Thank you for 2000+

Thanks to those 2000+ viewers who have read this blog. I appreciate it more than you know. I will be posting more information soon about Erzebet and women of her time similarly situated. In this month of haunts and vampires, her story becomes particularly significant. Also, the plight of protestants in Catholic dominated countries also becomes instructive, and those interested may want to read histories of The Holy Inquisitin and The Huguenots. From my own experiences and heritage, I can tell you that many vampire legends began in Eastern Europe after The Great Schism, when the new Catholic supporters fought the traditional Church, now the Greek Orthodox/Eastern Orthodox Church. A good book on the subject is Bishop Timothy Ware's, The Orthodox Church. The combatants fought over who would bury the dead, and spread vampire legends about undead bodies walking the earth if they were not buried by the proper church. Whic church was proper was, of course, part of the controversy and therefore subjective at the time. Thank you, and keep reading. I welcome information from other sites or sources as well. Dr. E

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Haunted Dolls and Dolls of Horror

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Haunted Dolls and Dolls of Horror: Here is a link for an eBay review on buying Haunted Dolls; nope, I'm not kidding. "Tis" the season! There are dolls on eBay and on website...

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: The Peter Headed Huret

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: The Peter Headed Huret: Good Morning! I am looking for any information and photos about the whereaouts of this doll. It was once in the Maureen Popp collection, a...

The Iron Vigin

Elizabeth Bathory http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabeth-bathory.htm Elizabeth Bathory Interesting Facts and information about Elizabeth Bathory in Elizabethan Times Short Biography about the life of Elizabeth Bathory - Lady Dracula Facts and History of Elizabeth Bathory Parallels between Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad Dracula Facts and Brief History of Elizabeth Bathory Elizabethan Times Elizabethan Era Index Elizabeth Bathory Famous Elizabethans - Major Figures & People during Elizabethan Times Short Biography of the life of Elizabeth Bathory - Lady Dracula The following biography information provides basic facts about the life Elizabeth Bathory: Nationality - Hungarian Nickname: The notorious Elizabeth Bathory is also known as Lady Dracula Lifespan - 1560 - 1614 Born: August 7, 1560 in modern-day Slovakia Married: Count Ferencz Nadasdy in 1575 Spent her early married life living in the home of her husband - Nadasdy Castle in Sarvar, Hungary Count Ferencz Nadasdy took Elizabeth Bathory's surname when they married giving her the full title of Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy. Lady Dracula's Castle: Count Ferencz Nadasdy gave his wife the Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy Cachtice Castle in modern Slovakia ( then Hungary) together with the adjoining villages Died: Elizabeth Bathory died August 21, 1614 Family connections of Elizabeth Bathory - Elizabeth Bathory came from one of the wealthiest families in Transylvania. Father was George/Gyorgy and her mother was Anna Bathory. The brother of Elizabeth’s mother was the Polish king Istvan Bathory (1533-1586) and Elizabeth’s nephew Gabriel Bathory was the ruler of Transylvania Children: Elizabeth Bathory had six children although two children died in infancy. the names of her surviving children were: Anastasia Bathory, born out of wedlock 1574 Anna Nadasdy (born c.1585) Katalin (Katherina) Nadasdy (born c.1594) Paul Nadasdy (1598 - 1650) Education - extremely well educated and able to speak several languages Famous for : Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy ( 1560 - 1614 ) is famous as a real historical figure who was reputed to have not only drunk but bathed in the blood of young virgin girls she murdered in order to retain her youth Character of Elizabeth Bathory : Intelligent, ruthless, vain, cruel and sadistic - probably mentally unstable Short Biography, Facts & History about the life of Elizabeth Bathory - Lady Dracula The following are additional facts about the bio, life and history of Elizabeth Bathory: Legend has it that Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy discovered her "secret of eternal youth" when some spots of blood from a beaten servant seemed to 'tighten' her skin. She became obsessed with this notion which gave her a perfect excuse to vent her sadistic streak on local teenage peasant women. Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy was known to torture her victims before bathing in their blood. Her instruments of torture included knives, pincers, needles, razors, red-hot irons and pokers. She is also reputed to have ordered the construction of an iron cage called "Iron Virgin". The "Iron Virgin" was shaped like a woman and fitted with blades, similar to the "Iron Maiden". Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy was believed to have been responsible for the deaths of over 600 peasant women. She was aided in her crimes by servants including Dorka Szentes, Iloona Joo, Johannes Ujuvary, Anna Darvulia and Damien Thorko. So many complaints were made about the Countess that King Mathias of Hungary sent cousin, Lord Palatine George Thurzo to question her. Her accomplices were sentenced to death but Elizabeth's involvement was 'hushed-up' due her her royal connections. She was quietly left to die in her own castle. The windows and doors of her room were sealed by workmen were sealed leaving just a small hath to pass food to her. Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy ( Lady Dracula ) died three and a half years later. Parallels between Elizabeth Bathory and Dracula Parallels have been made between Countess Elizabeth Bathory Nadasdy and Vlad Dracul (Prince Vlad IV) also called Vlad Dracula meaning Son of the Devil. 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. Prince Vlad IV and Elizabeth Bathory both lived in Transylvania and had a real lust for blood - there are several other similarities between these two historical figures... Famous Elizabethans - Elizabeth Bathory - Lady Dracula Some interesting facts and biography information about the History, Life & Times of Elizabeth Bathory. Additional details, facts, history and information about the famous Elizabethans and events in Elizabethan Times can be accessed via the Elizabethan Era Sitemap. Elizabeth Bathory Interesting Facts and information about Elizabeth Bathory in Elizabethan Times Short Biography about the life of Elizabeth Bathory Facts and History about Elizabeth Bathory Major Figures during Elizabethan Times Important accomplishments, dates and events in the life and history of Elizabeth Bathory Nickname: Lady Dracula Parallels between Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad Dracula Elizabeth Bathory

