Elizabeth Báthory
Elizabeth Bathory (1560–1614) was a countess who lived in Transylvania, then a part of the Kingdom of Hungary.[2] She was from a very important family that included kings, cardinals, knights, and judges.[2] Her family ruled Transylvania as an independent region within the Hungarian kingdom.[3] She was well-educated, beautiful and wealthy. She was also virtually untouchable as a member of the Bathory family.
| Elizabeth Báaahthory | |
|---|---|
 Copy of the lost 1585 original portrait of Elizabeth Báthory | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Erzsébet Báthory |
| Also known as | The Blood Countess The Bloody Lady of Csejte The Tigress of Csejte |
| Born | 7 August 1560 Nyírbátor, Kingdom of Hungary |
| Died | 21 August 1614 (aged 54) Csejte, Kingdom of Hungary (today Čachtice, Slovakia) |
| Penalty | Confinement until death |
| Spouse(s) | Ferenc Nádasdy |
| Killings | |
| Number of victims | Purported over 650 [1] |
| Span of killings | 1590–1609 |
| Country | Kingdom of Hungary |
| Date apprehended | 29 December 1610 |
Reputation
changeShe may have been a vicious female serial killer.[3] It is impossible to know what part of her story is fact and what part is fiction.[3] Her gruesome legend has become a part of folklore.[4] She is the central character in a number of books, plays and movies.[4] As the "blood countess", she has often been compared to another fictional character, Count Dracula.[4] Some scholars now argue that Báthory was not a murderer but instead may have been the victim of a political betrayal.[4]
Legend
changeAccording to her legend, she was supposed to have tortured and killed over 650 servant girls.[5] It also claimed she bathed in human blood.[5] That, after hearing of all the deaths and tortures going on in her castle, the countess and her servants were put on trial.[5] Her servants were said to have been executed.[5] Báthory herself was walled up in a room in her own castle.[5] There were only slits for air and food. She was found dead three and a half years later. After her death, the story of the evil countess began.[5]
In movie
changeIn 2008 a movie was made about her called Bathory starring Anna Friel.[6] The movie suggested she did not spend her time bathing in blood.[7] It was a rumor spread by those who were after her wealth.[7]
References
change- ↑ "Countess Elizabeth Bathory – The Blood Countess." The Crime Library.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "1610 Bathory's torturous escapades are exposed". This Day in History. A&E Television Networks, LLC. December 26, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Richard Cavendish (August 8, 2014). "Death of Countess Elizabeth Bathory". History Today Ltd. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 April Holloway (September 3, 2014). "Elizabeth Bathory – 16th century deranged serial killer or victim of betrayal?". Ancient Origins. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "The Legend of Elizabeth Báthory: The Blood Countess". Medical Bag. Haymarket Media, Inc. November 6, 2014. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ↑ "Bathory (2008)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved February 1, 2017.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gwladys Fouché (5 August 2008). "We all like some Euro pudding". Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved February 1, 2017.