Katharina Buczek
Elizabeth Bathory’s Sinister Reputation
The Countess was no stranger to privilege. After being born and raised in a mighty family, she went on to rule over her own entire region. So, some believed that her innate disposition for all things lavish later helped her accomplish some of the most monstrous of crimes.
Witnesses who detested Elizabeth claim that her brutal acts began in 1590 and continued for two decades until 1610.
The Countess allegedly began by stealing away young women who had only visited her castle in hopes of getting servant work. Then, Elizabeth’s evil allegedly only escalated.
She was accused of killing daughters who had come to the Csejte Castle for education. Then, Elizabeth reportedly kidnapped village girls who had never even gone to the castle.
And by 1610, the Countess was believed to have murdered numerous people of noble birth– which, of course, worried authorities much more at the time.
So, that year, Elizabeth started being investigated by Matthias II, the Hungarian King. And what the King’s highest-ranking representative, Gyorgy Thurzo, found was utterly damning.
About three hundred witnesses came forward with horrifying tales of Elizabeth and aided the downfall of the region’s Countess.
The Countess’ Crimes
According to witness testimony, Elizabeth tortured young girls and women in horrific ways. She was alleged to have stuck needles under their fingernails, burned them with hot irons, sewed their lips shut tight, and beaten them with clubs.
Moreover, villagers claimed that their Countess would pour ice-cold water over girls’ bodies and leave them to freeze out in the cold. And some even said Elizabeth would douse her victims in honey before allowing bugs to feast on their flesh.
