elizabeth bathory living descendants

Through her mother, Elizabeth was the niece of the Hungarian noble Stephen Bthory (15331586), the King of Poland, the Grand Duke of Lithuania of the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth, and Prince of Transylvania. Yes, there are descendants of Elizabeth Bathory that are living today. This Serial Killer was active in the following countries: Slovakia. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. As a child, Bthory had multiple seizures that may have been caused by epilepsy. Her mother was Baroness Anna Bthory (15391570), daughter of Stephen Bthory of Somly, also voivode of Transylvania, who was of the Somly branch. From that time, he never fully recovered, and in 1603 became permanently disabled. 1 She was born on August 7th, 1590, in Transylvania. On August 7th, 1560, Elizabeth Bthory de Esced ( Bthory Erzsbet in Hungarian) was born to a very powerful Hungarian family. Thurz collected evidence from some 300 witnesses who leveled a bevy of truly horrifying charges against the countess. Thurzo found a dead body of a girl and two other girls wounded. This diary, however, appears to have only been a legend. Rate this book. Bthory was born into prominent Protestant nobility in Hungary. It turns out that King Matthias II owed Bathorys late husband, and then her, a sizable debt. [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. She has since gone on to become an accomplished activist and author. Darvulia supposedly implanted in Bathorys mind that if she killed young virgins and bathed in their blood, she could maintain her youth.9 Bathory confided in Darvulia and took interest in learning more about witchcraft and Satanism. That evidence included numerous bodies and dead and dying girls found when the castle was entered by Thurz. She was born into a powerful and very well connected Transylvanian family. Ferenc and Erzsebet Bathory had six children. As an intelligent, powerful woman who ruled without a man at her side, and as a member of a family whose wealth intimidated the king, his court went on a mission to discredit and ruin her. Bathory sometimes tortured girls by driving needles into their fingers, cutting their noses or lips or whipping them with stinging nettles. She told her guard that her hands were cold, and the next day the guard found her dead.20 She was buried somewhere around her castle, Cachtice. [4][32] Nagy argued that the proceedings against Bthory were largely politically motivated, possibly due to her extensive wealth and ownership of large areas of land in Hungary, which increased after the death of her husband. One of those children (Pl) had two children. At times, Bathorys husband went away at war, but when he was at home, he shaped Bathory in how she killed.6 Nadasdy enjoyed torturing peasants and servants in brutal ways. [30] She was buried in the church of Csejte on 25 November 1614,[30] but according to some sources due to the villagers' uproar over having the Countess buried in their cemetery, her body was moved to her birth home at Ecsed, where it was interred at the Bthory family crypt. Elizabeth Bathory was technically a subject of the Habsburg crown. They descended from George II, the younger son of John I, through the George's grandson Michael. These theories suggest that the King brought these charges against her because he did not like that she was Protestant and a powerful women.19 However, no evidence exists to back up these theories. After the death of the count on the battlefield in January 1604, horrifying suspicions of torture, murder and vampirism were voiced against Elizabeth. She supposedly used the instrument to cut off their hands, noses, and genitals. In the 19th century, long after the demise of the other branches, the family claimed name and title of Counts Bthory, since their ancestor Michael had never consented to the sale conducted by his brothers, and in 1852 the Russian government confirmed the legitimacy of their claims.[6][11][12]. Peasant girls looking for servant work in the Csejte Castle were disappearing, and no one knew why. 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. Make 2023 the year to let that wonderful you-ness shine. For the 1982 song by Venom, see, Copy of the lost 1585 original portrait of Elizabeth Bthory, The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of, Lengyel Tnde, Vrkonyi Gbor: Bthory Erzsbet - egy asszony lete / Life of a woman, Letters from Thurz to both men on 5 March 1610, printed in, A letter from 12 December 1610 by Elizabeth's son-in-law Zrnyi to, Szdeczky-Kardoss Irma - Bthory Erzsbet igazsga / The truth of Elizabeth Bthory (10 years of research using contemporary correspondence), Infamous Lady the true story of Countess Erzsebet Bathory Kimberly L. Craft 2009 p.298, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The Bloody Countess? Elizabeth Bathory was born on August 7th 1560 in Nyrbtor, Kingdom of Hungary, Habsburg . One girl even came running out of the castle with a knife still in her foot.14 The king showed no compassion or care for the peasants or servants being killed. As a wealthy noblewoman, Bathory evaded the law until 1610, according to the History Channel. Elizabeth Bathory was the Countess of Ecsed, born on August 7, 1560, in Hungary. Most of the witnesses testified that they had heard the accusations from others, but did not see it themselves. During the time she lived, she was one of the most powerful women in Hungary.21 She gained notoriety and received the