A Modern View of Erzsebet Bathory: Crimes, Accomplices, Personality
Based on the gruesome nature of Countess Erzsebet Bathory's crimes, it may be easy to call her insane or a psychopath. However, based on analysis of her handwriting (Craft, 2009) it is unlikely that she was psychotic. In fact, it appears that Bathory was quite sane. Then the question is begged: was Erzsebet Bathory a psychopath?
Using modern research on the construct of psychopathy it is important to understand first, that Erzsebet Bathory is a serial killer, but not all serial killers are psychopaths. The first distinction to keep in mind for Bathory, is the type of aggression exhibited. Psychopathy is associated with predatory aggression, in which no conscious emotional experience is present in the perpetrator and the violence is planned and meticulous. The other type of aggression is reactive, or affective, in which the perpetrator reacts to stimuli, and likely commits violence due to a loss of control and has an experience of intense emotional experience. Given the knowledge that Bathory had a specific type of victim (young, virgin girls) that may have caused Bathory to experience memories of her own childhood in which she was beaten, and knowing how brutally tortured the victims were, it is more likely that Bathory participated in reactive aggression, rather than predatory. However, her aggression also appears to be predatory in that she sought out more victims, using her accomplices to lure them in and at times lured them in herself, and the amount of violence could be attributed to the medieval nature of torture and violence in the time period.
The second modern theory to keep in mind when analyzing Erzsebet is the lack of information we have about her biology. Her violence could be attributed to an abnormality in her prefrontal cortex, which primarily controls executive functioning and control, based on the fact that we know she was inbred (Craft, 2009; Raine, 2013). We also know that she likely experienced epilepsy which could also contribute to the way in which she committed her crimes due to brain abnormalities or even damage.
A third modern theory to keep in mind is the understanding that Erzsebet Bathory was part of a killing and torturing team. While Kelleher and Kelleher (1998) write that most female serial killers are a part of a team and define a team killer as "a woman who systematically murders others or participates in the systematic murder of others in conjunction with another person. The perpetrator is considered a team killer even if she does not personally murder others but participates in the homicidal activities of the team” (p. 107), Erzsebet as the leader of this group could be indicative of psychopathic manipulation and control over others. However, it may never be known because it could be that Anna Darvolya started all of this, or even Ferenc, and Erzsebet was merely swept up into it, like Katalin Beneczky.
It may never be known on whether or not Erzsebet was a psychopath simply because there is not enough information and her existence was so long ago. However, based on the knowledge and facts there is on Erzsebet Bathory, some of her personality can be inferred and interpreted through tools such as the Psychopath Checklist.
Using modern research on the construct of psychopathy it is important to understand first, that Erzsebet Bathory is a serial killer, but not all serial killers are psychopaths. The first distinction to keep in mind for Bathory, is the type of aggression exhibited. Psychopathy is associated with predatory aggression, in which no conscious emotional experience is present in the perpetrator and the violence is planned and meticulous. The other type of aggression is reactive, or affective, in which the perpetrator reacts to stimuli, and likely commits violence due to a loss of control and has an experience of intense emotional experience. Given the knowledge that Bathory had a specific type of victim (young, virgin girls) that may have caused Bathory to experience memories of her own childhood in which she was beaten, and knowing how brutally tortured the victims were, it is more likely that Bathory participated in reactive aggression, rather than predatory. However, her aggression also appears to be predatory in that she sought out more victims, using her accomplices to lure them in and at times lured them in herself, and the amount of violence could be attributed to the medieval nature of torture and violence in the time period.
The second modern theory to keep in mind when analyzing Erzsebet is the lack of information we have about her biology. Her violence could be attributed to an abnormality in her prefrontal cortex, which primarily controls executive functioning and control, based on the fact that we know she was inbred (Craft, 2009; Raine, 2013). We also know that she likely experienced epilepsy which could also contribute to the way in which she committed her crimes due to brain abnormalities or even damage.