More Balanced approach

What laws forbad her being tried due to status? Can anyone quote them or cite them to me: Erzebet Bathory http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/erzebet.html Erzsebet Bathory, also known as Elizabeth Bathory, is one of the most infamous figures in history. Her crimes caused her to become a legendary and feared figure. Even after the legends have been lifted her crimes still seem unimaginable. Bathory was born in 1560 to a well-established family. Her family had produced many powerful people in her time, including the Kings of Transylvania and Poland. She was married off for political reasons to Count Ferencz Nadasdy. Before the marriage took place she became pregnant with a child from a peasant. She was taken away to a family castle under the excuse that she was sick. She had a daughter, which was given away. She began a practice of torturing servants and was introduced into the occult while her husband was away at battle. The fascination with torture began for her as she saw her family deal with political enemies. After her husband's death her fears of growing old began to grow more and more. When striking a servant girl for combing her hair too hard some of her blood fell on her hand. She thought the blood made her skin look younger and become convinced that blood was the secret of eternal youth. She was also convinced that blood from virgin girls would be the most effective. The maid was murdered so that Erzsebet could bathe in her blood. From here her most notorious deeds began. The tortures the girls would be put through would last for weeks, months. They were then cut in several different ways to provide blood for Bathory to wash herself with. More than six hundred women died because of Erzsebet. These women ranged from peasants to members of the nobility. Investigations on Erzsebet's activities began in 1610. Some claim that she was investigated not because of her crimes but because of the finances involved with her family. These investigations also came only after four noble women were found murdered. Laws forbade she be put to trial because of her royal standing. These laws were removed to deal with her. Erzsebet did not admit to the crimes but she was sent to a small, walled in, room in her castle. Only a small opening to provide food was allowed. She stayed four years in that room until her death in 1614. Many of her accomplices were also found guilty and put to death but Bathory avoided that punishment due to her status. Sometimes it is easy to concentrate on her crimes and ignore Erzsebet herself. She was very beautiful and also very intelligent. In fact she used her intelligence as a tool to get more victims as she lured noble girls to her castle under the promise of an education. It is also interesting to look at the political actions involved in this story. There are several interests involved in the prosecution of Erzsebet Bathory. Most involve the family fortune she had control over and people wanting an excuse to take it. She had the potential as being remembered as one of the best members of the Bathory family but she wound up becoming the most infamous. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annotated Bibliography Báthory-Kitsz, Dennis. "Erzsebet." Malted/Media Productions. and . 5 April 2005. The page is about a opera based on Erzsebet Bathory. It deals primarily with the happenings that are portrayed in the opera but manages to give some good information in the process. The page is best for works dealing with Erzsebet in the media. More information on the opera is found in the page at this link: . The page has some photographs of Erzsebet's home country at this link: . Blinderman, Charles. "Vampurella: Darwin & Count Dracula." Massachusetts Review 21(1980): 411-428. The article makes for an interesting read. It does not contain as much good information as the books on Erzsebet Bathory. Not something to base a report on but it makes for good secondary information. Krause, Jerome C. "Erzsebet (Elizabeth) Bathory. Elizabeth Bathory" Brilliant Brief Lives. 5 April 2005. A very good source of information. The page spends most of its time on Erzsebet's life saving only a couple of paragraphs for her crimes and punishment. This is a welcome change from biographies that are dominated by her crimes. The page also does a good job of giving a glimpse of her childhood and the life at the time. This page should definitely be visited if doing research, although it has, according to the author, a strong fictional content. McNally, Raymond T. Dracula was a woman: in search of the blood countess of Transylvania. New York: McGraw Hill, 1983. This is my favorite source for information on Erzsebet Bathory. The book begins with a background on Bathory as well as a look into the research done for the book. This is an interesting look into the research done for these projects. The book is a fascinating look into Bathory's life, trial, and the legends that have arisen in time. A very recommended book. Penrose, Valentine, translated by Alexander Trocchi. The Bloody Countess. London: Calder & Boyars, 1970. A look into the crimes of Erzsebet Bathory. The book is a bit old but still worth a read as it does provide much information on the subject. Definitely a source worth looking at. Ronay, Gabriel. The Truth about Dracula. New York: Stein and Day, 1972. The book goes heavily into the myths connected to Erzsebet Bathory. The findings in the book have been challenged in future books so its usefulness can be questioned. Still it is something to consider. Segrave, Kerry. Women Serial and Mass Murderers: A Worldwide Reference, 1580 through 1990. McFarland and Co., 1992. Information on Erzsebet Bathory is found in pages 20 through 23. While the book does provide some good information it's best contribution comes from its overall topic. It can be hard to believe that a person is capable of doing such horrible acts, which helps legends grow. This book shows that, unfortunately, the urge to kill or torture is not limited only to Erzsebet Bathory. Not many can equal her in numbers but far too many equal her in the desire. Thorne, Tony. Countess Dracula: the life and times of the blood countess, Elisabeth Bâathory. London: Bloomsbury, 1997. A very new source on Erzsebet Bathory. Because of its newness there have not been much time to evaluate its contents but still worth looking at for recent information. A source that definitely should be looked at. Sheppard, R.Z. "Gothic Whoopee." Time, 8/14/95 Vol. 146 Issue 7. The magazine gives a review of Andrei Codrescu's The Blood Countess. It doesn't offer much information on Erzsebet Bathory herself. The article talks about the use of the non-fictional figure in the fictional work. A good source if one plans on writing about the book or on the way Bathory is presented in the media. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These sites seem to be dead: An Early Countess Bathory. InterVamp http://home.wxs.nl/~intrvamp/art2.htm Viewed: 3/23/98 Not about Erzsebet Bathory directly. It is about a member of the French nobility who did a very similar crime. An interesting source for comparisons. Biographical Notes for the Life of Elizabeth Bathory. Elizabeth Bathory Data http://www.oxy.edu/~dameron/occult/bathory.html . Viewed: 3/16/98 The page offers excerpts from The Dracula Book by Donald F. Glut. The excerpts go into a little more detail on the life of Erzsebet Bathory. They tend to ignore the very beginning and the very end, concentrating more on her crimes and what led to them. The excerpts also include descriptions of Erzsebet Bathory's presence in movies, comics, and books. A good source if one is interested in researching how she has been portrayed in the media. Bloodlines: A Brief on the life and death of Hungary's infamous Blood Countess, Elzabeth Bathory-Nadasdy. Vampires http://msc.city.unisa.edu.au/Vampire/Characters/Elizabeth.html . Viewed: 3/22/98 The page offers a good amount of information of Erzsebet Bathory. It goes into detail on the crimes Erzsebet committed as well as the circumstances of her investigation. The author also goes into the subject of how much Bram Stoker was influenced by Erzsebet when writing Dracula. The annotated bibliography in the page helped me finish this bibliography. Countess Elizabeth Bathory c. 1560-1614. VO http://doncaster.on.ca/~vampyre/faqs/bathory.html . Viewed: 3/16/98 The information on the page is not very specific but it does offer some interesting points about her life and punishment. Nothing to base a report on but it does offer some information that could help fill out a project. If you visit this page you may want to stop by the (very good) humor section. From personal experience, a good laugh is a good way to calm the tensions of research. Elizabeth Bathory. Serial Killers http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~bakerkm/bathory.html . Viewed: 3/23/98 A brief biography of Elizabeth Bathory. It does have some interesting information on her husband's role in the formation of her habits. Worth a look if one still needs information. Who is Elizabeth Bathory? Pathway to Darkness http://www.pathwaytodarkness.com/facts/who_is_bathory.htm. Viewed: 3/16/98 This section of the page offers a good, short biography of Erzsebet Bathory. The page also offers a link to a book review section ( http://www.pathwaytodarkness.com/fiction/reviews/index.html ) that offers reviews of fiction and non-fiction books. You can buy books that you may like online. The page is a good way to get basic information before setting on more ambitious goals. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Fictionalized Epistolary Novel; Erzebet as Unwitting Muse