nickname Blood Countess through her deviant acts.22 Bathory is known today for being one of the worst female, serial killers. [2] Her family ruled Transylvania as an independent region within the Hungarian kingdom. I have never heard of this story, it was very interesting to read and learn about! The Csejte church and the castle of Csejte do not bear any markings of her possible grave. The Bthory family (Polish: Batory) was a Hungarian noble family of the Gutkeled clan. Craft, Kimberly, "Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsbet Bthory." Elizabeth Bathory portrait - Bloody Countess, medieval serial killer print, poster (DIGITAL DOWNLOAD) ArtisMortisGallery. Elizabeth Bthory was born on a family estate in Nyrbtor, Royal Hungary in 1560 or 1561, the daughter of Baron George VI Bthory and Baroness Anna Bthory. Extremely well written article. [9] The marriage resulted in combined land ownership in both Transylvania and the Kingdom of Hungary. And when Bathorys husband died in 1604, these views became much more widespread and dramatic. [citation needed] Thurz, along with Paul and her two sons-in-law, originally planned for Bthory to be sent to a nunnery, but as accounts of her actions spread, they decided to keep her under strict house arrest.[22]. [16] The threat of attack was significant, for the village of Csejte had previously been plundered by the Ottomans while Srvr, located near the border that divided Royal Hungary and Ottoman-occupied Hungary, was in even greater danger. By . Her father was Baron George VI Bthory, brother of the voivode of Transylvania, Andrew Bonaventura Bthory. I had never heard of this story/person prior to reading this article, how disturbing! After the harsh and fierce battle, Hungary was torn apart by the conflict between the rival royal claims. However, Thurzo ordered her bricked into a windowless room in Cjsethe Castle. (shelved 3 times as elizabeth-bathory) avg rating 3.75 256 ratings published 1997. Countess Elizabeth Bthory, (Erzsbet Bthori in Hungarian), was born in 1560 in Nyrbtor in Royal Hungary. Countess Elisabeth Bthory (August 7, 1560 - August 21, 1614) was a Hungarian noblewoman who has become renowned as a pre-modern Serial Killer, allegedly kidnapping, torturing, and murdering dozens of young peasant girls. Bathorys servants, thirteen in total, testified against her. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Elizabeth Bthory, by Gavin R.G. Stephen VII first proved himself as Count of Temesvr and in 1519 was elected Palatine of Hungary, as which he had to contend with the opposition of the nobility. Some say that Countess Elizabeth Bthory, considered by many to be the world's worst female serial killer, was the true inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. in order to explain Bthory's cruelty later in her life is that she was trained by her family to be cruel. In the early part of the 17th century, a Hungarian countess named Elizabeth Bathory was accused of murdering some 650 women across what is today known as Slovakia. [citation needed] Bthory managed business affairs and the family's multiple estates during the war. Anna Bthory was the widow of the last descendant of the Dragfi family and George now seized the castles of the Dragfi. and Andrew's sons George (d. 1307), Benedict (d. 1321) and Briccius (d. 1322) for their military services by granting them Btor in the county of Szabolcs. She spent her childhood at Ecsed Castle. Her brother was a judge royal of Hungary. Although in modern times she has been labelled the most prolific female serial killer in . History has a way of turning powerful women into folklore. Bathory is reputed to have killed at least six hundred victims, earning her a Guinness World Record for most prolific female murderer. While she lived unharmed by any authority for years, many young girls went missing or ended up dead. In a way, things that happened back then are still happening now. However, it's possible Bathory was not guilty of all the crimes that have been laid at her feet. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Then, discover the true story behind the real-life Bloody Mary. She was born into one of the noble families of Hungary, the Bathory family which uses the fang of a dragon as its crest. In the 1550s, when Ferdinand briefly gained control of Transylvania in 1551, he installed Stephen's nephew Bonaventura as his lieutenant to govern the country. . According to SyFy, this claim didnt even appear in print until after shed been dead for more than a century. MINIATURE framed painting art. A legendary account, placing the Bthorys' origin in the year 900 (preceding the advent of the Gutkeled clan), relates how a god-fearing warrior called Vitus (a namesake of a member of the first generation of the Gutkeled clan) set out to fight a dragon, which lurked in the swamps next to the castle of Ecsed (actually built only in the 14th century) and harassed the countryside. In 1573,[9] Bthory was engaged to Count Ferenc Ndasdy, a member of the Nadasdy family. After the trials concluded, Thurzo founded Bathory guilty, and she stayed in solitary confinement in her castle, Cachtice, for the rest of her life. This article was incredible! One of the servants provided a list in Bathorys handwriting of all 650 of her victims. 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. While facing fraud charges, she was publicly revealed to be a transgender woman. [17] To support Bthory's innocence, the testimony of around 300 witnesses[citation needed] and the physical evidence collected by the investigators have to be addressed or disputed. 