A third modern theory to keep in mind is the understanding that Erzsebet Bathory was part of a killing and torturing team. While Kelleher and Kelleher (1998) write that most female serial killers are a part of a team and define a team killer as "a woman who systematically murders others or participates in the systematic murder of others in conjunction with another person. The perpetrator is considered a team killer even if she does not personally murder others but participates in the homicidal activities of the team” (p. 107), Erzsebet as the leader of this group could be indicative of psychopathic manipulation and control over others. However, it may never be known because it could be that Anna Darvolya started all of this, or even Ferenc, and Erzsebet was merely swept up into it, like Katalin Beneczky.
It may never be known on whether or not Erzsebet was a psychopath simply because there is not enough information and her existence was so long ago. However, based on the knowledge and facts there is on Erzsebet Bathory, some of her personality can be inferred and interpreted through tools such as the Psychopath Checklist.
The Hare Psychopath Checklist and Erzsebeth Bathory
The Psychopath Checklist Revised (PCL-R) is a tool used to assess psychopathy today. Developed my Robert Hare, PhD., the PCL-R consists of twenty items, rated on a scale of 0 (no this is not present), 1 (possibly present) and, 2 (yes present) (Hare, 1993). It is broken down into two factors. Factor one assesses personality and interpersonal interaction of the offender, and factor two assesses criminal behavior. If the offender scores high on the PCL-R they are considered psychopathic. In considering Erzsebet Bathory, the PCL-R can be useful because she has exhibited certain factor one traits and factor two behaviors. However, it should be noted that the PCL-R was based on evidence and research from a male, prison population and was published in 1990. Due to this, certain items should be considered differently based on gender, context, and specifically in this case, time and era. Given the era of Countess Erzsebet Bathory's existence, it should be noted that the evaluation and investigation of heinous crimes was radically different from modern criminal justice and investigation and much of what was said about Erzsebet Bathory was based on hear say and few were actually eye witness accounts (Craft, 2009).
ITEM 1: GLIBNESS/SUPERFICIAL CHARM: Based on Erzsebet Bathory's letters, which typically appeared curt and straight forward (Craft, 2009), they seem to differ from other letters in that she constantly wishes her reader well, and that God may keep their grace. Other letters referenced in her time period in Craft's (2009, 2014) are not quite so lavish in praise. It may be that Bathory was trying to charm others into believing she cared for them. However, this is purely speculative.
ITEM 2: GRANDIOSE SENSE OF SELF WORTH: It is evident that the Countess viewed herself highly. She was known to dress extravagantly and after the death of her husband, she went on an extensive shopping sprees (Craft, 2009). Supposedly on the day of her arrest, she was said to have claimed that accusing her of such deeds was ridiculous, she never could have committed such crimes (Craft, 2009). Also, in a letter to a man regarding his attempt to take some of her land she told him that if he were to try he would "find a man in [her], and [she] would be more than a match to him" (Craft, 2014). This kind of threat put her at the status of a man which was greater than her status, even as a noble woman, and could be how the Countess viewed herself on a regular basis.
ITEM 3: NEED FOR STIMULATION/PRONENESS TO BOREDOM: Due to the number of victims, and the accounts of town members repeatedly hearing the torture in her castle, it could be that Erzsebet would pass the time torturing her servant girls. However, this is purely speculative, and other instances seem to show that she was not prone to boredom in that she read, traveled, and engaged socially often.
ITEM 4: PATHOLOGICAL LYING: The Countess easily lied about the death of several of her first victims, attributing their deaths to cholera, despite there being so many. She also made sure the coffins were sealed shut permanently so that no one could see if cholera had been the cause of death. Furthermore, the Countess made quite an interesting claim to explain the death of the noble girls in her so-called finishing school: "one of the girls had murdered all the rest because of her greed for their jewelry. The child later committed suicide when Erzsebet's servants discovered what she had done" (Craft, 2009).
ITEM 5: CONNING/MANIPULATIVE: It is unknown whether or not Erzsebet had told her accomplices to manipulate the peasant girls they lured to the castle with false promises, or if the accomplices had come to this idea on their own. Either way, Erzsebet was known to use her name and status to overpower others. For example, when a Priest called her out on the rumors of her heinous crimes, she threatened him with her and her husband's reputation.
ITEM 6: LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT: There is not enough evidence to determine if Erzsebet felt guilt or remorse over the crimes she committed.
