The Crimes of Erzsebet Bathory
Erzsebet Bathory had many estates, but it appears that her favorite castle and estate was that of Castle Csejthe, located in Carpathian Mountains in what is today western Slovakia (Craft, 2009). She seemed to have permanently relocated here after Ferenc's death, and kept a small staff with her, including her known accomplices
Anna Darvolya, Janos Ujvary (Ficzko), Ilona (Helena) Jo, and Dorottya Szentes, and Katalin Benenczky. She also had a head servant by the name of Benedikt Deseo, whose eventual testimony against her due to his personal witnessing of her crimes, would be detrimental to her fate.
Erzsebet's number of victims is actually unknown. The numbers range from 30 to 650 dead young women. However, due to the testimonies and number of bodies recorded in cemeteries (many of the coffins likely filled with more than one victim), it is more than likely that Erzsebet Bathory's victims easily reach 300-650 (Craft, 2009). How is it possible for her to have killed so many young women without being caught? This is particularly due to the time period, in which aristocrats, like Bathory, were left to their business and never questioned (Craft, 2009; Hickey, 2002). Furthermore, when questioned, Erzsebet easily attributed the girls death to cholera, a disease most feared in the time for its contagiousness and deathly outcomes (Craft, 2009). Other deaths were often explained as accidents, disease, and other natural causes that were believable given the time and state of hygiene and health (Craft, 2009).
It is known based on eye witness accounts, confessions of accomplices, and the state of some of the bodies when they were found, that the methods of Erzsebet and her accomplices killing were varied. However, all were ruthless and resulted in the mutilation and horrific deaths of at least hundreds of young girls. From about 1585-1609, Erzsebet was likely killing servant girls. She only targeted peasant girls in these years, and given the displacement of families due to raids from the Turks, many young women who had lost fathers, brothers, and other caregivers in the raids were left wandering the towns surrounding Erzsebet's estate and were likely to even be noticed were missing (Craft, 2009). With the help of Erzsebet's accomplices, the girls were solicited in the towns with promises for work under the Ladyship, marriage, and other bribes that any woman struggling in the difficult times would have happily taken (Craft, 2009).
Erzsebet appeared to only kill young, virgin women however. The reason for this particular target varies. Some have speculated that Erzsebet's hate for young women is attributed to the hate of her own femininity or is reflected in the brutal beatings she herself likely received as a child for misbehaving or for not completing her work (sewing, cooking, etc) appropriately (Craft, 2009). According to myth, she targeted virgins because she believed that bathing in their blood would restore her youth, but this is just a myth because if she had been using their blood to bathe in, witness testimonies would likely have mentioned it and she would have been more careful about saving the blood of her victims (Craft, 2009).
Whatever her reasons, Erzsebet tortured these poor girls, often to death. Craft (2009) describes the methods through testimonies and allegations of witnesses and accomplices:
"But what was perhaps most shocking were allegations of exactly how these girls were being tortured and killed: washed with and made to roll on the floor in nettles; pins stuck into their lips and under the finger nails; needles jammed into their shoulders and arms; floggings on the breasts while held in chains; their hands, arms, and abdomens scorched with burning irons; chunks of skin wrenched from their backs with pliers; noses, lips, tongues and fingers pierced with needles, mouths forced shut with clamps; flesh cut out of the buttocks and from between the shoulders, and then cooked and served to them; flesh and private parts singed with candles; knives plunged into arms and feet; hands crushed and maimed; fingers cut off with scissors and sheers; red-hot pokers shoved up vaginas; bodies beaten to death with cudgels; lashings until flesh fell from the bones; and girls made to stand naked in the cold, doused with water, or submerged up to the neck in icy rivers" (p. 113).
In addition, many of the victims were also starved. It was rare for Erzsebet to travel without any servants and so these atrocities occurred whenever, and wherever the Countess was. It is particularly interesting to note that the worst of these murders, and often the greatest number in a day, occurred after the Countess had to appear in public and present herself as a stoic, respectable lady (Craft, 2009).
From the testimonies of her accomplices, Erzsebet learned many of these ways of torture from her husband Ferenc and from her closest servant Anna Darvolya, who was said by the others to be the cruelest of the team and also the one most well versed in torture, though little else is known about this woman. The accomplices' confessions provide the most detail into the activities of Erzsebet Bathory because the Countess herself never admitted to anything, even stated that she allowed the accomplices to do all of the killing because she herself was afraid of them (Craft, 2009).
