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http://bathory.org/erzsfaq.html see below from Bathory.org, helpful FAQs. Erzsébet Some Frequently Asked Questions I receive a great deal of email asking about Erzsébet -- too much to answer. So here are the questions I'm asked most often: Are you related to Erzsébet? According to my grandfather, yes (shut up!). We are the among the last who claim her as our (indirect) ancestor. But we don't have proof, and the heritage is doubtful. The best I can say is that because this information was conveyed to me as a child in whispers, I believe that he believed it. Those were the 1950s, decades before it was cool to be part of a vampyre or goth scene, and it was shameful to say it aloud (he died in 1960). Perhaps there was shame being in the family at all. My parents are Zoltán (who died in 2004) and Josephine; his parents, Josef and Lidia; before him, only the name Gábor is known from written records, with a faded photograph. And then ... two hundred fifty years of ignominy swallow up our heritage. One correspondent correctly pointed out that Hungarian names are largely patriarchal, so her descendents were named Nadasdy, not Báthory. So likely, either the names were made matriarchal in honor of her -- an unlikely situation -- or our family was in fact descended from a cousin. Updated May 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How old are you? I was born in 1949. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you have more pictures of Erzsébet? No. In fact, the main picture on my page has been reproduced for years, and at best it is a Romantic-era copy of an original miniature. The miniature, sad to say, is now missing from the Cachtice museum. I have added a portrait comparison page which reveals several different view of the Countess. And on the 2004 photos page there's a copy hanging in the Bathory Pizzeria. At this point, I have identified nearly a dozen images or copies of the original portrait. More keep turning up on the web, and it's hard to say whether these are modern copies because no provenance is given. The recent popularity of the topic has made identification even more difficult. If you want to use any of these pictures, please see my permissions page. Updated May 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What's the deal with her diaries? Finally what you need to know (thanks to Mary Cade for the research): From: Gera Zósfia [mailto:gera.zsofia@mol.gov.hu] Thursday, June 04, 2009 4:34 AM Re: Diary of Erszebet Bathory I kindly inform you that National Archives of Hungary preserves several documents regarding Countess Erzsébet BÁTHORY (Elizabeth BÁTHORY) for instance personal letters, and documents of the process against her. However, most of them aren't private documents, but sources of the procedure against Countess Báthory. The archival files of the Báthory family were mainly scattered during the 17th Century -- that's the reason why we don't have a separate collection of the Báthory family, or the diary of the countess. Unfortunately, we know nothing about the location of the diary. For a long time we believed it was kept by a collector in Nagyszombat (today Trnava, Slovakia), but later turned out that it was a gossip. All the private letters survived (altogether 32) are held amongst the documents of "Archives of Nádasdy family" (Erzésbet's husband was count Ferenc NÁDASDY). We preserve also testimonies of peasant girls and servants against the countess. The language of documents are Latin and Hungarian. All documents of the investigation procedure are kept amongst the documents of "Archives of Thurzó family" (Palatine György THURZÓ carried out the investigation against Countess Báthory). Yours sincerely, Zósfia Gera Updated April 2010 I'm not certain. At least one person I know has had access to these diaries, which are reportedly in the State Archives in Budapest. As I understand it, access is allowed to scholars by navigating a bureaucracy, and only if you speak Hungarian. From what I have learned from this single contact, the diaries are difficult to read both because of the old language, the writing, the condition, and the horrific content. I would be very anxious to know more about them, and would publish them on this site if I could get my hands on them. Updated April 2003 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Where can I hear your opera? The opera has been premiered, and you'll be able to hear it soon on CD and DVD and for download. Sponsors can hear it immediately (sponsor on the home page). You can also bring Erzsébet to your own theater, and I certainly encourage that; it's a challenge that your musicians will love! The performances are very powerful and moving, and all the ambiguity of the Countess is present. I asked audience members after each show, "Did you hate her or love her?" and universally the answer has been "I loved her." Aside from sponsoring the opera (which will clear the remaining debt from the productions) via the home page, you can also support the opera by buying the published libretto or full score, both on Lulu.com. Updated November 2011 We are on the way! Thousands of you have visited and emailed over the years. We're now less than a year away with your support -- you can pledge with as little as $2! If half the folks who emailed me since this site opened pledged $2, that would meet the goal!! Go right back to the home page to give your backing to the opera. [Former info:] You can't, at least not yet. I began this project almost 20 years ago, but producing an opera is a formidable task. It's not completely written. The libretto is stalled in outline. Neither the Slovak nor Hungarian culture ministries was interested in producing it, and the U.S. State Department (yes, they do have a big international arts support program) told me they only fund "American topics". If you are a benefactor interested in this dark and thrilling story, please contact me. In the meantime, you can listen to my maddened Csárdás, a dance not yet known in her time, but a sketch for the opera. It's also available from my home page, where you can download it and other pieces of my music. A new set of sketches, worked into the composition VoxN, was to be premiered in April 2002, but was not. I have instead begun developing this as a parallel 'virtual opera' project. New! You can listen to one scene from the opera from a recent rehearsal (Real Media Stream or Real Media Download or go here for other formats) and you can download a copy of the score (PDF). Updated May 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How do I get to the castle in your photos? The castle doesn't need visitors, really. It's fragile and falling down. But the town welcomes them. Head northeast out of Bratislava or northwest out of Budapest. Travel on the motorway until Nové Mesto, and onward to Trencín. Follow the signs to the village of Cachtice, and at the foot of the hill in the center of the village is a small building -- the museum. It's just been renovated, and is now behind dramatic iron gates to the right of the town square. There's a new roadsign to the small road to the castle (hrad). Drive the paved part

From King's College

Below is an overview from King's College, which shows real scholary attempt and emphasizes some points that we don't know much about Erzebet herself. Also, the financial motives behind her trial are mentioned as well as the fact that certain laws that would have been in her vafor were dispensed with. The legend also has shades of many godesses' legends from Greek and Roman myth [the Furies/Gorgons, Lamiae,] and with the cult of the Hindu Kali. Erzebet Bathory 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Metal Heads and Iron Maidens

A very sinister doll was associated with Erzebet, and there descriptions of it as well as drawings in my book about her. Read the post below from one of my other blogs.