ITEM 7: SHALLOW AFFECT: This is difficult to rate, given the time of Erzsebet's life. Nobility were supposed to act stoic and neutral in day to day society. Furthermore, Erzsebet was prone to rage, which could mean she deeply felt this anger and so the majority of her crimes were reactive rather than predatory.
ITEM 8: CALLOUS/LACK OF EMPATHY: There is not enough hard evidence, but it could be speculated due to rumor that Erzsebet was callous and cruel toward her victims as she tortured them. She was reported to call them "Whores" and had supposedly told them that if they wanted to stop they pain they could remove the needles, but if the victims tried, they would be punished severely (Craft, 2009). Otherwise, not enough is known about her interpersonal behaviors outside of hearsay to say for sure if she lacked empathy.
ITEM 9: PARASITIC LIFESTYLE: The argument could be made that because Erzsebet had received her wealth through inheritance, this item does not fully apply to her. Because she was nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries, and also in charge of her estates, it may be that a parasitic lifestyle was not possible for her status. Also, she did have to diplomatically oversee adversities within her surrounding towns, as she was the nearest nobility for the townsfolk.
ITEM 10: POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS: It is evident that Erzsebet had poor behavioral controls. Often, while presenting to the public as a respectable and serene noble woman, she would often go into a wrathful rage immediately after the public affair had ended and would attack her servants and torture them for hours (Craft, 2009). Furthermore, if a servant had not performed a duty to the Countess's expectations, she would immediately punish them, often to the extreme (Craft, 2009).
ITEM 11: PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR: Given the time period, a woman, particularly a noble woman, would have been considered promiscuous if she was not a virgin before marriage, and if she ever had relations with a man that was not her husband. Nothing is known for sure about Erzsebet's behavior, but given the rumor of her affair before her marriage, she could have been considered promiscuous.
ITEM 12: EARLY BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS: These are evident in Erzsebet's childhood "fits of rage" (Craft, 2009) but can also be attributed to a biological condition from being inbred, such as her epilepsy and migraines. Otherwise, there appears to be no knowledge of her day to day behavior as a child.
ITEM 13: LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS: This is not relevant to the Countess because given her stance as an aristocrat, her future was already set for her.
ITEM 14: IMPULSIVE: Based on the spending patterns despite having the funds after Ferenc's death, and the continual replacement of her victims, and how quickly many of her victims were slaughtered, it could be argued that Erzsebet was impulsive. However, she
ITEM 15: IRRESPONSIBILITY: Because Erzsebet had many responsibilities regarding her estates and the responsibilities to her townspeople as diplomat civil cases, such as debts owed, she was actually a fairly responsible noble woman. She adhered to her expected social duties of being a wife and mother.
ITEM 16: FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS: Erzsebet Bathory never admitted to participating in the luring, torturing, killing and disposing of the victims, despite the mounting evidence against her, in fact she promoted her innocence. She instead maintained that "any wrongdoing was the sole activity of her servants" (Craft, 2009, p. 134).
ITEM 17: MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS: She never re-married after Ferenc, as this was not customary for women of her time. They were to remain a widow. Furthermore, Ferenc was her only marriage.
ITEM 18: JUVENILE DELINQUENCY: This is not relevant to the case of Erzsebet Bathory as there is not enough evidence from her childhood to support this.
ITEM 19: REVOCATION OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE: She never attempted to leave her imprisonment.
ITEM 20: CRIMINAL VERSATILITY: It seems, based on the variety of torture methods and causes of death, that Erzsebet Bathory could be considered criminally versatile. However, she never committed any sort of economic crime. Perhaps the only crime she committed that could be considered "Fraud" was the claim that she had started a finishing school when in fact she was only luring in victims.