Eventually the rumors of the townsfolk spread and no one would allow their young daughters, sisters, or nieces to work for the Countess. It became difficult for the Countess to find victims and her accomplices had to begin travelling to outer cities and towns in search for more victims (Craft, 2009). It may be due to this, that Erzsebet began to seek noble girls. In 1609, Erzsebet opened an "academy of etiquette, a sort of finishing school for high-born young women called Gynaecaeum (Latin for "Women's Residence")" (Craft, 2009, p. 107). This academy would ultimately be the downfall of Erzsebet Bathory's bloody reign. Many nobles agreed to send their young females here because they were attracted to Erzsebet's social status. But, when their daughters, sisters, or nieces began to disappear or they were forbidden to see them, complaints began to reach King Matyas and Gyorgy Thurzo. Also, it was around this time that Erzsebet's usual careful care of the disposal of bodies became slack, and soon bodies were found around her property and were found sloppily buried around the country side. Furthermore, her accomplices were at times even seen by guests to the castle beating girls, and the girls were now being seen with evidence of torture on their bodies and faces (Craft, 2009).
The King sent for an investigation of the Countess. With Gyorgy Thurzo leading the investigation, he was able to acquire evidence from townspeople, other nobles, and even a Reverend who had begun to keep a record of the number of bodies Erzsebet had requested be buried in his cemetery, that pointed directly to Erzsebet Bathory. He visited her himself on an occasion before her arrest, in which she appeared normal and composed, but likely killed some of her servants the moment he departed (Craft, 2009). On another visit from Thurzo and other authorities, in an attempt to investigate her themselves, Erzsebet was said to have attempted to poison them, but failed (Craft, 2009).
Finally, on December 29th 1610, Erzsebet Bathory was arrested by Thurzo and his men. When they came into the castle to seize her and her accomplices, they were met with the bodies of servant girls and few survivors remained in the palace that were able to be saved. Erzsebet Bathory was put into confinement immediately afterward, while her accomplices were taken to have their confessions tortured out of them (a common practice in the 17th century).
Anna Darvolya, Janos Ujvary (Ficzko), Ilona (Helena) Jo, and Dorottya Szentes, and Katalin Benenczky. She also had a head servant by the name of Benedikt Deseo, whose eventual testimony against her due to his personal witnessing of her crimes, would be detrimental to her fate.
Erzsebet's number of victims is actually unknown. The numbers range from 30 to 650 dead young women. However, due to the testimonies and number of bodies recorded in cemeteries (many of the coffins likely filled with more than one victim), it is more than likely that Erzsebet Bathory's victims easily reach 300-650 (Craft, 2009). How is it possible for her to have killed so many young women without being caught? This is particularly due to the time period, in which aristocrats, like Bathory, were left to their business and never questioned (Craft, 2009; Hickey, 2002). Furthermore, when questioned, Erzsebet easily attributed the girls death to cholera, a disease most feared in the time for its contagiousness and deathly outcomes (Craft, 2009). Other deaths were often explained as accidents, disease, and other natural causes that were believable given the time and state of hygiene and health (Craft, 2009).
It is known based on eye witness accounts, confessions of accomplices, and the state of some of the bodies when they were found, that the methods of Erzsebet and her accomplices killing were varied. However, all were ruthless and resulted in the mutilation and horrific deaths of at least hundreds of young girls. From about 1585-1609, Erzsebet was likely killing servant girls. She only targeted peasant girls in these years, and given the displacement of families due to raids from the Turks, many young women who had lost fathers, brothers, and other caregivers in the raids were left wandering the towns surrounding Erzsebet's estate and were likely to even be noticed were missing (Craft, 2009). With the help of Erzsebet's accomplices, the girls were solicited in the towns with promises for work under the Ladyship, marriage, and other bribes that any woman struggling in the difficult times would have happily taken (Craft, 2009).
Erzsebet appeared to only kill young, virgin women however. The reason for this particular target varies. Some have speculated that Erzsebet's hate for young women is attributed to the hate of her own femininity or is reflected in the brutal beatings she herself likely received as a child for misbehaving or for not completing her work (sewing, cooking, etc) appropriately (Craft, 2009). According to myth, she targeted virgins because she believed that bathing in their blood would restore her youth, but this is just a myth because if she had been using their blood to bathe in, witness testimonies would likely have mentioned it and she would have been more careful about saving the blood of her victims (Craft, 2009).