Above is a contemporary portrait doll of Erzebet by Mezco and the Liv. Dead Dolls.

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Metal Heads and Musings

Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Metal Heads and Musings: Today's blog is an excerpt from my book on Metal Dolls. I hope you enjoy it. I am still looking for clear photographs for this book, and y...

Diary

A link; http://www.fictionpress.com/s/2546218/1/The_Diary_of_Elizabeth_Bathory From Ambrose Maximilian, a fictional account of Erzebet's last days walled up alive in her tower. This is a work of fiction. I also recommend a history book, if you can find it titled Death Comes to the Maiden. Also, below: excerpt from h2g2 about her. Take all with a grain of salt, but reading is interesting. A few years ago, nothing like this would be published. Created Aug 2, 2001 | Updated Jan 28, 2002 11 Conversations Elizabeth Bathory - the Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess, is one of the most famous of all historical vampires. She is perhaps less well-known only than the infamous Vlad Dracula, known also as Tepes (the Impaler) and he - although noted for his savage and very public methods of execution - was no vampire, but has merely been cited as the inspiration for Bram Stoker's fictional Count Dracula. In fact, the historical Dracula is usually best known as a devout, if savage, Christian warrior and noted for his successful enforcement of the law within the Voevodate of Wallachia. Elizabeth Bathory on the other hand is renowned as a torturer, an eater of flesh and a bather in blood, and has been cited by prominent vampirologist Raymond McNally in his book Dracula was a Woman (which is currently out of print) as a closer model for Bram Stoker's creation than Tepes. Bathory, like Stoker's Dracula, was a Hungarian1 of noble blood, whereas Tepes was Romanian; the Voevod, or Prince, of Wallachia when said title was not in the hands of his brother. Also, although his deeds were bloody, Tepes is never reported to have drunk the blood of his victims, while Elizabeth Bathory is reputed (admittedly with only anecdotal evidence) to have not only drunk but bathed in the blood of young virgin girls. The truth of whether she was a model for the Count will remain known only to Stoker, but certainly in the years since Dracula was published, the Blood Countess has exercised a powerful fascination on many writers and film-makers. The Birth and Childhood of Elizabeth Bathory Erzsebet Bathory, known more commonly in the Western world by the anglicised name Elizabeth, was born in 1560, the daughter of Baron George Bathory and Baroness Anna Bathory. George and Anna were both Bathorys by birth; he a member of the Ecsed branch of the family and of the Somlyo. Such inbreeding was not uncommon in the aristocracy of 16th Century Eastern Europe, as the purity of the noble line was seen as paramount. The Bathory were one of the most powerful Protestant families in Hungary, and numbered warlords, politicians and clerics among its members. Elizabeth's ancestor Stephan Bathory had fought alongside Vlad Dracula in one of his many successful attempts to reclaim the Wallachian throne, and his namesake, Elizabeth's cousin, became Prince of Transylvania in 1571, and was later elected King of Poland. Other members of the family were less respectable however, including Elizabeth's brother (also called Stephan), a noted drunkard and lecher. Elizabeth was highly-educated for her time, being fluent in Hungarian, Latin and Greek in a time when most Hungarians of noble birth - even men, who generally would have been better schooled than their female kin - were all but illiterate. She is also said to have been a great beauty, although it is unlikely that anyone would have openly said otherwise of the daughter of such a prominent family. At the age of eleven, Elizabeth was engaged to Count Ferenc Nadasdy, a skilled warrior and athlete, but as reported by his own mother's hand, 'no scholar'. He was - by varying reports - five or 15 years Elizabeth's senior. It was Ferenc's mother, Ursula, who arranged this engagement, one which would give considerable prestige to the Nadasdy family. In seeking to divine the genesis of Elizabeth's sadistic behaviour it has been suggested that she might have been insane from childhood. It is said that the young Elizabeth suffered from seizures accompanied by loss of control and fits of rage, which may have been caused by epilepsy, possibly stemming from inbreeding. She was also able to witness the brutal justice handed down by her family's officers on their estates at Ecsel. One anecdote describes an incident in which a gypsy, accused of theft, was sewn up in the belly of a dying horse with only his head exposed, and left to die. Such tales afford a grisly reminder that her own acts - while excessive even