In conclusion, there are enough items on the PCL-R that Erzsebet Bathory's personality and behavior reflected to conclude that she was likely a female psychopath. This is particularly evident in her high scoring in the factor one items that measure personality specifically. Research (Verona & Vitale, 2006) has shown that females are more likely to score higher and in more factor one items than in factor two behavioral items because their psychopathic traits are more evident in interpersonal and personality factors. Furthermore, due to the socialization theory of females, the factor two items are less evident because women are less likely to exhibit aggressive or criminal behavior because these behaviors are more typically masculine. In the case of Erzsebet Bathory, it is important to note that as a child she would go into fits of rage if she was treated differently than her male counter parts (Craft, 2009). In addition, Bathory was a noblewoman and therefore better advantaged than peasant women which allowed for her behavior to continue for so long. However, there were certain gender expectations she had to adhere to, such as being a virgin when she married (relevant to Item 11 of the PCL-R) and acting like a calm, respectable, and gentle Lady in respectful society (relevant to Items 4, 5, 10).
Furthermore, Countess Bathory's behavior can be indicative of other psychopathic tendencies found in cognitive research of psychopaths. For example, when questioned on whether or not she had participated in the torturing and killing of the servant girls, she claimed she was innocent. However, when asked why she allowed her accomplices to commit such atrocities, she claimed she was just as terrified of them (Craft, 2009). This is likely a cognitive distortion in psychopathy known as the "Victim Stance" in which she aligns herself as a victim, rather than a perpetrator (Hiatt & Newman, 2007). This also is relevant for the PCL-R item 16, because Erzsebet also never confessed to these crimes despite the amount of evidence against her.
In addition, based on letters to other men in which she would stand up for herself and her property, Erzsebet was unlikely to allow herself to live in fear of anyone. Also, based on her relationships with other servants and her known fits of rage, it is unlikely that Erzsebet's servants had any sort of leverage against her.
ITEM 1: GLIBNESS/SUPERFICIAL CHARM: Based on Erzsebet Bathory's letters, which typically appeared curt and straight forward (Craft, 2009), they seem to differ from other letters in that she constantly wishes her reader well, and that God may keep their grace. Other letters referenced in her time period in Craft's (2009, 2014) are not quite so lavish in praise. It may be that Bathory was trying to charm others into believing she cared for them. However, this is purely speculative.
ITEM 2: GRANDIOSE SENSE OF SELF WORTH: It is evident that the Countess viewed herself highly. She was known to dress extravagantly and after the death of her husband, she went on an extensive shopping sprees (Craft, 2009). Supposedly on the day of her arrest, she was said to have claimed that accusing her of such deeds was ridiculous, she never could have committed such crimes (Craft, 2009). Also, in a letter to a man regarding his attempt to take some of her land she told him that if he were to try he would "find a man in [her], and [she] would be more than a match to him" (Craft, 2014). This kind of threat put her at the status of a man which was greater than her status, even as a noble woman, and could be how the Countess viewed herself on a regular basis.
ITEM 3: NEED FOR STIMULATION/PRONENESS TO BOREDOM: Due to the number of victims, and the accounts of town members repeatedly hearing the torture in her castle, it could be that Erzsebet would pass the time torturing her servant girls. However, this is purely speculative, and other instances seem to show that she was not prone to boredom in that she read, traveled, and engaged socially often.
ITEM 4: PATHOLOGICAL LYING: The Countess easily lied about the death of several of her first victims, attributing their deaths to cholera, despite there being so many. She also made sure the coffins were sealed shut permanently so that no one could see if cholera had been the cause of death. Furthermore, the Countess made quite an interesting claim to explain the death of the noble girls in her so-called finishing school: "one of the girls had murdered all the rest because of her greed for their jewelry. The child later committed suicide when Erzsebet's servants discovered what she had done" (Craft, 2009).
ITEM 5: CONNING/MANIPULATIVE: It is unknown whether or not Erzsebet had told her accomplices to manipulate the peasant girls they lured to the castle with false promises, or if the accomplices had come to this idea on their own. Either way, Erzsebet was known to use her name and status to overpower others. For example, when a Priest called her out on the rumors of her heinous crimes, she threatened him with her and her husband's reputation.
ITEM 6: LACK OF REMORSE OR GUILT: There is not enough evidence to determine if Erzsebet felt guilt or remorse over the crimes she committed.
ITEM 7: SHALLOW AFFECT: This is difficult to rate, given the time of Erzsebet's life. Nobility were supposed to act stoic and neutral in day to day society. Furthermore, Erzsebet was prone to rage, which could mean she deeply felt this anger and so the majority of her crimes were reactive rather than predatory.
