The most notorious serial killer in history was a queen: Elizabeth Bathory

We are all more or less familiar with the term serial killer. The term first appeared in the late 18th century, when the notorious killer Jack the Ripper committed a series of infernal murders in East London's Whitechapel. His 11 murders between 1888 and 1891 caused panic and made him known around the world. But Jack the Ripper isn't the only serial killer to go down in history for brutality. There is one remarkable name in the list of serial killers, and that is Queen Elizabeth Bathory of Hungary. History has not only identified her as a serial killer, but she is also considered to be the first female serial killer in the history of the world.

Definition of Serial Killers and Involvement of Women

A serial killer usually refers to a person who commits multiple murders in a row. They usually attack victims inhumanely and kill them brutally. But the activities of serial killers were not limited to men. The list of serial killers also includes numerous women's names. Just as infamous killers like Ted Bundy attracted women, so too have women entered the world of murder. But Queen Elizabeth Bathory is the most feared and tainted name in history on this list.

Elizabeth Bathory: An Infernal Queen

Elizabeth Bathory was a notorious queen of Hungary, who has gone down in history for her brutality and bloodthirsty nature. His life and actions are a terrible example not only to the people of his time but also to history. Born in 1560, Bathory was the daughter of a noble, powerful family. But hidden within her beauty and power was a brutal attitude, making her part of a cursed history.

Bloodlust for beauty

Elizabeth Bathory was not only a serial killer, she was a terrible bloodthirsty woman. In history she was also called "The Blood Countess" because she believed that bathing in the blood of virgin women would make her beautiful forever. It is this distorted belief of his that pushes him towards one murder after another. Historians believe that he drank the blood of around 600 virgin women. Although this number has never been confirmed, the heinousness of Bathory's crimes is so brutal that history marks him as a legend. Some researchers even think that the number of women killed may be more than a thousand.

Bathari victim

Bathory's victims were mainly teenage girls from poor families in her neighborhood. Initially, he used to bring girls from poor families to his palace in the name of providing employment opportunities. There he would start torturing them. Bathari used to torture their bodies in ways beyond imagination. These tortures often ended in death. The bodies were thrown outside the palace, or sometimes hidden.

Abuse of power

Bathory's brutality was covered up for a long time because she was a powerful woman. His palace was a kingdom of darkness, where he, obsessed with power, played with people's lives as he pleased. But in the end he could not hide this hellish activity for long. The news of his crime spread slowly and even the powerful people of the society took a stand against him.

Trial and Punishment

In 1610, Elizabeth Bathory's crimes came to light. One of his servants betrays him and publicizes his heinous activities. After a massive investigation, evidence was found that Bathory had killed many teenage girls. He was arrested and his servants were executed for helping him. Elizabeth Bathory, however, was spared the death penalty because of her social status and power. He was imprisoned in his palace, where he died four years later in 1614.

Bathory's legacy

Elizabeth Bathory has written a dark chapter in history for her brutal actions. Since his death, his story has not been confined to historians, but has found its way into literature, cinema, and folklore. Many compare his story to a ghoul or a blood-sucking vampire. Even today, Bathory remains a mysterious and terrifying character.

Education and Completion

Elizabeth Bathory's life reminds us of a terrible side of our history. He is an extreme example of how power, greed, and a twisted mind can turn a man into a brute. His story teaches us that humanity also has a dark side, which can sometimes cross all the boundaries of society's rules and ethics. Elizabeth Bathory will forever remain a cursed name not only in the history of Hungary, but also in the history of the world.