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There are many rumors about this controversial person. Some call her a sadistic and serial killer. Although there is no direct evidence of this, it is this image that has taken root in folklore and world cinema. Others are convinced that she is the victim of a church conspiracy, a slandered and robbed aristocrat. Who was Erzsebet Bathory really? There are two legends. One is bloody and mystical, just in the spirit of the Middle Ages. The other is more pragmatic, but not devoid of inconsistencies.
Erzhebet Bathory
Erzhebet (aka Alzhbeta, aka Elizabeth) was born in Hungary. The girl belonged to the noble family of Bathory, and her parents were relatives to each other. Father György was the brother of the governor of Transylvania Andras Bathory, and mother Anna was the daughter of the governor Istvan IV Bathory. By the way, Elizabeth was the niece of the King of Poland and Prince of Lithuania, Stefan Batory. She was educated, from childhood she studied languages and delved into the nuances of managing the estate. Alzhbeta often became an unwitting witness to the punishment of servants and even public executions. During the Middle Ages, noble life was valuable, while the life of ordinary peasants was not worth a penny. Young and ardent Erzhebet remembered this and accurately reproduced when she had to manage her own estate.
At the age of 10, the girl was betrothed to the son of Baron Ferenc Nadashdi, and 5 years later she married him. For the wedding, the groom gave the bride the Chakhtitsa Castle, which became her most beloved palace. Ironically, it was there that the "bloody countess" spent the rest of her days in captivity.
