Elizabeth Báthory
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | "The complete absence of verifiable evidence for either the bloodbaths or the 650 fatalities [of [[Elizabeth Báthory]]] has done nothing to dampen the enthusiasm with which later authors have seized upon these features."--''[[Murderesses in German Writing, 1720-1860: Heroines of Horror]]'' (2013) by Susanne Kord | ||
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| + | "To the left, on a rock nearer the railway, are the remains of the [[Čachtice Castle|Cachticz]], Hungar. Csejthe, once the residence of the infamous [[Elizabeth Bathory]], who is said to have caused upwards of 300 young girls to be murdered within ten years for the purpose of restoring herself to youth by means of their blood. She was afterwards thrown into prison, where she died in 1610." --''[[Southern Germany and Austria, Including Hungary and Transylvania]]'' (1883) | ||
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| + | [[Image:Elizabeth Bathory Portrait.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Portrait of [[Elizabeth Báthory]], her castle was in Čachtice, now Slovakia]] | ||
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| - | + | '''Elizabeth Báthory ''' (1560 – 1614) was a [[countess]] from the renowned [[Báthory family]] of [[nobility in the Kingdom of Hungary]]. She has been labeled the most prolific [[female serial killer]] in history, although the number of murders is debated. | |
| - | :The complete absence of verifiable evidence for either the bloodbaths or the 650 fatalities [of [[Elizabeth Báthory]]]has done nothing to dampen the enthusiasm with which later authors have seized upon these features. Both already appear as indisputable facts in the earliest sources available in Germany, [[László Turóczi]]'s [[Tragica Historia]] (1729) and [[Matthias Bel]]'s ''[[The Castle and Town of Csejte]]'' (Burg und Stadt Csejte, 1742) | + | |
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| - | '''Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed''' (''Báthory Erzsébet'' in [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], ''Alžbeta Bátoriová'' in [[Slovak language|Slovak]]; 7 August 1560 – 21 August 1614) was a [[countess]] from the renowned [[Báthory family]] of [[nobility in the Kingdom of Hungary]]. She has been labeled the most prolific [[female serial killer]] in history, although the number of murders is debated, and is remembered as the "Blood Countess." | + | |
| After her husband [[Ferenc Nádasdy]]'s death, she and four collaborators were accused of [[torture|torturing]] and killing hundreds of girls, with one witness attributing to them over 650 victims, though the number for which they were convicted was 80. | After her husband [[Ferenc Nádasdy]]'s death, she and four collaborators were accused of [[torture|torturing]] and killing hundreds of girls, with one witness attributing to them over 650 victims, though the number for which they were convicted was 80. | ||
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| Elizabeth herself was neither tried, nor convicted. In 1610, she was imprisoned in the [[Csejte Castle]], now in [[Slovakia]] and known as Čachtice, where she remained [[bricked in]] a set of rooms until her death four years later. | Elizabeth herself was neither tried, nor convicted. In 1610, she was imprisoned in the [[Csejte Castle]], now in [[Slovakia]] and known as Čachtice, where she remained [[bricked in]] a set of rooms until her death four years later. | ||
| - | Later writings about the case have led to legendary accounts of the Countess bathing in the blood of virgins to retain her youth and subsequently also to comparisons with [[Vlad III the Impaler]] of [[Wallachia]], on whom the fictional [[Count Dracula]] is partly based, and to modern nicknames of ''the Blood Countess'' and ''Countess Dracula''. | + | In recent years, a case has been made that the accusations arose from a conspiracy against her by the Palatine of Hungary, Count [[György Thurzó]], and her own son-in-law, [[Miklós Zrínyi]], grandson of the hero of the Siege of Szigetvár. |
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| - | The Báthory case has inspired many stories, featuring the Countess bathing in the blood of her victims in order to retain her youth. This inspired nicknames like ''the Bloody Countess of doom and death''. | + | == Historiography == |
| + | ===Elizabeth Báthory in folklore and literature=== | ||
| + | The case of Elizabeth Báthory inspired numerous stories and [[fairy tale]]s. Eighteenth and 19th century writers liberally added or omitted elements of the narrative. The most common [[Motif (literature)|motif]] of these works was that of the countess bathing in her victims' blood in order to retain beauty or youth. Frequently, the cruel countess would discover the secret of blood bathing when she slapped a female servant in rage, splashing parts of her own skin with blood. Upon removal of the blood, that portion of skin would seem younger and more beautiful than before. | ||
| - | == Folklore and popular culture == | + | This legend appeared in print for the first time in [[1729]], in the [[Jesuit]] scholar László Turóczi’s ''[[Tragica historia]]'', the first written account of the Báthory case. |
| - | :''[[Elizabeth Báthory in popular culture]]'' | + | When quoting him in his 1742 history book, [[Matthias Bel]] was sceptical about this particular detail, he nevertheless helped the legend to spread. Subsequent writers of history and fiction alike often identified [[vanity]] as the sole motivation for Báthory's crimes. |