Whatever her reasons, Erzsebet tortured these poor girls, often to death. Craft (2009) describes the methods through testimonies and allegations of witnesses and accomplices:
"But what was perhaps most shocking were allegations of exactly how these girls were being tortured and killed: washed with and made to roll on the floor in nettles; pins stuck into their lips and under the finger nails; needles jammed into their shoulders and arms; floggings on the breasts while held in chains; their hands, arms, and abdomens scorched with burning irons; chunks of skin wrenched from their backs with pliers; noses, lips, tongues and fingers pierced with needles, mouths forced shut with clamps; flesh cut out of the buttocks and from between the shoulders, and then cooked and served to them; flesh and private parts singed with candles; knives plunged into arms and feet; hands crushed and maimed; fingers cut off with scissors and sheers; red-hot pokers shoved up vaginas; bodies beaten to death with cudgels; lashings until flesh fell from the bones; and girls made to stand naked in the cold, doused with water, or submerged up to the neck in icy rivers" (p. 113).
In addition, many of the victims were also starved. It was rare for Erzsebet to travel without any servants and so these atrocities occurred whenever, and wherever the Countess was. It is particularly interesting to note that the worst of these murders, and often the greatest number in a day, occurred after the Countess had to appear in public and present herself as a stoic, respectable lady (Craft, 2009).
From the testimonies of her accomplices, Erzsebet learned many of these ways of torture from her husband Ferenc and from her closest servant Anna Darvolya, who was said by the others to be the cruelest of the team and also the one most well versed in torture, though little else is known about this woman. The accomplices' confessions provide the most detail into the activities of Erzsebet Bathory because the Countess herself never admitted to anything, even stated that she allowed the accomplices to do all of the killing because she herself was afraid of them (Craft, 2009).
Eventually the rumors of the townsfolk spread and no one would allow their young daughters, sisters, or nieces to work for the Countess. It became difficult for the Countess to find victims and her accomplices had to begin travelling to outer cities and towns in search for more victims (Craft, 2009). It may be due to this, that Erzsebet began to seek noble girls. In 1609, Erzsebet opened an "academy of etiquette, a sort of finishing school for high-born young women called Gynaecaeum (Latin for "Women's Residence")" (Craft, 2009, p. 107). This academy would ultimately be the downfall of Erzsebet Bathory's bloody reign. Many nobles agreed to send their young females here because they were attracted to Erzsebet's social status. But, when their daughters, sisters, or nieces began to disappear or they were forbidden to see them, complaints began to reach King Matyas and Gyorgy Thurzo. Also, it was around this time that Erzsebet's usual careful care of the disposal of bodies became slack, and soon bodies were found around her property and were found sloppily buried around the country side. Furthermore, her accomplices were at times even seen by guests to the castle beating girls, and the girls were now being seen with evidence of torture on their bodies and faces (Craft, 2009).
The King sent for an investigation of the Countess. With Gyorgy Thurzo leading the investigation, he was able to acquire evidence from townspeople, other nobles, and even a Reverend who had begun to keep a record of the number of bodies Erzsebet had requested be buried in his cemetery, that pointed directly to Erzsebet Bathory. He visited her himself on an occasion before her arrest, in which she appeared normal and composed, but likely killed some of her servants the moment he departed (Craft, 2009). On another visit from Thurzo and other authorities, in an attempt to investigate her themselves, Erzsebet was said to have attempted to poison them, but failed (Craft, 2009).
Finally, on December 29th 1610, Erzsebet Bathory was arrested by Thurzo and his men. When they came into the castle to seize her and her accomplices, they were met with the bodies of servant girls and few survivors remained in the palace that were able to be saved. Erzsebet Bathory was put into confinement immediately afterward, while her accomplices were taken to have their confessions tortured out of them (a common practice in the 17th century).
The Accomplices of Erzsebet Bathory
Ferenc Nadasdy: Perhaps the most shocking accomplice to Erzsebet's accomplices was her own husband. Even more shocking is the knowledge that he had taught her some of the more bizarre methods of torture that would keep the victims alive for longer (Craft, 2009). Due to some of the allegedly "Turkish" forms of torture that Ferenc likely taught Erzsebet and Anna Darvolya became apparent on the victim's bodies. It is known that Ferenc also enjoyed punishing and torturing servants, and was known on the battlefield to "dance with the dead bodies of his enemies and throw their severed heads into the air or play catch and kickball with them" (Craft, 2009, p. 64). However cruel Ferenc stopped short of killing his servants, and ordered Erzsebet to do the same. This explains her rapid escalation in killings after his death.
