better treatment than the lower aristocrats and peasants who lived under her rule.
While her children were likely shielded from their mother’s horrific actions and may have been sent to live with relatives, there are accounts that her husband also took pleasure in tormenting servants. The key difference between them was that he refrained from killing those he tortured.
5. The Tale of Pola
Over the years, Bathory enlisted several accomplices to aid in her brutal torture of young girls. During the trials of these accomplices, the horrifying story of Pola emerged.
Testimonies revealed that Pola was a 12-year-old peasant girl working in Bathory’s castle. She managed to escape but was quickly recaptured. Upon her return, Bathory flew into a violent rage, sealing Pola’s fate.
Bathory forced Pola into a cramped cage, leaving her partially upright with no room to move. The cage was then lifted, and Ficzko, a dwarf assisting Bathory, swung it back and forth as metal spikes inside pierced the helpless girl.
Pola was torn apart.
4. The Arrest of Bathory
While killing peasant girls was legally permissible at the time, Bathory crossed a line when she began targeting girls from the lower nobility. These girls came from families with royal connections but little wealth. Their families protested until Count Thurzo visited Bathory’s castle.
Count Thurzo encountered horrifying scenes upon his arrival. In the main hall, he discovered the body of one girl and another, still alive, riddled with bloody wounds. Other girls were found in various cells throughout the castle—some alive, others dead. In the basement, girls hung from the ceiling, their mutilated bodies dripping blood onto the floor below.
Count Thurzo ordered the basement floor to be excavated, uncovering 50 more bodies. He also reportedly found a list of names in Bathory’s desk, believed to belong to her victims. The list contained approximately 650 names.
3. She Might Have Inspired Dracula
While Vlad Tepes is often credited as Bram Stoker’s primary inspiration for Dracula, many historians believe Elizabeth Bathory’s gruesome tales also played a role in shaping the iconic character.
There are accounts of Bathory biting and consuming the flesh of her victims, as well as drinking their blood as it flowed from their wounds. Additionally, her connections to Transylvania and her familial ties to Vlad Tepes through marriage further strengthen the link.
Her striking beauty and evident bisexuality likely fueled the vampire legends. Her appearance—dark brown eyes, lustrous black hair, and an alluring figure—aligned perfectly with the archetype of a female vampire. It’s no surprise that many were willing to assist her, much like Dracula’s loyal servant, Renfield.
2. She Avoided a Trial
While her accomplices were arrested and tried, Bathory herself was shielded from prosecution. She was placed under house arrest as her family used their influence to prevent her from facing trial.
Some accounts suggest Bathory wished to stand trial, but a guilty verdict would have resulted in her lands being seized by the crown. To protect her family’s inheritance, she was confined to her castle for the rest of her life.
Her accomplices, however, were forced to bear the brunt of Bathory’s atrocities. Ficzko was convicted and beheaded. Two others, Dorottya Szentes and Ilona Jo, were branded as witches, had their fingers torn off with pincers, and were burned alive. Another accomplice, Erszi Majorova, was executed, while Katarina Beneczky received a life sentence.
1. Disposal of the Bodies
With an estimated 650 victims, the question arises: where did Bathory dispose of all the bodies?
Initially, she attempted to give the girls Christian burials. As a Protestant, she handed the bodies to a local pastor for burial in the churchyard, claiming the deaths were due to unknown causes. However, the pastor grew suspicious due to the sheer number of bodies and eventually refused to bury any more. This forced Bathory to find alternative methods to dispose of her victims.
In addition to burying 50 girls beneath her basement floor, others were interred in the castle grounds, including the garden. Some bodies were likely discarded in fields, streams, and hidden locations. As the number of victims grew, concealing them became increasingly challenging, which likely explains why so many remains were discovered within her castle walls.
+Further Reading
Elizabeth Bathory wasn’t the only historical figure with a vampiric and malevolent reputation. Here are other lists exploring equally dark and unsettling topics.
Top 10 Most Evil Women Another 10 Evil Women 10 Creepy Historical Vampires You’ve Never Heard Of 10 Forgotten Serial Killers From The Middle Ages Top 10 Vampire Serial Killers 10 Early Versions Of The Vampire
