The atrocities of Elizabeth have made her as well known as Vlad Dracula. She has been called on of
the "first true vampires" History credits her cruelty as horrible, and her torture immense. From scissors
to pins and Iron Maidens, Elizabeth seemed to be very specific, and was very versitile in her torturing of
over 650 young virgins, some of which were of noble blood.
The tale of Elizabeth's first taste of blood was when her husband, Count Ferencz Nadasy, was away at war. It has changed over the centuries, but the premise remains
basically the same. While having her hair brushed by a servant, the girl accidentally pulled her hair. The
Countess swiveled around and smacked the girl so hard that she drew blood. The blood splashed on
Elizabeth's face, and when she went to clean it off, she saw in the mirror that her skin looked younger
than it had before. In order to keep young, she bathed in the blood of young virgins, whose skin and
blood was still young and fresh. Eventually, it is said, she did start to drink the blood of her victims..
After years of this continuous torture of peasants, one of Liz' cohorts suggested she make a transition
to the blood of Noblewomen.
Soon, after running out of burial space, Liz had several bodies clumsily
tossed in the nearby forest, where they were found, and questions about Castle Cachtice were aroused.
Elizabeth was caught and brought to justice. She was given two trials. The first trial, on January 2, 1611
at Bytca, 17 testimonies, even those of her accomplices were taken. The second trial, on Jan. 7, 1611.
Liz was not allowed to attend either of her trials for some reason, maybe to protect the family name.
Three of her accomplices were sentenced to deaths and mutilations. Helena Jo and Dorka were
sentenced to "have all the fingernails of their hands torn out by the public executioner with a pair of
red-hot pincers...and then thrown alive onto a fire." Ficzko was sentenced to an equally gruesome fate.
"decapitation...and then to be burned alive with the others.
Elizabeth, never being convicted of any crimes, was sentenced to Castle Arrest by her cousin Steven, and was walled in the bedroom of her
castle. Liz was found dead on her floor in 1614 by a gaurd who was curious as to her appearance and
peaked inside through an air slot.
She was 54 when she died, and soon her family power died out as
well.
Side Notes:
It might interest that there is a Bathory Movie in progress starring Lorelei Lanford, Frank Langella, and possibly Robert Downey jr.