ITEM 8: CALLOUS/LACK OF EMPATHY: There is not enough hard evidence, but it could be speculated due to rumor that Erzsebet was callous and cruel toward her victims as she tortured them. She was reported to call them "Whores" and had supposedly told them that if they wanted to stop they pain they could remove the needles, but if the victims tried, they would be punished severely (Craft, 2009). Otherwise, not enough is known about her interpersonal behaviors outside of hearsay to say for sure if she lacked empathy.
ITEM 9: PARASITIC LIFESTYLE: The argument could be made that because Erzsebet had received her wealth through inheritance, this item does not fully apply to her. Because she was nobility in the 16th and 17th centuries, and also in charge of her estates, it may be that a parasitic lifestyle was not possible for her status. Also, she did have to diplomatically oversee adversities within her surrounding towns, as she was the nearest nobility for the townsfolk.
ITEM 10: POOR BEHAVIORAL CONTROLS: It is evident that Erzsebet had poor behavioral controls. Often, while presenting to the public as a respectable and serene noble woman, she would often go into a wrathful rage immediately after the public affair had ended and would attack her servants and torture them for hours (Craft, 2009). Furthermore, if a servant had not performed a duty to the Countess's expectations, she would immediately punish them, often to the extreme (Craft, 2009).
ITEM 11: PROMISCUOUS SEXUAL BEHAVIOR: Given the time period, a woman, particularly a noble woman, would have been considered promiscuous if she was not a virgin before marriage, and if she ever had relations with a man that was not her husband. Nothing is known for sure about Erzsebet's behavior, but given the rumor of her affair before her marriage, she could have been considered promiscuous.
ITEM 12: EARLY BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS: These are evident in Erzsebet's childhood "fits of rage" (Craft, 2009) but can also be attributed to a biological condition from being inbred, such as her epilepsy and migraines. Otherwise, there appears to be no knowledge of her day to day behavior as a child.
ITEM 13: LACK OF REALISTIC, LONG-TERM GOALS: This is not relevant to the Countess because given her stance as an aristocrat, her future was already set for her.
ITEM 14: IMPULSIVE: Based on the spending patterns despite having the funds after Ferenc's death, and the continual replacement of her victims, and how quickly many of her victims were slaughtered, it could be argued that Erzsebet was impulsive. However, she
ITEM 15: IRRESPONSIBILITY: Because Erzsebet had many responsibilities regarding her estates and the responsibilities to her townspeople as diplomat civil cases, such as debts owed, she was actually a fairly responsible noble woman. She adhered to her expected social duties of being a wife and mother.
ITEM 16: FAILURE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OWN ACTIONS: Erzsebet Bathory never admitted to participating in the luring, torturing, killing and disposing of the victims, despite the mounting evidence against her, in fact she promoted her innocence. She instead maintained that "any wrongdoing was the sole activity of her servants" (Craft, 2009, p. 134).
ITEM 17: MANY SHORT-TERM MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS: She never re-married after Ferenc, as this was not customary for women of her time. They were to remain a widow. Furthermore, Ferenc was her only marriage.
ITEM 18: JUVENILE DELINQUENCY: This is not relevant to the case of Erzsebet Bathory as there is not enough evidence from her childhood to support this.
ITEM 19: REVOCATION OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE: She never attempted to leave her imprisonment.
ITEM 20: CRIMINAL VERSATILITY: It seems, based on the variety of torture methods and causes of death, that Erzsebet Bathory could be considered criminally versatile. However, she never committed any sort of economic crime. Perhaps the only crime she committed that could be considered "Fraud" was the claim that she had started a finishing school when in fact she was only luring in victims.
