Countess Elizabeth Bathory

Elizabeth Bathory, also known as the “Blood Countess,” was born on August 7, 1560, to George and Anna Bathory. The Bathory family was one of the richest and most powerful Protestant families in Hungary. Elizabeth's relatives included an uncle who was a Satan worshipper, a lesbian aunt who enjoyed torturing servants, and a brother who was a drunkard and a lecher. At 15, Elizabeth was married to Ferencz Nadasdy, whom Elizabeth had been betrothed to since the age of 11. While her husband was away, Elizabeth began to experiment with witchcraft and sadistic tendencies. She beat the female servants and slaves, using knives, molten wax, razors, branding irons, and silver pincers to extract blood from the victims to satisfy her sexual urges. Many of her castles were equipped with torture and mutilation chambers. Elizabeth was never convicted of any murders but was found criminally insane and placed in detention within the castle. Countess Elizabeth Bathory killed nearly 650 female servants and slaves.