The Letters of Elizabeth Bathory http://www.fictionpress.com/s/1500019/1/The-Letters-of-Elizabeth-Bathory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author: VKM PM A collection of letters pertaining to the historical "vampire", Elizabeth Bathory of Transylvania. Rated: Fiction T - English - Words: 1,636 - Reviews: 4 - Favs: 1 - Published: 01-17-04 - id: 1500019 A a Abc Abc Abc Full 3/4 1/2 Expand Tighten September First, 1614 To Whom It May Concern: The papers contained within this envelope are the personal letters of the evil vampiress, Erzebet Bathory, also known as Elizabeth. She was found guilty of the murder of over 600 innocent girls. She was a demon obsessed with maintaining her youth, and aspiring to the throne of Poland, for which she was next in line. After the death of her husband she began practicing the dark arts. She also became certain that the blood of young maids would keep her younthful, if she bathed in it, and sometimes she would drink the blood. Countless peasant girls were killed, as well as nobles. After the massacre of the latter began, the Emperor ordered her trial. She was found guilty of all the murders in 1610. Also condemned were a coven of witches, led by Dorotta Szentes, also called Dorka. These foul creatures were burned for their crimes. Due to her nobility, the Countess herself could not be put to death. The law even had to be changed to allow her to be put on trial in the first place. Her punishment was to be locked in a small closet in her castle with no openings except a small slot for food to be passed in. She died on August 21, 1614, without having ever shown any remorse for her atrocious crimes. Now that you know the history of Erzebet Bathory, Countess of Transylvania, you may decide to continue. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. Bram V Irving, Magistrate ************************************************************************ March 1, 1610 Dorotta Szentes, I hope that your lessons have been a success. It will be most convenient for me to communicate with the coven using writing, rather than having to summon you to my home. It is raising suspicion that is best avoided. My youth cannot be maintained by myself alone. I constantly need your aid. As I have ever since my servant's blood fell upon my skin after I stuck her with my scissors. Where her virgin blood fell upon my skin looked fresher and younger. I had discovered the secret of everlasting beauty. Unfortunately I have come to the conclusion that this weak peasant stock is not longer capable of providing such a gift. Their blood is weak, impure, and defective. I need noble blood for my noble skin. One day I will be Queen, and I cannot sully my appearance with tainted blood. I have not yet decided how the noble girls I need will be acquired. But I will decide soon. Be prepared for my instructions. Erzebet Bathory, Countess of Transylvania ************************************************************************ March 13 Erseebett, Thanc yu for the lesons. to reade and wright is a honer. Thes skils our verie inportent. Coven is always yors to comand. Glad to be af sir vice. Dorotta ************************************************************************ March 17, 1610 Dorotta, You are never to misspell my name again! In fact, I forbid you to write Erzebet. You may refer to me as Elizabeth, and ONLY Elizabeth. I have finally devised a plan to bring my elixir of youth to me. Since I am highly educated, a fact of which I am proud, I will offer to teach 25 young noble women who are not as learned as me. This will seem perfectly natural, and many nobles will wish their daughters' education to be properly finished. Once I am through with them, their education will be FINISHED! I cannot wait. I will also invite another girl to aid me in my teachings. She will have to be gifted not only with intelligence, but also with beauty. Her blood will be the finest, befitting a lady of my status. Erzebet Bathory ************************************************************************ March 28, 1610 Dear Dorotta, I have found the perfect assistant for my academy. Her name is Rosalind Dumas and she is the Countess of Wallachia. She received her education as a result of being the only legitimate child and sole heir of the former Count of Wallachia. Both her parents have passed and with no immediate relatives, few will notice when she does not return from the castle alive. Rosalind is also famous for her beauty. Many suitors have tried to win her hand, yet she refuses them all. I wouldn't mind if some of them followed her here, for my own enjoyment! No doubt her relatives will relish the opportunity to claim Wallachia for themselves once I remove her from this world. One of those distant relatives can inherit on the event of her death. I sent her invitation yesterday. If all goes well Rosalind will arrive in one month, as will the noble maidens whom I also invited. A fortnight afterwards the coven is to come to the back entrance of the castle. I will deliver to you the first of the girls. Be there by midnight. Is not written communication so much better than verbal? Erzebet ************************************************************************ Apr. 1, 1610 Dear Erzebet Bathory, Countess of Transylvania Many thanks for your kind invitation. I would be delighted to come to your castle and share my knowledge with other young girls. I have long been grateful for the open mind of my gracious father, God rest his soul. Most girls my age have not had the privilege to have had even a few lessons, much less the private tutor of my own education. Their minds have been left to be taught by their similarly uneducated mothers, and an unfortunate cycle has begun. But thanks to you, for some it will end. My own mother died in childbirth and my father never remarried, for he loved her dearly. Thus I was the sole heir to my father's title and estates. It is because of this that I attribute my extensive education. My father also prepared me for the role that I have undertaken since his death last year. Not many lords would consider a daughter a worthy successor. Many, when faced with such a predicament, hurry to find a suitable husband for their child, and secure a true heir. I sincerely hope your ladyship is not offended by my frankness, as I know you were married when you were quite young, younger than I am now. I hope that you were able to find love with your husband, before his untimely death. My own father gave me leave to marry a man who I loved, not just one who was rich. He did not "marry me off", for which I am thankful beyond words. Once again I must express my gratitude for the opportunity to share what I know with young women who have not had my fortunate background. I thank you again. Rosalind Dumas, Countess of Wallachia ************************************************************************ April 15 Elizabeth, A hundread apologezes for my misspelling. I am verie, VERIE sorey. The coven whill bee at the castle at midnite. All is redy for the gest. May she bring yu many yeers of beuty. Dorotta ************************************************************************ Apr. 29, 1610 Dearest Isabella, My dear, dear nurse, who raised me to be the lady I am now, I am deathly afraid. And terrified that something evil is afoot. When I first arrived, my task here was pure joy. The area around the castle is beautiful, the Carpathians surrounding here are so magnificent. And those lovely young students were so eager. It was as if I had wandered into a dream. Then it became a nightmare. One of the girls, little Sophia Luhrman, disappeared one night. The Countess sent search parties to find her, but not a trace was discovered. We had finally put the sad affair behind us when another girl disappeared. I am afraid for the girls and myself. Something is not right with our hostess. Every time I look into Elizabeth's eyes, I now see something sinister. Please, dearest Isabella, I am in desperate need of your counsel. I want to flee this evil place, yet I cannot abandon those precious girls. What shall I do? All my love, Rosalind Dumas (written below) Did she really think that I would allow this letter to leave the castle? Foolish child. She will not have time to regret it. ~E ************************************************************************ May 6, 1610 Dear Dorka, Rosalind is dead. I have been forced to terminate her employment earlier than originally intended. She was beginning to become suspicious, she even tried to send a letter pertaining to the recent events here in the castle. I had planned to save her until the end, but some things are unavoidable. Do not worry about collecting anything, I have disposed of her. Because of this unforeseen event, the next delivery will have to be delayed. Expect the next girl on the first of June. Elizabeth ************************************************************************ May 18 Dearest Mistress, I fear that the famly of the countes will discover wat hapenned to Roselin. The coven is scaired. Be carful! Dorka ************************************************************************ May 20, 1610 Dorka, In light of the expected investigation, please return the correspondence that I have sent to you, including this one. They would incriminate both of us beyond anything else, as they are undisputable confessions of our guilt. You have been a faithful servant, and your service will not be easily forgotten. Once this suspicion dissipates, I will be in need of the coven again. I MUST ALWAYS BE BEAUTIFUL!!! Elizabeth (A/N This story, sadly enough, is based on the true life of Countess Elizabeth Bathory, one of the most infamous "vampires" in history, possibly second only to Vlad Dracula himself.) The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.