In conclusion, there are enough items on the PCL-R that Erzsebet Bathory's personality and behavior reflected to conclude that she was likely a female psychopath. This is particularly evident in her high scoring in the factor one items that measure personality specifically. Research (Verona & Vitale, 2006) has shown that females are more likely to score higher and in more factor one items than in factor two behavioral items because their psychopathic traits are more evident in interpersonal and personality factors. Furthermore, due to the socialization theory of females, the factor two items are less evident because women are less likely to exhibit aggressive or criminal behavior because these behaviors are more typically masculine. In the case of Erzsebet Bathory, it is important to note that as a child she would go into fits of rage if she was treated differently than her male counter parts (Craft, 2009). In addition, Bathory was a noblewoman and therefore better advantaged than peasant women which allowed for her behavior to continue for so long. However, there were certain gender expectations she had to adhere to, such as being a virgin when she married (relevant to Item 11 of the PCL-R) and acting like a calm, respectable, and gentle Lady in respectful society (relevant to Items 4, 5, 10).
Furthermore, Countess Bathory's behavior can be indicative of other psychopathic tendencies found in cognitive research of psychopaths. For example, when questioned on whether or not she had participated in the torturing and killing of the servant girls, she claimed she was innocent. However, when asked why she allowed her accomplices to commit such atrocities, she claimed she was just as terrified of them (Craft, 2009). This is likely a cognitive distortion in psychopathy known as the "Victim Stance" in which she aligns herself as a victim, rather than a perpetrator (Hiatt & Newman, 2007). This also is relevant for the PCL-R item 16, because Erzsebet also never confessed to these crimes despite the amount of evidence against her.
In addition, based on letters to other men in which she would stand up for herself and her property, Erzsebet was unlikely to allow herself to live in fear of anyone. Also, based on her relationships with other servants and her known fits of rage, it is unlikely that Erzsebet's servants had any sort of leverage against her.
Media, Myths, and Erzsebet Bathory
Over the years since Erzsebet Bathory's notorious crimes, the rumors circulating the actual events naturally escalated. This is in fact not uncommon for terrible, murderous acts committed in Medieval and Renaissance eras. According to Hickey (2002), "some of the early European serial killers were thought to have been vampires or other “creatures of the night” when in reality were nothing more than depraved murderers (pg. 40). Simply, European killers of this era were often nobility and their number of victims typically achieved such high numbers because as nobility they were able to get away with their crimes for very long periods of time (Segrave, 1992). As with Erzsebet Bathory, she was a very notorious, well-established aristocrat who was considered by the clergy and other nobles to be a kind, generous woman who acted like a proper Lady (Craft, 2009).
However, the peasants and working class living in the towns around her expansive properties began to notice the strange occurrences: disappearing girls, cries of despair and anguish from her property, and the rate of coffins and dead girls leaving her property with the cause of deaths labeled as disease, natural, or unknown (Craft, 2009). Naturally, rumors began to spread and given the religious aspects of society at these times, dark, demonic rumors were likely included. However, with time, these rumors and myths (particularly after the Countess's death) became known as fact.
According to myth, the start of Bathory's killing spree was actually based in this almost fairy-tale like gruesome account:
“A servant who was brushing Bathory’s hair caused her mistress some discomfort by accidentally pulling too hard. Elizabeth slapped the servant and drew blood, some of which landed on Elizabeth’s arm. Servants wiped it off, but Bathory was convinced that spot on her arm was left paler and more translucent- signs of beauty in those days- than the surrounding area. After that incident, Bathory took to bathing regularly in blood.” (Segrave, 1992, p.20)
In reality, Bathory began killing around the age of 20, likely too early to care about her beauty as she was considered a very beautiful woman of her time. Furthermore, the amount of blood from Bathory's victims is attributed the brutal torture she would inflict. One of her accomplices, Ilona Jo, claimed that "[Bathory] threw the girls to the ground naked and beat them so violently that one could scoop handfuls of blood from her bed" (Craft, 2009). If this is truly the case, Erzsebet Bathory clearly was not taking much care into conserving the blood she spilled in order to bathe in it. The bathing in blood myth likely contributed to the myth of the Countess being a vampire and a Satan worshiper.
Perhaps these supernatural explanations for the Countess's extensive, horrifying, and often unbelievable crimes, provides a comfortable distance between the population and her. With this distance, it is almost easier to believe that she couldn't have been human because of the horrific nature of her crimes. This is similar to the theories behind psychopathy and modern media perceptions of psychopathy and 'evil.' Having a serial killer appear more inhuman is easier to accept than accepting that a human, an individual with a heart that isn't so different from a normal person, is capable of such atrocities. There could also be gender under currents in the depictions of Erzsebet Bathory as a vampire, lesbian, or witchcraft practitioner. Due to the era, it is difficult to conceptualize of a male murderer, but a female murderer, particularly one leading a group of female killers, would have been unheard of.
