@Susan Quinland 2021
Even after four hundred years, the question remains unanswered: exactly how many people did Erzsébet Báthory maim, torture and murder?
That the Countess Erzsébet Báthory (Hungary, 1560-1614) was one of the most brutal and successful serial killers of all time is not disputed. Popular theories, based on incomplete trial transcripts, claim the number of people murdered is somewhere between 80 – 650, mostly young girls. Some scholars claim now it is as few as thirty-five.
At the time, the torture and death of servants and serfs by their lords was not a crime and complaints were ignored. But when noble girls went missing while under the Countess’ care, the crown was forced to address these new accusations. Tasked by King Matthias II to investigate the deaths of the noble girls, György Thurzó raided the Countess’ town manor in Cachtice just after Christmas in 1610. According to witness testimony, they discovered several dead and dying girls in the house.
The Countess was forcibly taken up to her castle on the mountain to await the outcome of the investigation.
Over three hundred witnesses gave grim testimony, describing heinous acts of cruelty and torture that often lead to death. Four of her closest servants were interrogated under torture, a common practice of the time. Three were found guilty of heinous crimes and put to death for their part in the crimes. The last servant was found “less guilty” than the others, sent to prison and was never heard from again.
Because of her noble status and family connections, the Countess was never personally brought to trial. By the King’s decree, she was confined under house arrest in her castle above Cachtice in Hungary (now Slovakia) for the rest of her natural life.
In an extensive cover-up dictated by the aristocracy, most documents, histories, letters, etc. attributed to the Countess, one of the richest and most powerful nobles in Hungary, were destroyed. No authenticated painting or likeness survived the purging. Reports persist that it was illegal to say her name aloud in Hungary for a hundred years.
Four years after her confinement, Erzsébet Báthory died alone in her castle tower at age fifty-four.
1555, October 6: Erzsébet Báthory’s future husband, Ferenc Nádasdy is born.
1560, August 7: Erzsébet Báthory born to György and Anna Báthory in Nyírbátor, Hungary. Erzsébet spends her childhood at Ecsed castle in Hungary.
1571: Erzsébet Báthory and Ferenc Nádasdy are formally betrothed.
1575, May 8: Erzsébet and Ferenc are married at Vranov Castle in Hungary with more than 4,500 guests in attendance.
1578: Ferenc appointed chief commander of Hungarian troops in the war against the Ottoman Empire.
1585: Daughter Anna born.
1590: Daughter Orsika born.
1594: Daughter Katalin born.
1596: Son Andres born (died 1603).
1598: Son Pal born.
1601: Ferenc becomes injured or gravely ill (debated).
1604, January 4: Ferenc dies.
1608: Matthias II is crowned King of Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor of Transylvania.
1609: Erzsébet opens gynaeceum (School for Noble Girls).
1609: György Thurzó (distant cousin of Erzsébet’s) confirmed Palatine of Hungary, the highest-ranking office below the King.
1609: King Matthias II orders Thurzó to investigate the charges against Erzsébet Báthory.
1610: Thurzó begins investigation, discusses possible site confinement rather than trial, which would turn the powerful noble class against the King.
1610, December 28 (debated): Thurzó’s men raid Erzsébet’s manor house in the town of Cachtice. Testimony states that they discovered one girl dead and one dying, another gravely wounded, and others locked up inside. Erzsébet’s servants are arrested and removed for trial. Erzsébet is placed under house arrest in her castle.
1611, January 2: Trial of Erzsébet’s personal servants begins. Testimonies of more than 300 witnesses claim torture, abductions, and murder of 80-650 common and lesser noble girls. Ilona Jo, Dorottya Szentes and Janos Ficzco executed for their part in the murders. Katalin Beneczky is imprisoned. Erszi Majorova was also found guilty in abstentia, later executed. Erzsébet is never brought to trial.
1614, August 21 (approximate): Erzsébet Báthory dies in the resident tower in Cachtice castle.
The Bathory Coat of Arms
A legendary tale relates how the warrior Vitus set out to fight a dragon which lurked in the swamps next to Ecsed castle and harassed the countryside in ancient Hungary. Vitus killed it with three thrusts of his lance. The grateful people gave him the castle and honored him with the name Báthory, meaning “brave hero”.
The Báthory coat of arms was styled in reference to this legend: three horizontally placed teeth surrounded by a dragon biting its own tail.
Approximate country/territory boundaries during Countess Erzsebet Bathory’s lifetime.