Delpy's 2004 Film; Some Background

'Disturbing' But if Celine's future is not yet mapped out, Delpy's career path certainly is. Next year she wants to direct a feature film she has written about bloodthirsty Hungarian Countess Erzebet Bathory, who, it is rumoured, inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. "I just love that story," says Delpy as she recounts the tale of Bathory who is said to have bathed in the blood of virgins. "It is really, really dark... I actually had an agent who dropped me because of that script. He said it was so disturbing he didn't think he could work with me any more."

Perseuction of Protestants in Hungary

Here is a great article on the Hungarian Reformation, applicable to Erzebet's time: The Hungarian Reformation By Chris Richards …in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (2 Cor 11:23 KJV) With the rise of Islam very much in the news, the history of the Reformation in Hungary makes an interesting study. The Church there not only had to contend for the faith against Roman Catholicism but also against the Islamic Turks who invaded Hungarian territory. The Christian can learn much from the history of the Church in Hungary. For the greater part of its existence it has been oppressed and persecuted. Rome, Islam, or Communist persecutions have never totally destroyed Gospel witness in Hungary. It is also fitting that the Reformation story be retold in this year of 2006, as this year marks special anniversaries for Stephen Bocskay, sometimes known as the Hungarian Oliver Cromwell. Bocskay was born in 1556 and died by poisoning in 1606. He is commemorated on the International Reformation Monument in Geneva, towards the erection of which the Hungarian Reformed Church contributed one of the largest sums of money. Only the Church of Scotland contributed more. Despite the Reformed Church of Hungary claiming over two million adherents, Hungary is often regarded as a wholly Roman Catholic country. The Early Days The Gospel was planted among the Magyar peoples who settled in Hungary from Asia by Cyrillus. The rise of the Papacy affected Hungary as it did in all other places where Rome usurped local churches. By the time of the Reformation, Hungary had 150 so-called Holy Places. “Miracles” were commonplace yet the morality of the country was very low. The preaching of John Huss in Prague affected many students from Hungary who were studying at Prague University. However, it was not until a century later that the populace were reached with the Gospel. Luther’s protest against the sale of indulgences in 1517 opened the way for the Hungarian Reformation. Many Germans had settled in Hungary. This German influence led to Luther’s writings being circulated. By 1600 it is believed that 60% of the population was Protestant. Queen Mary, a very influential member of the Royal Family, was won over to the Reformation. She used her influence to protect Protestant preachers, especially John Henkel. From 1523 Reformed Truth had been taught at the Academy of Ofen in Budapest. In Transylvania (then part of Hungary) the Reformers were zealous in catechizing the people. This led to the populace mocking and ridiculing the superstitious beliefs of the Roman priests. Rome Thwarted The Roman Bishops demanded that Queen Mary’s husband, King Louis II, move against the Reformers. All Lutheran books were ordered to be burnt and all property owned by Lutherans was to be confiscated. Some books were burnt, but before the persecution could take hold an Islamic army threatened invasion. Soliman the Magnificent with an army of 300,000 men marched on Hungary. All the troops Louis could muster were 27,000. These were quickly defeated by Soliman. The King, in making his escape, suffered a riding accident which killed him. The invasion by the Turks resulted in 200,000 Hungarians being massacred. Two claimants put themselves forward as the rightful king, John Zapolya and Ferdinand of Austria. This division led to civil war and was accompanied by Soliman’s occasional attacks. This unrest left the Reformers unhindered. Nobles and two Bishops embraced the Reformation. In 1537 Matthias Devay began a powerful ministry in Budapest, and Ferdinand was presented with a copy of the Augsberg Confession. Budapest was under Zapolya’s authority. Influenced by Roman priests, Zapolya had Devay imprisoned. Also in the prison was Zapolya’s blacksmith and Devay witnessed to the smith. Zapolya ordered the blacksmith’s release. He, though, said he would not leave prison without Devay, whereupon Zapolya ordered his release too. Devay left the country, visiting Wittenburg in Germany and Basle in Switzerland, where he acquainted himself with printing practice. In 1537 he returned to Hungary and set up a press. On this was printed the first book in the Hungarian Language. Reluctantly, Ferdinand agreed to move against the Reformers. Devay and an evangelist, Stephen Szantai, were denounced but not imprisoned. Ferdinand arranged for a debate between Szantai and a Romanist theologian named Gregory. The judges of the debate came to Ferdinand explaining that they were in a dilemma. Szantai could prove his doctrine by Scripture; Gregory could not. Yet if they found Szantai the victor they would be guilty of heresy. The King now found himself in the same dilemma. He spoke with Szantai. Rome demanded that the King have Szantai burned. Instead, he made provision for the would-be martyr to leave his territory. Reformation Complete In Hungary there was no sudden fall of the Roman Catholic Church, but rather a gradual weakening of its support. The great progress of the Reformation came from three sources-the evident superior teaching of the Reformation so clearly seen in the Szantai-Gregory debate; the publishing of the Hungarian New Testament in 1541; and the reluctance of the claimants to the Kingdom to offend the Protestant nobility by persecution. Young men studied theology in Wittenburg and Geneva. On their return they took up evangelical ministries. On John Zapolya’s death, his infant son was proclaimed his successor. His mother invited Soliman to become the child’s protector. The army of Soliman entering the Kingdom led to many fleeing before it, including many