Erzsebet Bathory Timeline

Erszebet (Elizabeth) Bathory is one of the most infamous female serial killers in history. Erszebet was born in 1560 to a very important family. Members of her family included Polish and Transylvanian kings. She was married to Count Ferencz Nadasdy for the connections that such a marriage would produce. The Count died 1604 and it is reported that his death may have caused the Countess to become fearful of death and of aging. Punishment of Erszebet's servants often turned to torture and at one time the blood of one of these servants splashed onto the Countess's skin. She believed that the blood made her skin look younger and was convinced that bathing in blood would prevent aging. Countess Erszebet Bathory began killing young girls, preferably virgins, so she could bathe in their blood. Young girls would be brought before the Countess,stripped of their costumes, tortured and killed. Reports say that she was responsible for the death of 610-650 young women. These acts of ritual killing earned her the nickname “The Blood Countess”.

1560 Erszebet Bathory born to George and Anna Bathory

1569 Erszebet was forced to witness the rape and death of her two sisters.

1571 Erszebet was forced into an engagement with Count Ferencz Nadasdy

1574 Erszebet became pregnant and gave birth to a child fathered by a peasant. The child was given to a peasant family to raise.

1575 Erszebet married the count who was 25 years old. She was 15 years old at the time.

1575 The Count and Countess moved to castle Cachtice, the Nadasdy family home.

1585 Erszebet gave birth to the first child born during her marriage to the Count. It was a girl. It is believed that she gave birth to two more daughters and one son, in the years closely following this birth.

1598 A son, named Paul was born. He was the Countess's only son.

1604 Count Ferencz Nadasdy dies. Stories about his cause of death range from death due to infection, poisoning or even witchcraft.

1604 After the death of her husband, Erszebet began spending a large amount of time with Anna Darvula, who is believed to have been her lover.

1607 Due to financial problems the Countess was forced to sell the Castle.

1609 After the suspicious deaths of several noblewomen the King of Hungary ordered Erszebet's arrest.

1610 The castle was raided and Erszebet was taken into custody.

1611 The Countess attempted to flee the castle and was confined there while her family refused the King, who demanded that she go on trial.

1612 The Countess's accomplices went on trial and four of them were convicted and sentenced to death, while Erszebet never actually went to trial.

1614 Erszebet Bathroy died in a bricked in room in her castle. She was confined for the last four years of her life even though she was never convicted of, nor did she ever admit to, her crimes.