Anna Darvolya: Anna was a Croatian woman who served the Countess between 1601-1609 until she likely died of a stroke before the Countess and her accomplices were apprehended (Craft, 2009). However, she may have served the Countess before 1601. She was described by others as "a wild beast in female form" (Craft, 2009, p. 62) and had likely taught Erzsebet and the other accomplices bestial ways of torture, including beatings that lasted for hours. She also served the Countess as an adviser and may have been the one to convince the Countess to target peasant girls to avoid capture for so long (Craft, 2009). Unfortunately, Anna died before the Countess and the others were arrested and so we will never know her full involvement, and since she was known to be closest to the Countess, she likely knew the exact number of victims.
Janos Ujvary (Ficzko): Known commonly as Ficzko, this young man served the Countess for at least sixteen years since he was brought to the Lady's court to work as a servant by force. According to rumor, the Lady was particularly fond of him (Craft, 2009). He admitted to knowing of thirty seven girls that had been killed while he worked under the Lady, and while he did at times participate in the torture, his primary responsibility was to dispose of bodies and lure new victims into the castle (Craft, 2009). However, he did testify that the Countess did participate in the tortures and killings often, thus contradicting her claim of innocence.
Illona Jo: Illona served as a nursemaid for the Countess's children, and so had been with the Countess for decades. She participated in luring girls to the Lady's court as well as with torturing, and killing, a few herself but she did not know the true number of victims. She describes in extensive detail the things she had witnessed Erzsebet, Anna, Dorottya, and Katalin do to the servant girls. She also participated in hiding and burying the bodies. The most interesting part of her testimony describes the amount of blood that "one could scoop handfuls of blood from [the Countess's] bed, and ashes had to be strewn" (Craft, 2009). This testimony on its own may disprove the myth that the Countess bathed in the blood of her victims, as these 'handfuls of blood' were not saved, but merely cleaned up and hidden. She also claimed that the Lady participated in the torture and killing as well.
Dorottya Szentes: This woman served Erzsebet Bathory for only five years but she had been lured to the castle by Illona Jo. She claimed there were only thirty six victims, but having only been with the Countess for five years she likely had not seen more than that. She also participated in luring, torturing, killing, and burying the servant girls.
Katalin Benenczky: Interestingly, Katalin was the only one of the group that did not want to participate in killing and torturing the girls. All of the other accomplices testified that she was "the least cruel" and had to be forced into hurting the servant girls (Craft, 2009, p. 153). She was also known to try and sneak food to the servants, and would be punished herself for showing kindness to them (Craft, 2009). She served the Countess for ten years as a washerwoman and did not know the actual number of victims but claimed that it was at least 50 (Craft, 2009). Primarily, Katalin confessed to burying and hiding the bodies left dead by the others from cruel torture (Craft, 2009).
Others: While the above mentioned were known and directly involved with the apprehension, torture, and murder of hundreds of young girls, many others were involved with Erzsebet's deeds, simply by providing her with their daughters, sisters, or nieces while knowing full well what would happen to their young girls.
Anna Darvolya: Anna was a Croatian woman who served the Countess between 1601-1609 until she likely died of a stroke before the Countess and her accomplices were apprehended (Craft, 2009). However, she may have served the Countess before 1601. She was described by others as "a wild beast in female form" (Craft, 2009, p. 62) and had likely taught Erzsebet and the other accomplices bestial ways of torture, including beatings that lasted for hours. She also served the Countess as an adviser and may have been the one to convince the Countess to target peasant girls to avoid capture for so long (Craft, 2009). Unfortunately, Anna died before the Countess and the others were arrested and so we will never know her full involvement, and since she was known to be closest to the Countess, she likely knew the exact number of victims.
Janos Ujvary (Ficzko): Known commonly as Ficzko, this young man served the Countess for at least sixteen years since he was brought to the Lady's court to work as a servant by force. According to rumor, the Lady was particularly fond of him (Craft, 2009). He admitted to knowing of thirty seven girls that had been killed while he worked under the Lady, and while he did at times participate in the torture, his primary responsibility was to dispose of bodies and lure new victims into the castle (Craft, 2009). However, he did testify that the Countess did participate in the tortures and killings often, thus contradicting her claim of innocence.
Illona Jo: Illona served as a nursemaid for the Countess's children, and so had been with the Countess for decades. She participated in luring girls to the Lady's court as well as with torturing, and killing, a few herself but she did not know the true number of victims. She describes in extensive detail the things she had witnessed Erzsebet, Anna, Dorottya, and Katalin do to the servant girls. She also participated in hiding and burying the bodies. The most interesting part of her testimony describes the amount of blood that "one could scoop handfuls of blood from [the Countess's] bed, and ashes had to be strewn" (Craft, 2009). This testimony on its own may disprove the myth that the Countess bathed in the blood of her victims, as these 'handfuls of blood' were not saved, but merely cleaned up and hidden. She also claimed that the Lady participated in the torture and killing as well.