Reformed preachers. When things settled down these returned, the Turks allowing them to preach unhindered. By 1554 Transylvania was almost entirely Protestant. The last priest left the city of Huns as the place was without a single Roman Catholic. Count Petrovich undertook, as Regent to the infant King, a political reformation. Metal idols were melted down, monasteries turned into schools and the Church lost all political patronage. Troubles Within Unfortunately a difference arose within the Church that would lead to a split. The trouble arose over the Lord’s Table. Ministers who studied in Wittenburg followed Luther’s teaching while others followed Calvin’s teaching. In 1545 and 1546 two confessions were published, one from each camp. At this time separation was not practiced by either side. The publishing of these Confessions, however, did lead to the Hungarian church organizing itself and not relying on German help. It also completely broke off ecclesiastical contact with local Roman Catholic Bishops. Romanists tried to bribe the Turks to kill Protestants. However, as Protestant meeting houses had no idols, which the Turks abhorred, they refused. The Pashas ordered that no hindrance should be put in the way of those who preached the faith of the “Great Mufti of Wittenberg”! A change of Regent could have caused the Reformers many problems. However, the enemy of the Reformation, Losonezy, was killed in battle against the Turks. The differences between the two Protestant groupings remained even during the fierce persecutions which were to follow. Publications and counter-publication from both sides vied with one another. Pronouncements from both sides precluded any coming together. Stephen Bocskay The claim of Ferdinand passed eventually to Rudolph II. He had no interest in Reformed teaching, being more concerned with astrology and alchemy. His lack of concern at the treatment of his Protestant subjects, now confronted by a Jesuit led counter-reformation, led to an uprising. The Protestants of Holland had risen against the persecuting Hapsburg emperors of the Holy Roman Empire who ruled them. The Hungarian Protestants, facing similar despotic rule and active persecution, sought to defend themselves. Their captain was Stephen Bocskay who was elected to lead the Protestant forces, called hadjous. Rudolph refused the Protestants’ call for religious freedom and was determined to destroy any attempt to secure this. Bocskay led his hadjous to victory and was urged to accept the title Prince of Hungary. He would not accept this claim to the Kingdom. He did however accept the simple title of Prince of Siebenburgen. Bocskay Victories Bocskay victories over the Hapsburg Rudolph called for great military skill. Not only did Bocskay have to face Romanist forces but also to keep a watchful eye on the Turks, who were always looking for an opportunity to invade. The victories over Rudolph forced him to sign a treaty called the Peace of Vienna. This gave rights to all citizens to practice their faith without state interference. The Peace of Vienna was accepted by the hadjous at the Diet (legislative assembly) at Kassa. During the Diet, Bocskay was poisoned, probably by a false friend, the Chancellor Katay. Bocskay died on 29th December 1606. On his death the outraged hadjous put Katay to death. The death of Bocskay was a great setback for the Protestant cause. The provisions of the Peace of Vienna proved short-lived and a fearful persecution came on the Church once again. The Fall of the Hapsburgs In 1616 Ferdinand II came to the Throne. He repudiated the Peace of Vienna. The Jesuits set up courts of Inquisition. Pastors and Protestant nobility were hung and villages forcibly made to accept Roman Catholicism. Again the Protestants were driven to take up arms to defend themselves. Again the Protestants had a great military leader, Gabriel Bethlen. Three times he secured promises of peace from the Romanist Ferdinand only to see the Treaty broken once the Protestant forces dispersed. Bethlen never seemed to realize that Rome could not be trusted. The last Treaty Bethlen secured by arms from the Hapsburgs also gave an undertaking by Bethlen never to take up arms again. Although Bethlen kept his part of the bargain, Rome did not keep her side. Like Bocskay, Bethlen was poisoned by Romanist doctors. During this time 100,000 were forcibly “converted to Rome.” The country was depopulated through martyrdom and Protestants fleeing. Ferdinand II was followed by a succession of persecuting monarchs. Just as many came to view the French Revolution as God’s judgment on the persecuting Romanist French Royal family, so, when in 1866 defeated Austria fell from the front rank of nations, this was viewed in the same light. Another fifty years on from this the Hapsburg Empire collapsed in the First World War. Protestants called the House of Austria the House of Ahab. The Protestants of Hungary adopted a policy of passive resistance. Pastors sent to row in the galleys were freed by Dutch men-of-war, who hearing of the punishment given to the Hungarian pastors, made it their business to board the Hapsburg vessels and free the pastors. Finally, as revolution threatened the Romanist despots of Europe during the 18th Century, religious toleration was granted. The Act of Toleration of 1781 was superseded in 1848 by the guarantee of complete religious liberty. The Hapsburg Empire went into history at the end of World War 1. The Church remained, having withstood both Rome and Islam! This article was written in: The Reformer July/August 2006 Edition Published by: The Protestant Alliance 77 Ampthill Road Flitwick, Bedford MK45 1BD England Back

Just in Time for Halloween

They have not done Erzebet yet, but I love this site by Shiva Rodriguez. I have their Catherine Howard doll. The links are fun, too. http://www.headlesshistoricals.com/GalleryIndex.htm

Demonic Dolls

No pun intended, these are OOAK Barbie type dolls made into EB and other hellish figures. They are indeed, the "dolls from hell," no pun intended, and the menacing music and graphics set the tone. The dolls are custom made and not for sale, but you can order your own. Not for kids. http://www.artonyou.com/DemonicDolls2.htm

