All of Elizabeth's children were cared for by governesses, as Bthory herself had been. Btor had been the estate of Vajda son of Lngos, who had married a relative of Andrew but died without issue. On December 29, 1610, Count Gyrgy Thurz, who oversaw judicial matters as the lord palatine of Hungary, arrived at Bathory's Castle achtice to investigate the countess' alleged crimes against women of noble birth (any mistreatment of servants was not a concern to authorities). She was born into a powerful and very well connected Transylvanian family. Great job! [10], Another branch of the family are the Bthory of Simolin family, which was named after their estate Simony (or Simolin). 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. Katarna Benick received a life sentence after evidence showed that she'd been abused by the other women. In 1575 she married Count Ferencz Ndasdy, a member of another powerful Hungarian family, and subsequently moved to Castle Cachtice, a wedding gift from the Ndasdy family. [9] Her older brother, Stephen Bthory (15551605), served as a Judge Royal of Hungary. Her victims were usually aged between 10 and 14. The servants confessed under torture, which is not credible in contemporary proceedings. While she lived unharmed by any authority for years, many young girls went missing or ended up dead. Check out our elizabeth bathory selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our patches shops. It has been said that over hundred young women were among her victims. Abridged from Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters by Peter Vronsky. Liz Torture Throw Pillow. [33] Moreover, Matthias owed a large debt to Bthory, which was cancelled after she was arrested. However, he may have schooled her in techniques of torture when they were together. [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]. About Erzsbet Bthory, "The Blood Countess". 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. She tried to cover it up by saying the girl committed suicide. Wikipedia, 2019, s.v. She was a bloodsucking demon sent from Hell to murder young women. Bathory gave birth to five children. Another indication that I am an irrelevant old fart! The Countess came from a very influential family. Her family lands, dotted across today's Slovakia, were part of the 'Kingdom of Hungary' that was absorbed by the Habsburgs in 1536. In 1526, he fought in the disastrous Battle of Mohcs against the Ottomans, in which King Louis II fell. 2023 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. 2008 - 2022 INTERESTING.COM, INC. [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. At the age of 13, before her first marriage, Bthory allegedly gave birth to a child. I wouldve expected her to get decapitated or more severely punished. [citation needed]. The Somly branch, on the other hand, supported John Zpolya, whom the greater part of the Hungarian nobility had elected King. 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. The first mention of Bathory's blood baths came 100 years after her death and thus seems to be an invention. According to Thurz's letter to his wife, his unannounced visit found one dead girl and another living "prey" girl in the castle,[19] but there is no evidence that they asked her what had happened to her. The Elizabethan era is named for her. [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 mother's brother Stephen (or Istvn . Hambly. In 1602 a priest wrote a letter that discussed the excessive cruelty exhibited by Bathory and her husband towards their servants. 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). . For example, he instructed her to strip her servants naked, cover them in honey, and let bugs eat at them.8 Elizabeths husband, Nadasdy, was yet another influence to why she became obsessed with torturing her servants. Her relatives included the governor of Transylvania, The king of Poland, and the prince of Transylvania. ", in, This page was last edited on 19 August 2022, at 17:33. This too may have been politically motivated, as the death penalty meant that the king could seize her land. Have you taken a DNA test? A great example of what a bad upbringing can do and the potential of a bad upbringing to not only bring harm to the person involved but the society as well. And some say she would later use that power to commit heinous acts. 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. Bthory was born in 1560 on a family estate in Nyrbtor, Royal Hungary. A powerful terror ruled over lands in Hungary in the 16th century. Together with four of her servants, she was accused of . Hungarian countess Elizabeth Bathory is thought to have murdered hundreds of young women in the early 17th century. As was the case with many noble families at the time, the family had long been marrying relatives to keep their status; thus, some theorize that Elizabeth's inbred ancestry could have left her vulnerable to mental instability. While slightly lower down the social . Ive never heard this story before but it reminded me of the move snow white and the huntsman. [3] She was imprisoned within Castle of Csejte. [2] Her family ruled Transylvania as an independent region within the Hungarian kingdom. IMPORTANT PRIVACY NOTICE & DISCLAIMER: YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE CAUTION WHEN DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION. She was 25 when the original portrait -- the only known image of her -- was painted. The Habsburg court owed her money they didn't want to pay. 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. Simon Kezai, Lzl Veszprmy, Frank Schaer (ed. Tags: elizabeth bathory, fate, fate grand order, fgo, fate elizabeth bathory, fate elizabeth, fate liz. But although this story is by far the most memorable, its also extremely unlikely to have been true. 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. 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). [34] The story came into question in 1817 when the witness accounts (which had surfaced in 1765) were published for the first time. For other uses, see, "Batory" redirects here. [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. She pled innocent to each crime. In 1573,[9] Bthory was engaged to Count Ferenc Ndasdy, a member of the Nadasdy family. Although it is commonly believed that Bthory was caught in the act of torture, she was having dinner. 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 Simolin family possessed large estates in Prussia and Courland and members served the Russian Empresses Elizabeth and Catherine as diplomats. She would soon be accused of not only torturing but killing hundreds of girls and women who entered her castle. In a way, things that happened back then are still happening now. Her family had many powerful relatives -- a cardinal, princes, and a cousin who was prime minister of Hungary are among these relatives. 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. ], A proposal made by some sources[who?] Leave a message for others who see this profile. Also known as Bthori Erzsbet, Elizabeth Bathory was born to an incredibly powerful family on August 7, 1560, in Hungary. and it is widely believed that the case was to seize her assets. 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. 