Dorottya Szentes: This woman served Erzsebet Bathory for only five years but she had been lured to the castle by Illona Jo. She claimed there were only thirty six victims, but having only been with the Countess for five years she likely had not seen more than that. She also participated in luring, torturing, killing, and burying the servant girls.
Katalin Benenczky: Interestingly, Katalin was the only one of the group that did not want to participate in killing and torturing the girls. All of the other accomplices testified that she was "the least cruel" and had to be forced into hurting the servant girls (Craft, 2009, p. 153). She was also known to try and sneak food to the servants, and would be punished herself for showing kindness to them (Craft, 2009). She served the Countess for ten years as a washerwoman and did not know the actual number of victims but claimed that it was at least 50 (Craft, 2009). Primarily, Katalin confessed to burying and hiding the bodies left dead by the others from cruel torture (Craft, 2009).
Others: While the above mentioned were known and directly involved with the apprehension, torture, and murder of hundreds of young girls, many others were involved with Erzsebet's deeds, simply by providing her with their daughters, sisters, or nieces while knowing full well what would happen to their young girls.
Erzsebet Bathory's Sentence and Final Will
Erzsebet Bathory continued to claim her innocence despite the piling evidence made against her. Based on over 300 witness statements, the confessions of her accomplices Ficzko, Illona Jo, Dorottya Szentes, and Katalin Benenczky, testimonies of the few surviving girls, and the testimonies of the men who captured her and saw the mangled bodies of young, virgin, servant girls, it is clear that Erzsebet Bathory was highly involved in these crimes. Not only had she participated in these crimes, she was depicted as one of the most cruel and had kept the killings secret for decades (Craft, 2009).
However, due to the Erzsebet's status as a highly respectable noblewoman, her sentencing remained out of public view. This decision was made by both the prime minister Thurzo and the King Matyas of Hungary. These decisions were based on the following description from Craft (2009) upon the discovery of so many witness accounts:
"These witnesses laid bare the putrid 'dirty laundry' of not only the Countess but also the outwardly illustrious Bathory-Nadasdy families and neighboring nobility, in no uncertain terms. Hungary's beloved war hero, Ferenc Nadasdy, was exposed as a villain who brutalized servants, taught his wife bizarre torturing games, and covered up her murders" (p. 179).
And so even in death, Ferenc's name was protecting Erzsebet. She was spared a public trial due to the likely overwhelming political repercussions of such a name as Erzsebet Bathory having such a black mark from such black deeds. For the sake of future Bathory and Nadasdy generations' reputations, the King and Thurzo determined that Erzsebet be sentenced to life-long imprisonment in her Castle Csejthe. There were rumors that she was walled up in a tower of the castle, never to see the light of day again, but this is unlikely. She was still able to write her final will and testament, leaving all of her assets to her three children and was able to roam the grounds of her castle (Craft, 2009).
Countess Erzsebet Bathory died of natural causes at the impressive age (given the time frame) of fifty-four in 1614. She was found dead the morning of August 22, 1614 (Craft, 2009).
However, due to the Erzsebet's status as a highly respectable noblewoman, her sentencing remained out of public view. This decision was made by both the prime minister Thurzo and the King Matyas of Hungary. These decisions were based on the following description from Craft (2009) upon the discovery of so many witness accounts:
"These witnesses laid bare the putrid 'dirty laundry' of not only the Countess but also the outwardly illustrious Bathory-Nadasdy families and neighboring nobility, in no uncertain terms. Hungary's beloved war hero, Ferenc Nadasdy, was exposed as a villain who brutalized servants, taught his wife bizarre torturing games, and covered up her murders" (p. 179).
And so even in death, Ferenc's name was protecting Erzsebet. She was spared a public trial due to the likely overwhelming political repercussions of such a name as Erzsebet Bathory having such a black mark from such black deeds. For the sake of future Bathory and Nadasdy generations' reputations, the King and Thurzo determined that Erzsebet be sentenced to life-long imprisonment in her Castle Csejthe. There were rumors that she was walled up in a tower of the castle, never to see the light of day again, but this is unlikely. She was still able to write her final will and testament, leaving all of her assets to her three children and was able to roam the grounds of her castle (Craft, 2009).
Countess Erzsebet Bathory died of natural causes at the impressive age (given the time frame) of fifty-four in 1614. She was found dead the morning of August 22, 1614 (Craft, 2009).