by the standards of the time - were not so very far removed from deeds which would have been considered quite normal. The Marriage of Elizabeth Bathory and Ferenc Nadasdy In 1574 Elizabeth fell pregnant by a peasant lover. She was quietly sequestered until the child, a daughter, was born and given to peasant foster parents to be raised. In 1575 she was married to Ferenc in a gala festival to which the Holy Roman Emperor himself, Maximillian II, was invited, sending a delegation and a lavish gift with an apology for his unavoidable absence. His reason was the danger of travelling in turbulent times, and there is little to suggest that he was seeking to avoid either family. Elizabeth retained her maiden name, and Ferenc added it to his own, less distinguished one, becoming Ferenc Bathory-Nadasdy After her marriage, Elizabeth was established as mistress of the Nadasdy estate around Castle Sarvar. Here the Nadasdys enjoyed a reputation as harsh masters, and while much of Elizabeth's cruelty is doubtless due to her own nature, Ferenc is said to have shown her some of his own favoured ways of punishing his servants. There are also tales of the couple engaging in diabolic rites and patronising various occultists and satanists. It is unusual, although far from unheard of, for retellers of the story to claim that Ferenc was unaware of his wife's perversions. Elizabeth is reported to have been a good wife in her husband's presence, but Ferenc was a warrior by nature, and frequently absent. To occupy her time she is said to have taken numerous young men as lovers. She even ran away with one of these, but returned after a very short time to her husband. She also spent time visiting her aunt, noted at the time for her open bisexuality, and contemporary reports seem to consider Elizabeth's sexual ambivalence to be an integral part of her overall perversion. After ten years of marriage Elizabeth finally gave her husband children; three daughters and at last a son, delivered in quick succession from 1585 onwards. By all reports, Elizabeth was an excellent and doting mother. Elizabeth Bathory's Crimes It was in her husband's absence that Elizabeth is reputed to have begun torturing young servant girls for her own pleasure, although this may in fact have been a pastime to which Ferenc himself introduced her to. Her accomplices at this time were Helena Jo, her childrens' wet-nurse, Dorothea Szentes, also known as Dorka, a peasant woman of noted physical strength alleged to be a witch, and Johannes Ujvary, also referred to as Ficzko, a manservant sometimes described as a dwarf-like cripple. Among the activities attributed to Elizabeth in this period were beating her maidservants with a barbed lash and a heavy cudgel, and having them dragged naked into the snow and doused with cold water until they froze to death. In January 1604, Ferenc Nadasdy died of an infected wound, reportedly inflicted by a harlot whom he refused to pay. Elizabeth transferred herself to the royal court at Vienna with almost unseemly haste, and took to spending much time at her castle at Cachtice (pronounced Chakh-teetsay) in north-west Hungary (now Slovakia). Here she took up with Anna Darvula, described as the most active sadist in her entourage, and, like Dorka, alleged to be a witch. Darvula was also said to be Elizabeth's lover. This was the period in which Elizabeth is said to have committed her greatest atrocities, under the guidance of Darvula. It is also at this time that legend tells us that she discovered, on striking a servant girl who accidentally pulled her hair whilst combing it, that blood appeared to reduce the signs of ageing on her skin. The popular version of events tells how Elizabeth took to bathing in the blood of young girls2, although of the various horrific eye-witness accounts of her crimes, none describe these blood baths. Elizabeth's proclivities went largely undetected - or at least ignored - until around 1609. In fact the Lord Palatine of Hungary, Count Cuyorgy Thurzo, probably knew of her activities much earlier. He was her cousin however, and to protect the family name took no official action, although he may have tried to have Elizabeth confined to a nunnery. In 1609 however, Darvula died, and Elizabeth seems to have taken up with a new accomplice/lover, the widow of one of her tenant farmers, named Erszi Majorova, and it was perhaps at Erszi's instigation or encouragement that Elizabeth turned her hand against a number of girls from families of noble blood but little wealth. The Downfall of Elizabeth Bathory The deaths of peasant girls might be overlooked, but the murder of nobles, even those of such limited means as those Elizabeth selected, could not go unnoticed. The King of Hungary ordered her arrest, and Count Thurzo moved quickly to save the family as much face as possible by affecting her