Auction items

There are 42 items today listed under Elizabeth Bathory on Etsy.com. These include artwork, clothng, and jewelry. Ther are 5 itmes on Etsy under Erzebet Bathroy of the same nature. On eBay, there is one result, a brooch of 12.99 under Erzebet Bathory. There are 38 results under All Categories, mostly books and the MacFarlane figure shown on this blog from his Six Faces of Madness and Femmes Fatales series. From a blog called Shelved Dolls [which also discusses The Black Dahlia], a typical post: Shelved Dolls: Elizabeth Bathory – The Most Prolific Female Serial Killer In History42 days ago by Jennifer Wright | 24 Comments | Share a Tip So. What do we know? Well, we know that Elizabeth was born at the base of the Carpathian Mountains in 1560 or ’61. She was the heir of a very powerful family – her cousin was the Prince of Transylvania – and she was raised there. (Today she is one of the reasons vampires are associated with Transylvania, but we’ll come to that.) In addition to suffering from violent seizures, Elizabeth was known to be a very angry child. She had uncontrollable outbursts of rage, which causes some historians to think that she had early traits of psychopathy. She was also wildly inbred, which does not always produce people of the best mental states. Or maybe it’s possible that she was just bored and angry. She was known to be unusually intelligent; she read in three languages at a time when many princes didn’t know how to read. She was known to be a quick study. Honestly, if we decided that every young girl who read too much and was angry at the world was a monster I suspect half of us would be reading this article in padded cells. Wait. I’m not sure why in God’s green earth I am trying to make a case for a woman who killed hundreds of people not being a psychopath. I think, even if you do not throw the word “psychopath” around lightly, we can agree that “being an unrepentant serial killer” is a pretty telling sign. I guess I just don’t think you should pigeon-hole her too early. Some kids are just angry. But yes, future actions do indicate that Elizabeth was not the most mentally stable person. Read more: http://thegloss.com/beauty/elizabeth-bathory-serial-killer-143/#ixzz28FnfZVW9 From Enchanted doll is a description and history of a fantastic doll done of EB and sold in 2010: The Bloody Lady Elizabeth Bathory. 2010 Sold One of a kind, porcelain, ball-jointed, costumed doll. A very complex costume is assembled from 23 separate, original Sterling Silver pieces with 24k gold plating and an Indian wedding saree skirt. All clothes and accessories are removable. Face is one of a kind. Removable wig is magnetic. This doll is based on a real historical figure of Transilvanian countess Elizabeth Bathory (17 August 1560 – 21 August 1614), from the renowned Báthory family. Allegedly Elizabeth was a sadistic serial killer who tortured and murdered as many as six hundred girls in a span of 20 years. Despite going down in history as the most prolific female serial killer with a kill rate of mythological proportions, there is very little historical evidence against her. In fact, when considered in a larger historical and political context, it appears that Elizabeth was a victim of an aristocratic conspiracy with a resulting mass hysteria, and that her original accusers were politically, financially and possibly, ideologically motivated. Regardless of evidence, history appears to be infatuated with the image of this woman as a ruthless murderer, even if this image is nothing but a myth. Her presence in history is as mysterious and secretive as her enigmatic smile, which could hide either a twisted sociopath, or an innocent victim of slander. Although we will never the truth behind the Bloody Lady Elizabeth Bathory, we must consider these following historical facts before condemning her: There is the lack of the most basic proof: the victim’s names. There aren’t any official names on record of Bathory’s alleged victims, or bodies for that matter. It was said that she had killed daughters of peasantry as well as lesser nobility. But who are these missing women exactly? The logistics of murder don’t make sense either. Elizabeth was accused of killing around 600 girls in 20 years. That means she killed 30 people a year. That’s 1 murder every 12 days. How could such a visible public figure get away with such an astronomical kill rate for 20 years, in a region with a population of much less than three hundred thousand people? Where was she getting all these women and why was virtually nobody noticing except for one single minister Istvan Magyari? One would think that if daughters were going missing left and right every month in villages, there would be some sort of a public concern and even a panic. Instead, the “rumors” of murders had began to spread only after the official investigation had already started. Another interesting detail is the fact that when King Matthias of Hungary ordered the investigation into the rumors of murders, he was heavily indebted to the wealthy and influential Elizabeth Bathory. Based on flimsy, hearsay witness testimony, King Matthis had her imprisoned without any formal trial, conviction or further punishment and avoided having to repay her the large sum of money for which he lacked sufficient funds. Elizabeth Bathory’s case happened at a time of religious upheaval and hostility in Hungary. As a Transilvanian Protestant aristocrat, she was a political opposition to King Matthis, who was an Austrian Roman Catholic. My final argument in favor of Elizabeth Bathory’s innocence is that her case shows evidence not only of political conspiracy, but also of the mass hysteria phenomenon, where a runaway public fear clouds all rational judgment, leading to escalating panic and severe miscarriages of justice. Such cases and trials are often characterized by absurd accusations, unfounded witness testimony, extremely biased public opinion, coercive interrogations and incompetent investigative techniques. I see a distinct parallel between Elizabeth Bathory’s murder investigation and the of mass hysteria of the famous Salem witch trials of 1692, the Kern County Satanic ritual child abuse hysteria of 1983 and the West Memphis Three murders of 1993, where all accusations began with one person and grew out of thin air into frenzied fear and everyone conveniently forgot that a person is innocent until proven guilty beyond any reasonable doubt.