| - | The case of Elizabeth Báthory inspired numerous stories during the 18th and 19th centuries. The most common [[Motif (literature)|motif]] of these works was that of the countess bathing in her victims' blood to retain beauty or youth. | + | |
| - | This legend appeared in print for the first time in 1729, in the [[Jesuit]] scholar László Turóczi’s ''[[Tragica Historia]]'', the first written account of the Báthory case. | + | Modern historians [[Radu Florescu]] and [[Raymond T. McNally]] have concluded that the theory [[Báthory]] murdered on account of her vanity sprung up from contemporary [[prejudice]]s about [[gender roles]]. Women were not believed to be capable of violence for its own sake. However, while popular prejudice of the time is noted, these scholars' view is neither the only, nor the most accepted interpretation of the actual events. |
| - | At the beginning of the 19th century, this certainty was questioned, and [[Sadomasochism|sadist]]ic pleasure was considered a far more plausible motive for Elizabeth Báthory's crimes. In 1817, the witness accounts (which had surfaced in 1765) were published for the first time, which included no references to bloodbaths. This myth is also speculated to persist because of Báthory's connection to Transylvania and vampire lore. | + | At the beginning of the 19th century, this certainty was questioned, and [[sadist]]ic pleasure was considered a plausible motive for Báthory's crimes. In [[1817]], the witness accounts (which had surfaced in 1765) were published for the first time, demonstrating that the bloodbaths were legend rather than fact. |
| - | The legend nonetheless persisted in the popular [[imagination]]. Some versions of the story were told with the purpose of denouncing female vanity, while other versions aimed to entertain or thrill their audience. The ethnic divisions in Eastern Europe and financial incentives for tourism contribute to the problems with historical accuracy in understanding Elizabeth Báthory. During the 20th and 21st centuries, Elizabeth Báthory has continued to appear as a character in [[Elizabeth Báthory in popular culture|music, film, plays, books, games and toys]] and to serve as an inspiration for similar characters. | + | The legend nonetheless persisted in the popular imagination. Some versions of the story were told with the purpose of denouncing female vanity, while other versions aimed to entertain or thrill their audience. Some versions of the story incorporated more elaborate [[torture chamber]] fantasies, such as the use of an [[iron maiden (torture device)|iron maiden]], which were not based on the evidence from Báthory's trial. [[Leopold von Sacher-Masoch]], whose name inspired the term [[masochism]], was inspired by the Báthory legend to write his [[1874]] novella ''[[Ewige Jugend]]'' ("eternal youth") |
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| + | ===Elizabeth Báthory and the vampire myth=== | ||
| + | The emergence of the bloodbath myth coincided with the [[Vampire#Eighteenth century vampire controversy|vampire scares]] that haunted Europe in the early 18th century, reaching even into educated and scientific circles. The strong connection between the bloodbath myth and [[vampire]] myth was not made until the 1970s. The first connections were made to promote works of fiction by linking them to the already commercially successful [[Dracula]] story. Thus a 1970 movie based on Báthory and the bloodbath myth was titled ''[[Countess Dracula]]''. | ||
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| + | Some Báthory biographers, McNally in particular, have tried to establish the bloodbath myth and the historical Elizabeth Báthory as a source of influence for [[Bram Stoker]]'s 1897 novel Dracula, pointing to similarities in settings and motifs and the fact that Stoker might have read about her. This theory is strongly disputed by author [[Elizabeth Miller]]. | ||
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| + | Meanwhile Báthory has become an influence for modern [[vampire literature]] and [[vampire films]]. | ||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
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| *[[Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova]] | *[[Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova]] | ||
| *[[Vlad the Impaler]] | *[[Vlad the Impaler]] | ||
| - | + | *[[Bathing in blood]] | |
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
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"The complete absence of verifiable evidence for either the bloodbaths or the 650 fatalities [of Elizabeth Báthory] has done nothing to dampen the enthusiasm with which later authors have seized upon these features."--Murderesses in German Writing, 1720-1860: Heroines of Horror (2013) by Susanne Kord "To the left, on a rock nearer the railway, are the remains of the Cachticz, Hungar. Csejthe, once the residence of the infamous Elizabeth Bathory, who is said to have caused upwards of 300 young girls to be murdered within ten years for the purpose of restoring herself to youth by means of their blood. She was afterwards thrown into prison, where she died in 1610." --Southern Germany and Austria, Including Hungary and Transylvania (1883) |
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Elizabeth Báthory (1560 – 1614) was a countess from the renowned Báthory family of nobility in the Kingdom of Hungary. She has been labeled the most prolific female serial killer in history, although the number of murders is debated.