capture on his own terms. On 30 December he led soldiers in a night raid on Castle Cachtice; as it was Christmas, the Hungarian Parliament would not have been in session, allowing the Lord Palatine to act unhindered. This raid supposedly found a dead girl in the hallway, and many other victims dead, dying or awaiting torture in cells. Dorothea, Helena and Ficzko were arrested, along with Katarina Beneczky, a washerwoman newly entered into the Countess' service. Erszi Majorova escaped capture in the raid but was later also arrested. Elizabeth herself was held but not taken away with her associates. In January 1611 Elizabeth's accomplices were subjected to two hurried show trials, in which they gave evidence, almost certainly extracted under torture, and were convicted of their heinous crimes in a matter of days. In the second trial, another servant named as Zusanna gave evidence of the existence of a register, in her mistress' handwriting, which recorded over 650 victims who had died at the Countess' hands over the years. This evidence was shaky as the register was never actually produced, but it was enough to convict the servants. Helena Jo and Dorothea Szentes were named as the foremost perpetrators and sentenced, as witches, to have the fingers which had 'dipped in the blood of Christians' torn out with red-hot pincers, and then to be burned alive. As a lesser offender, Ficzko was decapitated before his body was burned alongside the two women. On 24 January, Erszi Majorova was also sentenced and executed. Of those tried, only Katarina Beneczky escaped the death sentence, exonerated by her fellow defendants and also by the testimony of Zusanna. Elizabeth Bathory was present at neither trial, and was convicted of no crime. However, when she attempted to flee, her cousin had her confined to the castle at Cachtice, although her family stubbornly refused the King's demands that she be tried for her crimes. While he was probably shocked by the extent of the Countess' deeds, the King's desire for justice was almost certainly in part due to a large debt incurred against Ferenc in his lifetime. Elizabeth's conviction would have allowed the King to not only write off that debt, but also to seize the Nadasdy lands, and those held by Elizabeth as a Bathory. Consequently, the Bathorys must have brought all of their considerable influence to bear to keep that from happening. From the Horse's Mouth - Testimony of Elizabeth Bathory's Crimes The following are examples of the testimony of the servants recorded at the trial of Elizabeth's accomplices. ... a 12-year-old girl named Pola somehow managed to escape from the castle. But Dorka, aided by Helena Jo, caught the frightened girl by surprise and brought her forcibly back to Cachtice Castle. Clad only in a long white robe, Countess Elizabeth greeted the girl upon her return. The countess was in another of her rages. She advanced on the 12-year-old child and forced her into a kind of cage. This particular cage was built like a huge ball, too narrow to sit in, too low to stand in. Once the girl was inside, the cage was suddenly hauled up by a pulley and dozens of short spikes jutted into the cage. Pola tried to avoid being caught on the spikes, but Ficzko manoeuvered the ropes so that the cage shifted from side to side. Pola's flesh was torn to pieces. One accomplice testified that on some days Elizabeth had stark-naked girls laid flat on the floor of her bedroom and tortured them so much that one could scoop up the blood by the pailful afterwards, and so Elizabeth had her servants bring up cinders in order to cover the pools of blood. A young maid-servant who did not endure the tortures well and died very quickly was written out by the countess in her diary with the laconic comment 'She was too small...' At one point in her life Elizabeth Bathory was so sick that she could not move from her bed and could not find the strength to torture her miscreant servant girls... She demanded that one of her female servants be brought before her. Dorothea Szentes, a burly, strong peasant woman, dragged one of Elizabeth's girls to her bedside and held her there. Elizabeth rose up on her bed, and, like a bulldog, the Countess opened her mouth and bit the girl first on the cheek. Then she went for the girl's shoulders where she ripped out a piece of flesh with her teeth. After that, Elizabeth proceeded to bite the girl's breasts. - From Dracula was a Woman McNally, R The Fate Of Elizabeth Bathory Although she was never convicted of any crime, Elizabeth Bathory's family declared her a menace to their name, and she was walled up within her bed chamber, with only small slits for ventilation and the passing of food left open. After three years, a guard looking through one of the slots saw the infamous Blood Countess lying face down on the floor of her chamber, dead.