Doll by Maria Bychkova. Below is part of my google search for EB dolls: Search ResultsThe Bloody Lady Elizabeth Bathory - Enchanted Doll by Marina ...www.enchanteddoll.com/galleries/countess/countess.htmlCached - SimilarShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo This doll is based on a real historical figure of Transilvanian countess Elizabeth Bathory (17 August 1560 – 21 August 1614), from the renowned Báthory family. elizabeth bathory doll | eBaywww.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=elizabeth+bathory+dollCachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo 10 items – Visit eBay for great deals on a huge selection elizabeth bathory doll. Shop eBay! Shelved Dolls: Elizabeth Bathory – The Most Prolific Female Serial ...thegloss.com/beauty/elizabeth-bathory-serial-killer-143/CachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo Aug 22, 2012 – How does someone kill 650 women and then bathe in their blood? I mean, I understand how Elizabeth Bathory did it, though accounts vary. Elizabeth Bathory - Doll Divine Dress Up Gameswww.dolldivine.com/Tudors/MorningLight-268989CachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo Quality dress up games, doll makers and animal makers. Ghost of the Elizabeth Bathory Photos from Dolls And Dead Things ...www.myspace.com/dollsanddeadthings/photos/15487966CachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo Add your own comments to "Ghost of the Elizabeth Bathory" from Dolls And Dead Things on Myspace. Social entertainment powered by the passions of fans. Elizabeth Báthory in popular culture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Báthory_in_popular_cultureCached - SimilarShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo The case of Elizabeth Báthory inspired numerous stories and fairy tales. .... spirit of Elizabeth Bathory, who sealed herself inside of a doll through a blood bath. Elizabeth Bathory Baby Doll - Gothcentral.comgothcentral.com/Elizabeth_Bathory_Baby_Doll_Tara_GrafixCachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo Goth clothing, thors hammer, tarot decks, occult books, witchcraft and pagan, sigils, magick, crystals and much more. With every order you receive a free... Art on You Studios ~ Demonic Dolls Page 2www.artonyou.com/DemonicDolls2.htmCachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo *NONE OF THESE WORKS ARE FOR SALE*. If you are interested in a custom Doll from Hell, Please email me. Demonic Dolls ~ Page 1, 2, 3. "Elizabeth Bathory ... ball-jointed dolls / The Bloody Lady Elizabeth Bathorypinterest.com/pin/263671753153279051/CachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo Picture of Mary · Mary Heiser I should be disturbed at how much I love this doll, especially considering the inspiration, but hey. Disturbing is how I roll. elizabeth bathory living dead doll | Free Local Classifieds Gumtree ...www.gumtree.com.au/s.../elizabeth+bathory...doll/k0c18319CachedShare Shared on Google+. View the post. You +1'd this publicly. Undo Sep 22, 2012 – Find elizabeth bathory living dead doll ads in our Other Stuff For Sale category. Buy and sell almost anything on Gumtree classifieds.

Some Reviews

Go to Infamous Lady.com: Since publication, readers have been bestowing five star reviews upon Prof. Kimberly Craft's books: Infamous Lady, The Private Letters of Countess Erzsébet Báthory, and Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire Here's what they've had to say... "Báthory enthusiasts will require Infamous Lady in their collections..." "I absolutely loved this book. I am a "fan" of Erzsebet Bathory and have been searching for a book that gives an accurate portrayal of her life for some time. This is the best I found so far. It was fascinating and appalling at the same time and I found myself unable to put it down. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning about the life of the "Blood Countess". ~ J.Mastrangelo See this review on Goodreads.com: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/83073735 Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory Reviews 5.0 out of 5 Stars "As an aspiring historical fiction writer, biographies are something I have to deal with quite frequently. Most are heavy with the politics of the time and very little about the actual people, making it hard to discover anything about the actual person...Infamous Lady is not any of these things. It is the most accessible historical biography I have ever read, Dr. Craft's writing is clear and concise, making the information easily accessible and the book a delight to read.... My own writing would be lost without it, and I recommend this book to everyone, history lover and biography lover alike. With the addition of Dr. Craft's newest work, The Private Letters of Countess Bathory, I'm hoping that the cloud hanging over the infamous Blood Countess will soon lift. ." ~ R.T. Maurice See this Review on Goodreads.com: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/182184147 "I couldn't put this book down..." 5.0 out of 5 Stars " I have been searching for an up-to-date and accurate book on Erzsebet Bathory for many years now. Up until then, I devoured everything I could possibly find on her on the Internet. Finally I discovered 'Infamous Lady' on Amazon.com and purchased it instantly. This book answered a lot of my questions...How she lived her life, what aspects of her were myths/legends and what was actually true, what made her do what she did, etc. Intriguing, frightening and exciting all in one, I finished reading this book within two days as I just could not put it down. 'Infamous Lady' definitely has my recommendation to anybody who has an interest in Erzsebet Bathory ." ~ L. Scollo See the full review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2N09O65DN2O19/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm © Copyright 2011 Infamous Lady. All rights reserved. "Great Book!!" 5.0 out of 5 Stars "I enjoyed reading this one, I am a bit of a history buff and have read several books on Erzsébet Báthory. This book sticks as closely as it can to the facts... It has a detailed transcription of the court documents, and correspondence, names of people involved, victims, etc. listed in the appendix. If you are interested in the true history of Erzsébet Báthory, backed up with translations of what original documentation remains of this woman, then this is the book for you!" ~ K. Wiscombe See the full review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3FC64DX838TD1/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm "This is the Bathory book to read." 5.0 out of 5 Stars "As a young person, I read accounts of the "blood countess" but never found a thorough and satisfying historical account of Bathory's life and times. This book breaks new ground and gives us the most thorough historical account possible with existing evidence....It's clear from the book that Bathory lived in violent times, with warfare frequently threatening her lands. Her husband, a national war hero, seems to have been not very bright but brutal. We'll never understand Bathory's thinking, but we get the best available evidence of her actions here...Read this excellent book for probably the best account we will ever have about Bathory and her crimes."~ J.R. Elver See the full review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2CRL10UFL4Y5C/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm "Disturbing, provocative, poignant." 5.0 out of 5 Stars "Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire" is an unusual, yet compelling story recollecting how the young Countess Bathory's tormented soul and broken heart would eventually lead her down a twisted path that would ultimately turn her into a monster...This book gives us a front-row seat to the macabre and it truly has something for everyone. It is a heady blend of fact and fearless fiction which shines a new light on the scandalous legends that have made Countess Elizabeth Bathory infamous. It appeases scholarly followers with a solid storyline and historical background, yet, entices us with shocking details of her heinous acts of both physical and emotional cruelty...This is also a very provocative and sensual book, not meant for the overly sensitive or squeamish." ~ V. Janik See the full review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/RQ94PSF5YVRX6/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm "The history of the Countess has been sadly neglected since McNally's groundbreaking first modern attempt in 1983...Until now. Stepping in is attorney and legal sleuth Kimberly L. Craft with Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory. The publication of this book is the most important milestone in Báthory research... the first book to read about the historical Mistress of Cséjthe..." "Painstakingly translated for a balanced presentation." 5.0 out of 5 Stars Kimberly Craft's "The Private Letters of Countess Erzsebet Bathory" presents as many of Elizabeth Bathory's correspondence as Ms. Craft could find translated for the modern reader. Invaluable to history buffs wishing to gain as much understanding as possible about Countess Bathory's state of mind during the time of her accused crimes until shortly before her arrest, including her first will and testament. This is more properly a companion piece to Kimberly Craft's "Infamous Lady" (2009), but she has included enough background information for uninitiated readers to follow it as well." ~ J. Haggard See this review on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2FI1564CVSNIL/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm 5.0 out of 5 Stars I really loved this book. I am always looking for new information on Elizabeth Bathory, and this book had dozens of new letters I've never seen. They paint a fascinating picture of the trials and tribulations this woman went through. Her homes and castles were stolen, her people killed, farms burned, land invaded, all the while dealing with the treacherous politics of king, emperor, Turks, revolutionaries and even relatives. The translations are done well and really capture the feel of the period and the voice of this noblewoman. I really felt like I was back in the 1600s. Really interesting look in time, with lots of new information on what life was like then. ~ M. Tan See this review on Goodreads.com: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/162312213 Read more reviews of Infamous Lady @: 5.0 out of 5 Stars "...The author does a good job of explaining the events and relating them to the letters written by this mysterious Hungarian countess. What I found so fascinating, and also alarming, was how this woman sounded so completely "normal" in all of her letters--even religious and pious--and yet could be accused of such atrocities in private....I suppose a forensic psychologist would have a field day with this wealth of newly translated material on this infamous serial killer." ~ K. Kemmelmacher See the full review on Goodreads.com: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11166176 Read more reviews of Private Letters @: Essential reading on the "Blood Countess" 5.0 out of 5 Stars Kimberly Craft presents new evidence from some forty previously untranslated letters by Erzsebet Bathory, the "Blood Countess" of yore. The book places the letters in a carefully crafted narrative that nicely puts the correspondence in biographical and historical context....Above all, one is left with a vivid account of the very stressful and violent times in which Erzsebet Bathory held her lands and position. The narrative and correspondence combined make it more vivid for the reader than do any previously published biographies of the Countess, so this book is a great contribution to our understanding of her life and times. They were times likely to bring out the worst in a person, as they did with the Countess. ~ S. Schier See the full review on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1PK5YFEDE4WGU 5 out of 5 Stars "...While there are graphic scenes in this book I believe they are appropriate. Bathory was not a gentle woman and definitely killed many girls, although how many may never be known. This book filled in possible missing holes in the story....Unfortunately over the centuries Bathory's story is hard to tell. Trying to separate fact from myth can be hard to do and as her name was forbidden to be spoken for a long time it also added to the mystique... I applaud Ms. Craft for undertaking this task. We will always wonder what really happened with Elizabeth Bathory and what her true story was, but I think this novel does a great job at giving us possibilities of what her life must have been like. I, for one, think it is a sad story. Not just because young girls were tortured and murdered but because Bathory must have lived a miserable life to have been capable of committing such crimes. A person just doesn't suddenly start doing things like this because they one day feel like it. There is always a catalyst and I believe that this novel may be the closest thing we will get to understanding why Bathory might have done all of the crimes she did..." ~ A. Logan See the full review on Goodreads.com: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/193051127 Read more reviews of Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire @: On Infamous Lady: On Private Letters:

