Learn About, Elizabeth Bathory
About, Elizabeth Bathory
posted at Johannas Corner
What about a horror movie on the character of the real life of Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614)? It was reported she had over 600 women killed so she can bath in the fresh hot blood of her victims. There was number of reporting of the cannibalism performed during a number of acts. For some reason, a very well done movie would be a nice little horror movie. 1
The deeds of a 16th century Hungarian countess named Elizebeth Bathory would rival the tales of horror told in almost any land. Her crimes were evil beyond description, though some say she was more insane than evil. When he was doing research for his novel about vampires, Bram Stoker came across a book called The Book of Werewolves by Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould. Authors Raymond T. McNally and Radu Florescu suggest that the real-life Dracula and yes, there was one — may have been related to Bathory on his Hungarian side of the family. In this work was a description of the sinister deeds of the so-called Blood Countess. It is likely that this story, among other things, provided inspiration to Stoker for his vision of Count Dracula. In fact Elizebeth’s cousin, Stephan Bathory, would one day become a prince in Transylvania. 2
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It was Raymond McNally who carried the Bathory/Dracula parallel to an untenable conclusion. In 1983, he tried to demonstrate that Stoker had a second historical person in mind (the first was supposedly Vlad the Impaler) as his novel took shape: Elizabeth Bathory. His claim that Bathory played a major role in the genesis of Stoker’s novel is astonishing, given that it is difficult to argue even for a minor role. While Dracula was a Woman has its uses as a biography of Bathory, its investigation into the sources for Dracula is a red herring. 3
Elizabeth B?thory was a member of the ancient Bathory family whose prestige at one time almost rivaled that of the Hungarian Royal Family. Her uncle, Stephen B?thory, was King of Poland from 1575 to 1586, and her brother was the Prince of Transylvania. She is said to have murdered around 600 young girls. Whether she did this for sadomasochistic pleasure or for the purpose of bathing in their blood (a reputed fountain of youth), it is difficult to say. Legends that surrounded her behavior are also believed to be the source of much of the vampire mythos. Bram Stoker based his novel, Dracula, on a conflation of Vlad the Impaler and Countess Elizabeth. 4
Bathory beat her victims routinely and mutilated them as well. Reportedly she froze some in the snows of winter near her home called Castle Csejthe, dumping ice water on them in freezing weather. There were possible acts of cannibalism as well; allegedly Bathory once took several bites out of the flesh of a living servant girl. And there were legendary tales of the Blood Countess literally bathing in the blood of virgin girls in the hopes of remaining young (although at least one source claims the blood baths are more legend than reality). Nevertheless, it is quite clear that the Hungarian countess Elizebeth Bathory did exist and that she committed evil acts. Another source says she drank the blood of 650 girls who were also murdered. 5
Vlad Dracul (1431 - 1476) a was also known by the nickname Vlad the Impaler after impaling his enemies on stakes as a cruel and vicious form of torture and execution. Bram Stoker wrote the famous fictional book he called Dracula which was inspired by the Middle Ages prince from Transylvania who had a lust for blood. There is speculation that Bram Stoker also used the stories about Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy when writing his book. 6
Countess Elizabeth Bathory had more than 600 virgins killed in order to bath in their blood. She wished to retain her youthful beauty. She should definitely be at the top of the list! 7
These notes, scribbled on two scraps of paper, refer without exception to the characteristics of werewolves and their association with vampires. Most notable — for they were incorporated into his description of Count Dracula — were the canine teeth, broad hands with hairy palms, eyebrows meeting over nose, and the ability to shape-shift. But there is not a word about Elizabeth Bathory. 8
The case has led to legendary, false accounts of the Countess bathing in the blood of virgins in order to retain her youth. These stories have led 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. 9
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Tags: blood countess, bram stoker, cannibalism, count, doing research, dracula, elizabeth ba lifesabine baring gould, elizabeth bathory, fami, historical person, horror movie, hot blood, hungarian countess, life dracula, raymond t mcnally, red herring, sabine baring gould, tales of horror, thory, undefined, vlad the impaler, werewolves
Tags: blood countess, bram stoker, cannibalism, count, doing research, dracula, elizabeth ba lifesabine baring gould, elizabeth bathory, fami, historical person, horror movie, hot blood, hungarian countess, life dracula, raymond t mcnally, red herring, sabine baring gould, tales of horror, thory, undefined, vlad the impaler, werewolves