25 of the Most Evil People the World Has Ever Seen. But not everyone is convinced of her guilt. She allegedly burned her victims with hot irons, beat them to death with clubs, stuck needles under their fingernails, poured ice water over their bodies and left them to freeze to death outside in the cold, covered them in honey so that bugs could feast on their exposed skin, sewed their lips together, and bit off chunks of flesh from their breasts and faces. In 1602 a priest wrote a letter that discussed the excessive cruelty exhibited by Bathory and her husband towards their servants. Elizabeth Bthory's subsequent trial would see over 300 witnesses and survivors testify against her, weaving a story of suffering and death that made the court shudder, and it became a major scandal that would become intertwined with folklore and whispered amongst the populace. (726) $5.00. About Erzsbet Bthory, "The Blood Countess". . Bthory was a powerful woman, made more so by her control of Ndasdys holdings after his death. [1], There are counter-arguments made against this theory. Elizabeth is 24 degrees from Margaret Atwood, 26 degrees from Jim Carrey, 25 degrees from Elsie Knott, 27 degrees from Gordon Lightfoot, 30 degrees from Alton Parker, 29 degrees from Beatrice Tillman, 27 degrees from Jenny Trout, 23 degrees from Justin Trudeau, 27 degrees from Edwin Boyd, 24 degrees from Barbara Hanley, 33 degrees from Fanny Rosenfeld and 27 degrees from Cathryn Hondros on our single family tree. 2023 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. As her husband was a soldier who was often off fighting Ottoman Turks, the couple spent most of their marriage apart. For other uses, see. Wikimedia CommonsA late 16th-century copy of the now-lost portrait of Elizabeth Bathory, painted in 1585 when she was 25 years old. Elizabeth Bthory was born in 1560 to Protestant nobility in Hungary. Bathory Erszabet and Vlad III Tepes are separated by more than a century, but united in the reputation they developed outside of Eastern Europe for cruelty, brutality, and bloodthirstiness. Together with four of her servants, she was accused of . The servants and Majorova who helped gather young women for Bathory to kill were all killed by either burning or beheading as a result of the trial.16 Elizabeth did not face a harsh death sentence. She descended from multiple noble lineages and included the King of Poland and the prince of Transylvania among her relatives. Many modern Hungarian scholars believe that the accusations against Elizabeth Bathory were exaggerated. Descendant of both the Ecsed and Somly branches of the Bathory family. Ancient Origins - Elizabeth Bathory 16th century deranged serial killer or victim of betrayal. In the 15th century, Michael's brothers George and Ladislaus, who both died without issue, had sold their heritage to the then-head of the Somly branch, Nicolaus. 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. It is crazy to think someone could find pleasure in killing and torturing other people, but crazier to find somebody you marry that have the same interests! The Habsburg court owed her money they didn't want to pay. Her mother's brother was Stephen Bathory who was a Hungarian nobleman and later became the king of Poland. Another servant, Erzsi Majorova, initially escaped capture, but was burned alive after being apprehended. 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], On 8 May 1575, Bthory and Ndasdy were married at the palace of Vranov nad Topou (Varann in Hungarian). During colder parts of the year young women might be stripped naked and forced into deadly ice baths. [2][13][16] Born into a privileged family of nobility, Bthory was endowed with wealth, education and a prominent social rank.[17]. While I had known that this Elizabeth Bathory character would kill her servant girls for blood, I had no idea that she would delight in torturing them. While Elizabeths husband was away at war, she met a witch named Anna Darvulia. A late 16th-century copy of the now-lost portrait of Elizabeth Bathory, painted in 1585 when she was 25 years old. Countess Elizabeth Bthory de Ecsed ( Hungarian: Bthory Erzsbet, pronounced [batori rebt]; Slovak: Albeta Btoriov ; 7 August 1560 - 21 August 1614) [1] was a Hungarian noblewoman from the family of Bthory, who owned land in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Hungary, Slovakia and Romania ). I really liked the introduction of this article because it made me wonder what she did and ask why should she have gotten a stricter punishment, and boy did I find out. [20] By October 1610 they had collected 52 witness statements;[19] by 1611, that number had risen to over 300. The servants were put on trial in 1611, and three were executed. Meet Elizabeth Bathory, The Blood Countess Who May Have Been Historys Most Prolific Female Serial Killer. She celebrated 70 years on the throne in June 2022 with her Platinum Jubilee. When Nadasdy passed away in 1604, he gave his whole estate away to Bathory including his castle, Cachtice, in modern day Slovakia. There is a rumor that Elizabeth became pregnant by a peasant right before she married Nadasdy, and he castrated the peasant and gave his body to wild dogs to eat. Sadistic pleasure is considered a far more plausible motive for Bthory's crimes. The most famous relative was Istvan (ISHT-vahn) Bathory (1533-86). 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