The Blood Countess

Countess Elizabeth Báthory was born on August 7th 1560 into a wealthy family of the Hungarian nobility. She became famous for being one of the most prolific female serial killers in history and for bathing in blood, what made her into a legendary vampire. Although many stories exaggerate her actions, a trial found Báthory guilty of torturing and killing hundreds of young women. Her accomplices were executed, but since she came from an influential family, she was never convicted, instead, she died under house arrest on August 21st 1614.

The Countess was the cousin of Stephen Báthory, King of Poland and Prince of Transylvania. In addition to having important family connections, she was well-educated. She learned Latin, Greek and German. In 1575, Báthory married Count Ferencz Nádasdy (also from Hungarian nobility) and moved to the Čachtice Castle, a gift to her from her husband. She had four children, and in 1604 her husband died. After his death, rumors of her cruelty began to surface.

Báthory was said to torture and kill young women with the assistance of some of her servants. While the death of servants and peasants didn't worry the authorities, when she was accused of doing the same to noble women in 1610, King Mathias II of Hungary tasked György Thurzó (the Countess' cousin) with investigating the case. Witnesses said that Báthory's methods of torture included mutilation, starvation, leaving her victims naked in freezing conditions until they died, and beating them to death, among others. The exact number of her victims is unknown, it ranges from 100 to 600.

Báthory was never convicted because of her noble status, she died 4 years after being confined in her chambers at the Čachtice Castle. The claim that she bathed in blood was never mentioned by any witness, this was added later on to her legend, together with other exaggerations. Some modern historians also question the truth of the accusations made against her. King Mathias owed money to the Countess, and her relatives were interested in owning her lands, making her downfall profitable for them. Still, her story has become a legend surrounded by folklore that intrigues many to this day.