A Newsletter

My God; what I've been through just to find my blogs today! GBS what have you done to us!! Here is a newslatter, very interesting, honoring The Countessl; 2 COBSAE is a community of enthusiasts dedicated to research, discussion, and the appreciation of one of history’s most enigmatic figures, Countess Erzsébet Báthory. Community of Báthory Scholars & Enthusiasts Greetings, Good People of COBSAE! SPRING 2012 It’s hard to believe that it’s already May! We wish you a warm and wonderful spring. This issue leads us gently into the season as we feature the wonderful work of medieval renaissance musicians, Cançoniȇr and the sublime poetry of Spanish writer, Juan Schreiber. We also give you an update on the release status of Ravin Tija Maurice’s new novel, “Legacy: A Daughters of Darkness Novel” and where you can get your copy. As always, we would love to hear from you and make your contributions a part of our next issue! Feel free to write us at: COBSAE@infamouslady.com.We also invite you to join our online group on Facebook and like our Infamous Lady Fan Page on Facebook! Many thanks for your continued support and enthusiasm! ~ Liz Carrington, COBSAE Co-founder In this Issue: Condesa Bathory, “Ad Honorem”………….2 Release Update for Legacy: A Daughters of Darkness Novel ………………………….4 The Black Dragon & The Blood Countess: An interview with Tim Rayborn of Cançoniȇr…………………….……....…….5 The Last Word News & Reviews…………..7 Join COBSAE @: www.infamouslady.com 3 Condesa Bathory, “ad honorem” By Juan Schreiber Based in Madrid, Spain, writer and educator, Juan Schreiber is an aficionado of mythical gothic writings, the alternative, and the scientific. Here he shares with us one of his many works dedicated to the Countess. I. Una niña llora, abrazada por las Sombras Grita y muerde, entre convulsiones Alfarero Oscuro moldea circunvoluciones Después yace, inerte, sobre ricas alfombras II. De niña a mujer, tenebrosa melancolía Genio precoz preso de crasos intereses Comercio nupcial, infinito tedio de años, meses Alivio en oscura lujuria y oculta sabiduría III. Espejo mágico de lucíferos conjuros Único amigo fiel, insomne y mudo testigo De un alma desolada, sedienta de abrigo Reflejo de Belleza, solaz de gélidos muros IV. Por fin, viuda, libre, poderosa, espléndida, madura Hechicera de Safo, bañada en fresca virginal sangre Los gemidos de un mar de ninfas no sacian tu hambre Cobraste así al PADRE-Dios su deuda con feroz usura I. A girl cries, embraced by the Shadows Screaming and biting, from seizures Dark Potter molds convolutions Afterwards she lays, inert, on luxurious carpets II. From girl to woman, dark melancholy Precocious genius a prisoner of gross interest Bride of commerce infinite tedium of years, months Finding relief in dark lust and hidden wisdom III. Magic mirror of demonic spells The one loyal friend, a sleepless and silent witness From a desolate soul, thirsting for shelter Reflection of Beauty, comfort of icy walls IV. Finally, the widow, free, powerful, splendid, mature Sorceress of Sappho, bathed in fresh virgin blood The groans of sea nymphs do not quench your hunger Father-God has charged you his debt with fierce usury Visit Scribd.com to read Juan’s essays and learn more about his work. 2 IV Katrine is a seemingly ordinary girl who is suddenly thrown into extraordinary circumstances. When three mysterious women unexpectedly arrive to see her mother, Anastasia, a sinister secret is revealed and a terrifying chain of events is unleashed, leaving the young girl and her mother forever changed. Tormented by violent encounters and chilling dreams, Katrine embarks on a macabre journey to claim her dark and dangerous birthright as the granddaughter of the notorious and bloodthirsty Countess Elizabeth Bathory. She struggles to cope with an unusual transformation and control the new hunger for blood which overwhelms, and finally brings her face-to-face with the Countess. A twist of fate leads Katrine to meet others with similar traits; what is left of her life changes when she joins them and becomes a part of their strangely enigmatic and disturbingly beautiful world. Despite her new beginnings, the frightening past continues to stalk her, leaving her to consider if the Bathory blood running through her veins would ultimately save or destroy her. A young girl’s life is forever changed when she learns she is the granddaughter of the bloodthirsty, Countess Elizabeth Bathory… AVAILABLE NOW! Legacy: A Daughters of Darkness Novel By Ravin Tija Maurice Legacy: A Daughters of Darkness Novel Paperback 6x9: $14.95 ISBN: 978-0615589879 Published by: Batori Szatmar Publishing Support this talented new author by getting your copy today! Available now at Amazon.com, and other fine retailers and distributors. Learn more about Ravin @: http://www.ravintm.blogspot.com/ Watch the trailer on YouTube: http://youtu.be/WYuTHegOA44 Excerpts: "The Countess smiled. The expression lit up her porcelain skin, which was so perfect, one could never guess her age. Her elegantly shaped face was like a beautifully carved image, her dark eyes holding a gilt of something mysterious and forbidden...She walked around me so she could examine me fully. The intense look on her face was unsettling, but I did not want to stop her from looking at me. I was completely drawn in by her dominance." "I could feel the rage welling up inside of me. Looking into his eyes, I could sense something dark and evil about him, a thing that made him unworthy of his religious station. He was no man of God...'I believe you are not a good man, Father. You are closer in kin to the Devil than any God I know,' I growled at him. He called me strigoi then began to pray…” “Her fangs suddenly came out and I tried not to recoil in fear. She laughed. 