After her husband Ferenc Nádasdy's death, she and four collaborators were accused of torturing and killing hundreds of girls, with one witness attributing to them over 650 victims, though the number for which they were convicted was 80.
Elizabeth herself was neither tried, nor convicted. In 1610, she was imprisoned in the Csejte Castle, now in Slovakia and known as Čachtice, where she remained bricked in a set of rooms until her death four years later.
In recent years, a case has been made that the accusations arose from a conspiracy against her by the Palatine of Hungary, Count György Thurzó, and her own son-in-law, Miklós Zrínyi, grandson of the hero of the Siege of Szigetvár. .
Contents |
Historiography
Elizabeth Báthory in folklore and literature
The case of Elizabeth Báthory inspired numerous stories and fairy tales. Eighteenth and 19th century writers liberally added or omitted elements of the narrative. The most common motif of these works was that of the countess bathing in her victims' blood in order to retain beauty or youth. Frequently, the cruel countess would discover the secret of blood bathing when she slapped a female servant in rage, splashing parts of her own skin with blood. Upon removal of the blood, that portion of skin would seem younger and more beautiful than before.
This legend appeared in print for the first time in 1729, in the Jesuit scholar László Turóczi’s Tragica historia, the first written account of the Báthory case.
When quoting him in his 1742 history book, Matthias Bel was sceptical about this particular detail, he nevertheless helped the legend to spread. Subsequent writers of history and fiction alike often identified vanity as the sole motivation for Báthory's crimes.
Modern historians Radu Florescu and Raymond T. McNally have concluded that the theory Báthory murdered on account of her vanity sprung up from contemporary prejudices about gender roles. Women were not believed to be capable of violence for its own sake. However, while popular prejudice of the time is noted, these scholars' view is neither the only, nor the most accepted interpretation of the actual events.
At the beginning of the 19th century, this certainty was questioned, and sadistic pleasure was considered a plausible motive for Báthory's crimes. In 1817, the witness accounts (which had surfaced in 1765) were published for the first time, demonstrating that the bloodbaths were legend rather than fact.
The legend nonetheless persisted in the popular imagination. Some versions of the story were told with the purpose of denouncing female vanity, while other versions aimed to entertain or thrill their audience. Some versions of the story incorporated more elaborate torture chamber fantasies, such as the use of an iron maiden, which were not based on the evidence from Báthory's trial. Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, whose name inspired the term masochism, was inspired by the Báthory legend to write his 1874 novella Ewige Jugend ("eternal youth")
Elizabeth Báthory and the vampire myth
The emergence of the bloodbath myth coincided with the vampire scares that haunted Europe in the early 18th century, reaching even into educated and scientific circles. The strong connection between the bloodbath myth and vampire myth was not made until the 1970s. The first connections were made to promote works of fiction by linking them to the already commercially successful Dracula story. Thus a 1970 movie based on Báthory and the bloodbath myth was titled Countess Dracula.
Some Báthory biographers, McNally in particular, have tried to establish the bloodbath myth and the historical Elizabeth Báthory as a source of influence for Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula, pointing to similarities in settings and motifs and the fact that Stoker might have read about her. This theory is strongly disputed by author Elizabeth Miller.
Meanwhile Báthory has become an influence for modern vampire literature and vampire films.
See also
- Lesbian vampire
- Hungarian nobility
- Gilles de Rais
- Delphine LaLaurie
- La Quintrala
- Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova
- Vlad the Impaler
- Bathing in blood