However, the peasants and working class living in the towns around her expansive properties began to notice the strange occurrences: disappearing girls, cries of despair and anguish from her property, and the rate of coffins and dead girls leaving her property with the cause of deaths labeled as disease, natural, or unknown (Craft, 2009). Naturally, rumors began to spread and given the religious aspects of society at these times, dark, demonic rumors were likely included. However, with time, these rumors and myths (particularly after the Countess's death) became known as fact.
According to myth, the start of Bathory's killing spree was actually based in this almost fairy-tale like gruesome account:
“A servant who was brushing Bathory’s hair caused her mistress some discomfort by accidentally pulling too hard. Elizabeth slapped the servant and drew blood, some of which landed on Elizabeth’s arm. Servants wiped it off, but Bathory was convinced that spot on her arm was left paler and more translucent- signs of beauty in those days- than the surrounding area. After that incident, Bathory took to bathing regularly in blood.” (Segrave, 1992, p.20)
In reality, Bathory began killing around the age of 20, likely too early to care about her beauty as she was considered a very beautiful woman of her time. Furthermore, the amount of blood from Bathory's victims is attributed the brutal torture she would inflict. One of her accomplices, Ilona Jo, claimed that "[Bathory] threw the girls to the ground naked and beat them so violently that one could scoop handfuls of blood from her bed" (Craft, 2009). If this is truly the case, Erzsebet Bathory clearly was not taking much care into conserving the blood she spilled in order to bathe in it. The bathing in blood myth likely contributed to the myth of the Countess being a vampire and a Satan worshiper.
Perhaps these supernatural explanations for the Countess's extensive, horrifying, and often unbelievable crimes, provides a comfortable distance between the population and her. With this distance, it is almost easier to believe that she couldn't have been human because of the horrific nature of her crimes. This is similar to the theories behind psychopathy and modern media perceptions of psychopathy and 'evil.' Having a serial killer appear more inhuman is easier to accept than accepting that a human, an individual with a heart that isn't so different from a normal person, is capable of such atrocities. There could also be gender under currents in the depictions of Erzsebet Bathory as a vampire, lesbian, or witchcraft practitioner. Due to the era, it is difficult to conceptualize of a male murderer, but a female murderer, particularly one leading a group of female killers, would have been unheard of.
The modern depictions of the Countess herself continue to attribute supernatural forces to her crimes. For example, they continue to describe her as a "Satan-worshiping, lesbian, witch" (Craft, 2009). For example, in the 2006 film Stay Alive, Erzsebet Bathory is theatrically depicted as a supernatural force (curse, haunting, ghost, demon, of some sort) that comes alive within a video game, becomes corporeal, and kills all individuals who participated in playing the game. As seen in the screenshot to the right, she is illustrated as demonic, and rather, inhuman, and therefore distant from her victims.
Due to the fact that the myths and rumors surrounding Bathory have escalated so greatly, many of the actual facts about her case have been lost and even accredited researchers have perpetuated these rumors and circulated them as fact without offering support.
Due to the fact that the myths and rumors surrounding Bathory have escalated so greatly, many of the actual facts about her case have been lost and even accredited researchers have perpetuated these rumors and circulated them as fact without offering support.
For example, Segrave (1992) writes quite broadly about the myths surrounding Bathory. The rumors of witchcraft, lesbianism, and Satanism, were likely fabricated through simple word of mouth as people tried to explain the atrocities she committed. Segrave (1992) writes that “Elizabeth’s first order of business was to set up a torture chamber in a convenient spot” (p. 21). However, based on the more thorough investigation into Elizabeth Bathory’s past from Craft (2012), it is likely Elizabeth primarily tortured in the Castle Csejthe and had sanctioned off only one room for torture there. Witness accounts claim that Bathory did torture and murder wherever she went, but it was not always her first order of business (Craft, 2009).