'Afraid of what you really are? Too bad. You'll never learn that we are all the same in the end, little rat. We need blood, and yours smells divine.'…” 3 V In March Cançonièr, offered a fascinating concert entitled, “The Blood Countess—Music from the Time of Elizabeth Báthory.” We chat with musician, Tim Rayborn to learn more about this project, the group, and the music that emerged during the life and times of Countess Bathory. COBSAE: Tim could you please tell us a little bit about yourself and your early music ensemble, Cançonièr? TR: Cançonièr is an Occitan word (medieval southern French), meaning “songbook.” Its equivalent in northern France was the chansonnier. These books were medieval collections of songs, with both secular and sacred works being included. Cançonièr seeks to inform as well as entertain; we spice our concerts with fascinating historical anecdotes, and our signature humor! I am a multi-instrumentalist, playing dozens of musical instruments from medieval Europe, the Middle East, and the Balkans, including lutes, plucked strings, flutes, and percussion. To date I’ve recorded on more than 35 CDs for a number of labels, including: Gaudeamus, Wild Boar, EMP, Magnatune, and Harmonia Mundi. I lived and worked as a musician in the UK for seven years and received a Ph.D. in medieval studies at the University of Leeds. I have toured the U.S. and Europe (from Ireland to Turkey) extensively, performing with the medieval groups Tintagel and Ensemble Florata (including concerts at both of the York and Beverley Early Music Festivals, Alden Biesen Castle in Belgium, Bunyloa in Majorca, and the Spitalfields Festival in London). I’ve also performed for BBC in the UK and Channel Islands, toured in Canada and Australia, and worked with folk musicians in Marrakech and Istanbul. I’ve also taught at the SFEMS Medieval/Renaissance summer workshop, and Pinewoods Early Music Week in MA. I currently co-direct Cançonièr with fellow musician Annette Bauer. Cançonièr is the Ensemble-in-Residence at Music Sources, Center for Historically Informed Performances, Inc. Based in Berkeley, CA, this organization is a non-profit institution and an educational resource. Its annual concert series features distinguished local and international artists. Visit our website www.canconier.com to read our bios and learn more about us. The Black Dragon & The Blood Countess An interview with Tim Rayborn of Cançonièr Their work described as “mesmerizing” (Fanfare) and “exquisite” (Early Music America), Cançonièr is a Bay Area-based early music group devoted to medieval repertoire from the 12th to the 15th centuries. Created by acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Tim Rayborn and recorder virtuoso Annette Bauer in the summer of 2008, the group has quickly gained the attention of the early music community. Utilizing voices and instruments, Cançonièr brings to life the vibrant musical cultures of medieval Europe, through a combination of scholarly research, improvisational techniques, and impeccable musicianship. Learn more about and Connect with Cançonièr on the web at: http://www.canconier.com http://www.musicsources.org/ Email: info@canconier.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/canconier “During Countess Báthory’s life, Hungary was a remarkable mix of cultures: medieval and Renaissance, Catholic and Protestant, Ottoman and Romany (“gypsy”), all residing uneasily side-by-side. The music reflected this mix…” Listen to tracks & purchase this wonderful album at CD baby! 4 VI Romany (“gypsy”), all residing uneasily side-by-side. The music reflected this mix, and is represented by our program. We opened and closed the concert with a piece by Sebestyén Tinódi, a 16th-century Hungarian poet and musician who was deeply affected by the conflicts with the Turks, and wrote epic poems and chronicles about the events he had witnessed. The Ottoman Turks, who controlled large areas of Hungary, had their own elaborate musical traditions, including complex suites of secular court music, and the chanting of the Qur'an (which is not considered music by Muslims, to differentiate it from secular traditions). The Roma ("gypsies") were an established presence in the Balkans by this time, and had their own folksong traditions, but these are not as easily datable, owing to the fact that they come from an oral, rather than a written, tradition. COBSAE: The famous Hungarian poet, Bálint Balassi, attended court and studied with Countess Báthory’s husband, Ferenc Nádasdy. Did Balassi, set his poems to music? If so, what are the themes of the music? TR: Bálint Balassi, baron of Kékkő (Modrý Kameň in modern Slovakia) was a nobleman, the founder of modern Hungarian lyric poetry, and the first author of Hungarian erotic poetry. He was said to have spoken eight languages, and he produced hundreds of songs on religious, political, and amorous subjects. He borrowed from both Hungarian folk music and the Western Renaissance style. As a teenager, he was a friend of Ferenc Nádasdy, only a few years before his marriage to Lady Báthory. We perform one of his songs instrumentally (Háborúit), as well as his setting of the lyrics Szép vénuszt to the music of La Zanetta Padoana, which was originally composed as an instrumental four-part dance by the Italian composer Giorgio Mainerio. COBSAE: What sort of traveling ensembles might have visited the Báthory or Nádasdy courts. What would these performances have been like and what kinds of instruments would they