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. She had several siblings. The Myth of the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Bathory. Ladislaus, Count of Szabolcs, married Anna Meggyesi and received Somly as dowry. Due to his youth and the belief that he was less culpable, Jnos jvry was executed by a much less painful method: beheading. 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. Ferenc and Erzsebet Bathory had six children. Ancient Origins - Elizabeth Bathory 16th century deranged serial killer or victim of betrayal. Depictions of Bathory often mention her bathing in the blood of virgin victims in an attempt to recapture her lost youth. Inside her castles, there were torture chambers. She was brought up in the rarefied atmosphere of 16th century elites - her every whim was satisfied, and people from all walks of life fawned over the beautiful aristocrat. [15], Bthory was raised a Calvinist Protestant. Bthory was born into prominent Protestant nobility in Hungary. Gabriel Bthory, the younger brother of Stephen XII, was the last male member of the Ecsed line. [15] The woman was paid for her actions, and the child was taken to Wallachia. Elizabeth Bathory's Chilling Secret to Eternal Youth. Bathory is reputed to have killed at least six hundred victims, earning her a Guinness World Record for most prolific female murderer. The Torture. Elizabeth Bathory was born on August 7th 1560 in Nyrbtor, Kingdom of Hungary, Habsburg . In 1610 she was accused of gruesome acts of serial murder and confined to her home of Castle achtice, where she remained until her death. [3] Some insist she inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897),[11] although Stoker's notes on the novel provided no direct evidence to support this hypothesis. Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) was a countess who lived in Transylvania, then a part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Bathory, a scion of a powerful Hungarian family and the product of inbreeding between Baron George Bathory and Baroness Anna Bathory, called the Csejte Castle home. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. 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. As her husband was a soldier who was often off fighting Ottoman Turks, the couple spent most of their marriage apart. Hungarian countess and alleged serial killer, This article is about the Hungarian countess. As a wealthy noblewoman, Bathory evaded the law until 1610, according to the History Channel. For other uses, see. Bathory sometimes tortured girls by driving needles into their fingers, cutting their noses or lips or whipping them with stinging nettles. 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. 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 A late 16th-century copy of the now-lost portrait of Elizabeth Bathory, painted in 1585 when she was 25 years old. Therefore, the idea of evil inside the family bond emerges in the Countess's massacres. Uncanny parallels between the two. The ruins of Csejte Castle, where Elizabeth Bathory supposedly committed unspeakable crimes. Bathory was born in Nyrbtor, Hungary, on August 7, 1560. She was forty-three at the time of Ferencz's death and known to be terrified of growing old and losing her beauty. [31] The location of her body today is unknown but believed to be buried deep in the church area of the castle. Her mother was Baroness Anna Bthory, daughter of another voivode of Transylvania. Countess Elizabeth Bthory de Ecsed (Hungarian: Bthori Erzsbet, pronounced[batori rebt]; Slovak: Albeta Btoriov; 7 August 1560 21 August 1614)[1] was a Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer from the family of Bthory, who owned land in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Slovakia). According to SyFy, this claim didnt even appear in print until after shed been dead for more than a century. George strengthened his alliance to Stephen by marrying his sister Anna, uniting the branches. ", in. However, she was arrested and detained prior to the discovery or presentation of the victims. 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. [citation needed], Several authors, such as Lszl Nagy and Dr. Irma Szdeczky-Kardoss, have argued that Elizabeth Bthory was a victim of a conspiracy. [45] Countess Elizabeth Bthory, (Erzsbet Bthori in Hungarian), was born in 1560 in Nyrbtor in Royal Hungary. A student organization of St. Marys University of San Antonio, Texas, featuring scholarly research, writing, and media from students of all disciplines. The testimony against Bathory could have included true tales about how harshly she acted with lower classes. 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. She spent her childhood at Ecsed Castle. 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. Elizabeth's father was George VI Bthory, who was from the Bthory family's Esced branch. As a child, Bthory had multiple seizures that may have been caused by epilepsy. Majorova convinced Bathory to kill noble women because fewer and fewer servants wanted to work for Bathory. discoveries. 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. Bthory and four of her servants were accused of torturing and killing hundreds of girls and women between 1590 and 1610. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. Her trial was not fair by the standards of her time (torturing witnesses, etc.) The two branches of the family positioned themselves on the opposing sides of the conflict. I do wonder though, how coincidental is it that she found a husband that was practicing the same satanist things as her family? An Examination of the Life and Trial of Erzsbet Bthory", "The falling sickness. The Bathory Nadasdy family agreed to cancel Matthias's debts- and Matthias decided that Elizabeth Bathory would disappear behind the walls of her castle. When Darvulia died a few years later, Bathory had to find another women to confide in while doing her killings. While facing fraud charges, she was publicly revealed to be a transgender woman. She was born on a family estate in Nyrbtor, Hungary, and spent her childhood at Ecsed Castle. There is no document to prove that anyone in the area complained about the Countess. This is thought to be one of the reasons she became obsessed over blood. [36] It is difficult to know how accurate his account of events is. The intimate nature of Bathory's attacks suggests a sexual motivation, though it's impossible to know with certainty what compelled her to act. 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] 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. 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. 1590 is when she was said to have started her crimes. The investigation into Bthory's crimes was sparked by complaints from a Lutheran minister, Istvn Magyari. 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. 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 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. [citation needed] Bthory managed business affairs and the family's multiple estates during the war. By . Soon after her arrest, Bathory attended the trial against her. I will start with the claims where the evidence is clearest: No, Bthory did not keep a list of her victims/"patients". She celebrated 70 years on the throne in June 2022 with her Platinum Jubilee. 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