Elizabeth Bathory: Infamous Lady

More

Here is a link page with more sites of interest about Erzebet: http://infamouslady.com/links.html Also, some excerpts from her letters and of a report of her death: Prof. K implies she was not entirely walled up in the tower. Earlier accounts I read stated she was under house arrest in her castle, no necessarily in one room: Regarding the children, I can report that Anna and Orsika are healthy. Regarding Kata, however, there is a problem in her mouth: namely, rot has spread there, such that even the jawbone is infected. The Barber poked about the middle of the tooth with an iron—he says it was a stroke of luck that not a single tooth fell out. I do not know how the Lord will bring the matter to an end but right now, it is, in any case, very bad for her. About myself, I can write that things are now going much better than in the past few days…. -Letter of Erzsébet Báthory to her husband, Ferenc Nádasdy, May 24, 1596 ...The death of Mrs. Nádasdy may already be known to you and how she unexpectedly resigned from this life. In the evening, said she to her bodyguard: “Look, how cold my hands are!” The bodyguard told her: “It’s nothing, Mistress. Just go and lie down.” She then went to sleep. She took the pillow that was under her head and put it under her feet. As such, she lied down and, in the same night, she died. ... Excerpt goes on to say she was heard praying and singing beautiful songs to God.

Something New

From KC's Infamous Lady.com; I also have two new books with stories of Erzebet in them. Through Prof. Craft's works, you will read the actual words of the Countess as well as the people who knew her personally--her accomplices, certainly, but also her staff and attendants, the clergy, fellow nobles, townspeople, and even surviving victims. * Erzsébet's sisters were not killed in a peasant uprising as children (find out about their actual husbands and children). * Erzsébet did not grow up with insane or perverted family members. * Erzsébet did not have a strained relationship with her supposedly-hated mother-in-law (find out when Orsolya Kanizsai Nádasdy really died). * Erzsébet was likely brutalized as a child at Sárvár. * Erzsébet gave generously to the Lutheran church, patronized scholars and the arts, and even protected the incomes of the clergy. * Erzsébet was still attending Court and even the King'scoronation just months before her arrest. * Two days before her arrest, even György Thurzó and his wife were still not convinced of her guilt. * Thurzó likely never caught her red-handed (learn about the clever legal doctrine he used to convict her). * Erzsébet never bathed in the blood of her victims (learn how the legend began). * Erzsébet clearly did not kill over 600 people. * Learn why King Mátyás was so eager to have her convicted. * Read the depositions of 306 witnesses who testified as to what really happened. * Read the Countess' actual Last Will & Testament, written in1610, as well as the final addendum to her Will, written in 1614 (written in an effort to stop her son-in-law from confiscating property from her daughter!). * Learn about Erzsébet's relationship with her husband and children from actual letters. * Find out who the real Thorko was (it was not Ficzkó!). * Read about the plot to confiscate her property through actual letters from her sons-in-law, King, Parliament, Palatine, and children. * Learn how the Countess repeatedly petitioned to testify on her own behalf and was denied each time. * Learn what really happened on the night of her arrest. * Read the complete trial transcripts and depositions taken from her four servant accomplices, extracted under torture just before their executions. * Find out whether she was actually walled up in her tower or not. * Read about how she really died. For scholars of this subject material, this research will "bust" centuries of myths and legends and provide exciting, new information. EXPLORE THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LEGENDS...