have used? TR: The Countess' tastes or interest in music are not known. Since her upbringing was Calvinist, there would have been a distaste in her home for all but the simplest of psalm melodies and hymn tunes. She may COBSAE: In March, your ensemble offered a fascinating concert entitled, “The Blood Countess—Music from the Time of Elizabeth Báthory.” Can you please tell us about what kind of music was popular during Countess Báthory’s lifetime (1560-1614), and what type of music she would likely have heard in Hungary or at court in Vienna? TR: There were many varieties of music known in Hungary, depending on the region and the religion in question. Our recent concert tried to show some of that diversity. Hungary was deeply influenced by the emerging trends in Western music, and Renaissance dance music, songs, and polyphony (both religious and secular) were certainly known in the courts. Western composers also took certain Hungarian dance melodies and reworked them into Western forms. Hungary looked to the West for musical inspiration, and Western composers were also fond of creating or adapting “Hungarian” dances. In the 15th and early 16th century, we are lacking any native Hungarian musical sources for the current repertoire, but there do exist nine distinguished sets of courtly Hungarian dance tunes that were transmitted in various Western sources during those centuries. Mainerio's Ungaresca, the Hayduzcky transmitted in Jan of Lublin's lute tabulature, and Ein Ungarischer Tanz (“A Hungarian Dance”) adapted from the Heckel lute tabulature, are all examples of those pieces. From the 17th century on, several Hungarian sources survive and transmit Hungarian songs and instrumental music, often in settings for virginal, a compact, very soft keyboard instrument popular throughout Europe in the 17th century. The two pieces taken from the Kajoni Codex and the Sopron Virginal Book are both examples of that repertoire. The lower classes would have had folk songs and dances, as well as the religious music they heard in church (Latin chant and polyphonic music in Catholic areas, vernacular psalms in Protestant ones). COBSAE: How was music of this time period influenced by the Ottoman wars? TR: During Countess Báthory’s life, Hungary was a remarkable mix of cultures: medieval and Renaissance, Catholic and Protestant, Ottoman and The Black Dragon & The Blood Countess Continued 5 VII The Black Dragon & The Blood Countess Continued have developed a liking for other kinds of music as an adult, but this is not recorded. Her husband, Ferenc Nadasdy, however, came from a courtly tradition of artistic patronage, thus it is likely that Nadasdy brought musicians of various kinds to his court. Musicians and composers certainly traveled in the medieval and Renaissance periods, often very far from their lands of origin. They often sought patronage wherever they could find it, and it is likely that the Hungarian courts of the late 16th century hosted many such entertainers, from Western Europe, as well as closer to home. A group providing music for a banquet might number anywhere from a few to a dozen or more. Good singers were always appreciated and in demand. Western European instruments were often grouped in families and might include a consort (group) of recorders, violas da gamba (early bowed, cello-like instruments with frets), shawms (rather like loud oboes, originally from the Middle East), or a mixture of viols, a lute, one or more violins (more or less the same instrument as now), a wooden flute, etc. These were sometimes known as "broken consorts" because they contained different instruments, not just different sizes of one instrument family. Other popular instruments included the bagpipe (similar, but not the same as the modern Scottish bagpipe), various kinds of drum (played with sticks or the hands), and the harpsichord (smaller, spinet-like instruments). In Hungary itself, there were folk instruments such as the kobza (a short-necked lute that seems to have developed in the 16th century), as well as folk flutes, folk fiddles, and Balkan bagpipes which came from medieval traditions. The Turks had a bewildering number of instruments of their own. Many were of Central Asian or Arabic origin, including the saz and tanbur (long-necked lutes), the kemence (a small three-string, bowed instrument played upright), the qanun (a large zither played in the lap), and the ney (a side-blown cane flute, essentially just a hollow tube, with a haunting breathy sound). COBSAE: Can you tell us a bit about your latest recording, The Black Dragon and how your concert, The Blood Countess: Music from the Time of Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) emerged from it? TR: The fifteenth century was a time of remarkable change in music, as musical conventions and practices evolved from medieval to early Renaissance styles. It also was a time of major transitions in art, religion, politics, and technology. During this century, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks, the printing press was invented, the Tudors took the crown of England, the Moors were expelled from southern Spain, Christopher Columbus sailed, Leonardo da Vinci was born and began to work, the Renaissance in Italy bloomed in full, and for a few years, a man who would become infamous ruled a small country called Wallachia in what is now southern Romania. He was called Vlad Dracula (c.1431 – 1476). His father, Vlad II, adopted the name Dracul (“Dragon”) when he joined the Order of the Dragon, a chivalric order dedicated to crusading against the Turks in the Balkans. His son took the name Dracula, or “Son of the Dragon.” Dracula was, of course, partially the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s iconic anti-hero, though he was no vampire, but rather sought to repel the Ottomans by any means necessary, including brutal forms of torture and execution. This album explores the rich musical cultures of Vlad's time, from both Eastern and Western Europe. Featuring Michel Beheim’s German poem about Vlad’s deeds, Italian dances and German songs, music of the Byzantine court, Balkan folk songs, Turkish classical music, the Lamentation for the Fall of Constantinople by Guillaume Dufay, and more. Countess Báthory's bizarre and ghastly legend has evoked fear and morbid fascination for centuries, rivaling the reputation of Vlad Dracula, and providing ghoulish fodder for horror films, novels, and other such fictional diversions. The stereotypical image of the Balkans as dark, frightening, and perverse lands, filled with vampires, werewolves, and ghosts, is due in no small part to the stories of such real-life figures as Vlad Dracula and Erzsébet Báthory. Both were certainly monstrous in their own way, but both were also accused of crimes that they never committed. We hope this concert provides an introduction to the rich musical life of this time, an age when (like now) a good, lurid story was frequently more popular than the truth. COBSAE: Where can we listen to and purchase your music? TR: You can listen to samples and purchase the CD or individual tracks of The Black Dragon at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/canconier2# 6 VIII www.infamouslady.com The Last Word News & Reviews Coming Soon to an iPad Near You! Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory Expanded Digital Edition Available Summer 2012 exclusively for iPad via iTunes & iBooks! Prof. Kimberly Craft brings you exciting new content in this interactive and visually stunning special electronic edition. You will find new information including new letters, images, and media such as videos and audio. Stay tuned and we’ll bring you more information as the release date nears and let you know when it’s available and where to download your copy! From Amazon.com: “A much needed biography of the ‘Infamous Lady” Not since the late Prof. Raymond T. McNally's 1984 *Dracula was a Woman* has there been a scholarly biography that attempted to examine the facts surrounding the life and crimes of Erzsebet Bathory, the Lady Widow Nadasdy, the so-called "Blood Countess." But even McNally's otherwise great book catered to the more sensational aspects connected with Elizabeth Bathory in that the second half of the book explored the occult themes connected to her crimes (vampirism, necrophilia, lycanthropy, etc.) in the popular imagination, and of course there was its title *Dracula was a Woman.* Kimberly Craft's book is a very well-researched historical biography which examines the historical facts that can be adduced regarding the "Infamous Lady's" life and crimes. So if you're looking for tales of lesbian vampirism this is probably not the book for you. All in all,’ Infamous Lady’ is a great book.” ~ L. Freeman If you’ve read Infamous Lady, The Private Letters of Countess Erzsébet Báthory, or Elizabeth Bathory: A Memoire, we’d love to hear your feedback! Please share your reviews with us @: COBSAE@infamouslady.com IX We hope you enjoyed this issue! We look forward to your thoughts and feedback! If you’re a fan of the Countess and would like to contribute to a future issue, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you and feature your contributions. Please write to us or send your inquiry to: COBSAE@infamouslady.com Community of Báthory Scholars & Enthusiasts SPRING 2012 Many thanks to the members who have so generously contributed to the creation of this newsletter: COBSAE Founder /Author, Kimberly L. Craft COBSAE Co-founder / Production Editor, Liz Carrington Juan Schreiber Tim Rayborn Features: “Condesa Bathory: Ad Honorem” Juan Schreiber “Legacy: A Daughters of Darkness Novel” Batori Szatmar Publishing “The Black Dragon & The Blood Countess” Tim Rayborn Images Courtesy of: Tim Rayborn/Scott Shappell, Batori Szatmar Publishing, and Kimberly L. Craft Last Word Review: L. Freeman

Injustice

While it is written later, I urge everyone to read Mary Wollstonecraft's, A Vindication of the Rights of Women. If you google the title, you will find many free e-texts. I would also review Bronte's Jane Eyre, for the role a woman of a certain class played. Erzebet was aristocracy, but as a widow, with apparently no friends whose male relatives have turned against her, she is part of a long tradition of historical women ulitmately scorned and betrayed. I often wonder if a scolds bridle would have been put on her had she tried to defend herself. For a view of how royal women were tried about 100 hears before Erzebet's death, there is a law review article called The Trial of Anne Boleyn which sets out to who that Anne B. received about the best "mock" trial she could have had for the time, given that her royal husband was determined to be rid of her. Also, there are accounts of Catharine of Aragon and her refusal to put up with Henry's mock court to prove her marriage to him was not legitimate. She walked out and refused to come back. Also, I would review the alleged history of Isabella the She Wolf and Eleanor of Acquitane. Thanks to the over 400 people who have read my blog so far. Anne Rice, The Wolf Gift is Wonderful! See my other blogs: Dr. E's Doll Museum Doll Museum Memoir; Writing your Live Story Miss Bronte Meets Miss Pym Dr. E's Greening Tips for the Common Person