Furthermore, the claims made by Segrave (1992) only further perpetuate the standing rumors surrounding Elizabeth Bathory and keep audiences from the truth. He illustrates her in light of some evil queen, as in fairy tales like Snow White, by spending “hours admiring herself in front of a mirror” (p. 21) who was then walled up in her castle like a queen in a tower, never to be seen or heard from again (Segrave, 1992). For example, the 2005 film The Brothers Grimm depicts a female antagonist highly similar to Erzsebet Bathory rumors and the Grimm fairy tales evil queens. In particular, the woman in this film is known to obsess over her beauty to the point of destroying others, and using the youth of young, virgin girls to maintain her beauty.
This account of Elizabeth Bathory simply illustrates how rumors can be powerful things. Many of Segrave’s (1992) sources were ones known to have accepted the rumors of Elizabeth’s blood baths and witch-lesbian ways such as The Bloody Countess by Valentine Penrose and Dracula Was a Woman by Raymond McNally. Both of these are interesting novels, but they both accepted the rumors surrounding Elizabeth, not necessarily the facts of her case (Craft, 2009).
Furthermore, the claims made by Segrave (1992) only further perpetuate the standing rumors surrounding Elizabeth Bathory and keep audiences from the truth. He illustrates her in light of some evil queen, as in fairy tales like Snow White, by spending “hours admiring herself in front of a mirror” (p. 21) who was then walled up in her castle like a queen in a tower, never to be seen or heard from again (Segrave, 1992). For example, the 2005 film The Brothers Grimm depicts a female antagonist highly similar to Erzsebet Bathory rumors and the Grimm fairy tales evil queens. In particular, the woman in this film is known to obsess over her beauty to the point of destroying others, and using the youth of young, virgin girls to maintain her beauty.
This account of Elizabeth Bathory simply illustrates how rumors can be powerful things. Many of Segrave’s (1992) sources were ones known to have accepted the rumors of Elizabeth’s blood baths and witch-lesbian ways such as The Bloody Countess by Valentine Penrose and Dracula Was a Woman by Raymond McNally. Both of these are interesting novels, but they both accepted the rumors surrounding Elizabeth, not necessarily the facts of her case (Craft, 2009).
References
Craft, K. L. (2009). Infamous lady: The true story of Countess Erzebet Bathory. (1st ed.). United States: Kimberly L. Craft, Esq.
Craft, K. L. (2011). The private letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory. (1st ed.). United States: Kimberly L. Craft, Esq.
Hare, R. D. (1993). Without conscience. New York: The Guilford Press.
Hiatt, K. D., & Newman, J. P. (2007). Understanding psychopathy: The cognitive side. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of PsychopathyNew York: The Guilford Press.
Hickey, E. W. (2002). Serial murderers and their victims. (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, Inc.
Kelleher, M. D., & Kelleher, C. L. (1998). Murder most rare: The female serial killer. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Segrave, K. (1994). Women serial and mass murderers: A worldwide reference, 1580 through 1990. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc.
Raine, A. (2013). The anatomy of violence. New York: Pantheon Books.
Verona, E., & Vitale, J. (2007). Psychopathy in women: Assessment, manifestations, and etiology. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of Psychopathy New York: The Guilford Press.
Craft, K. L. (2011). The private letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory. (1st ed.). United States: Kimberly L. Craft, Esq.
Hare, R. D. (1993). Without conscience. New York: The Guilford Press.
Hiatt, K. D., & Newman, J. P. (2007). Understanding psychopathy: The cognitive side. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of PsychopathyNew York: The Guilford Press.
Hickey, E. W. (2002). Serial murderers and their victims. (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, Inc.
Kelleher, M. D., & Kelleher, C. L. (1998). Murder most rare: The female serial killer. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Segrave, K. (1994). Women serial and mass murderers: A worldwide reference, 1580 through 1990. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc.
Raine, A. (2013). The anatomy of violence. New York: Pantheon Books.
Verona, E., & Vitale, J. (2007). Psychopathy in women: Assessment, manifestations, and etiology. In C. J. Patrick (Ed.), Handbook of Psychopathy New York: The Guilford Press.