Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory
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Therefore, if she desired, and even if she still wanted to exclude someone from her property, nor could she have so wished in the least; her intention therefore continues to be that the entire property will be divided among them (her heirs). Finally, had she established in documents of the aforementioned Lord György Homonnay, in the journal of 1610, what property she had assigned, which is why we have kept for ourselves these writings on these dispositions aforementioned by Lady Erzsébet Báthory to the knowledge of our trusted brothers, in writing referred to under the seal of our chapter and entrusted to them. Given on Sunday after the Feast of St. Peter in Chains (in vinculi), in 1614.
STANISLAS THURZÓ’S LETTER TO GYÖRGY THURZÓ
AUGUST 25, 1614
Servitiorum meorum paratissimam commendationem. God give Your Grace, your wife, and your beloved children good health and a happy, long life. I received melons from my garden in Sempte and, with this coach, I send you some. I beg you, take it with my great pleasure. With God's blessing should you, your wife and your children eat in good health. If Your Grace knows of any news, I request, as my Lord and benevolent patron, that you please share it with me, as well. With us, there is no news of which I should notify you. 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. In the morning, she was found dead. They say, however, she prayed imploringly and praised God with beautiful singing. Regarding her funeral, we still have no information.
I commend myself and my services, along with my wife, to Your Grace, your wife, and your beloved children. God grant Your Grace a long and healthy life. Pöstyén (Piastány), 25 August, Anno Domini 1615.
Illustrissime Domi(natio)nis vestre servitor et Frater addictissimus
Count Stanislas Thurzó
By his own hand (manu propria)
Some memorable events, which in this (17th) century have taken place in the dominion of Csejthe (Chronicle of Castle Csejthe)
April 25, 1603: Ferenc Nádasdy I assumes possession of Csejthe and died in January 1604.
April 17, 1608: The Hungarians went to Prague to get to the crown.
June 27: The emperor gave Hungary the crown.
July 10: The Hungarians have returned from Prague.
July 29, 1606: The flooding of the brook in Csejthe tore bridge, houses and scarecrows in the field.
January 6, 1610: Mr. George Homonnay has married: he took Kata Nádasdy as his wife.
December 29: Mrs. Erzsébet Báthory was captured during dinner and next day brought into the castle.
January 7, 1611: There were two women and Ficzkó, and then also on 24 January, Mistress of Miava, burned because they were accomplices of Mrs. Báthory, in the torturing of girls.
Oct. 8: The Dominium of Csejthe was divided in half between Pál Nádasdy and Mr. Zrínyi. Mátyás Töttösi was steward/manager of Mr. Zrínyi’s estate.
October 18, 1613: Gábor Báthory, Prince of Transylvania, was murdered.
August 18, 1614: Mr. Nádasdy gives Mr. Homonnay one third of the dominion of Csejthe and Beckov.
August 21: Erzsébet Báthory died at Csejthe Castle at two after midnight.
November 25: She was buried in the church of Csejthe.
January 29, 1615: Pál Nádasdy releases Brezova to Mihaly Nagy.
August 13: Mrs. Zrínyi died.
In December, Palatine Thurzó died. On February 19, he was buried.
March 9, 1616: The goods of Csejthe and Beckov were divided between Homonnay and Pál Nádasdy.
August 3, 1620: His Grace Pál Nádasdy was betrothed to his wife, Judith Revay.
December 15, 1621: My mistress, Mrs. Pál Nádasdy, bore a son, György Nádasdy.
January 14, 1623: She has a second son, Ferenc.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LITERARY WORKS ON THE COUNTESS
1729: Lászlo Turoczi writes Ungaria suis cum regibus com pendia data.
1744: Lászlo Turoczi writes Báthory Erzsébet.
1796: Michael Wegener writes Beiträge zur Philosophischen Anthropologie.
1839: John Paget publishes an account of his European travels, devoting a chapter to the history of Countess Báthory.
1894: Ferdinand von Strobl Ravelsberg, under the pseudonym of R.A. von Elsberg, writes the essay, Die Blütgrafin (Erzsébet Báthory): Ein Sitten und Charakterbild.
1932: Slovak writer Jožo Nižňanský publishes Cachtická Pani (Lady of Csejthe), a gothic novel written in a series of episodes.
1962: Valentine Penrose publishes La Comtesse Sanglante, a historical novel that celebrates the exploits of the Count ess.
1975: French writer Maurice Périsset publishes, Comtesse de Sang.
1983: Raymond T. McNally writes, Dracula was a Woman: In Search of the Blood Countess of Transylvania.
1996: Andrei Codrescu writes, The Blood Countess.
EXCERPT FROM LÁSZLÓ TURÓCZI’S BOOK, Ungaria suis cum regibus compendio data, THAT RE-INTRODUCED THE COUNTESS TO EUROPE:
“(Thurzó, along with…) the sons in-law of the mistress, Niklas Zrínyi and György Drugeth, and their appointed servant, then the guardian of the orphaned Pál Nádasdy - Imre Megyery - , along with numerous soldiers and servants, went to the castle in the village of Csejthe. Immediately upon entering, he (Thurzó) was convinced of what the witnesses confessed. A girl named Doricza was found dead as a result of beatings and torture, as well as another girl who was already dying. Here was the sight of such a horrible and bestial madness and cruelty, of which so deeply shocked him that he declared Mrs. Nádasdy to be a bloodthirsty and blood-sucking godless woman, to have been caught red-handed, and sentenced to perpetual imprisonment in the castle Csejthe, her helpers, arrested.”
Portrait of Countess Erzsébet Báthory
Portrait of Countess Erzsébet Báthory
Portrait of Ferenc Nádasdy
Portrait of Ferenc Nádasdy
Portrait of György Thurzó
Portrait of King Mátyás II
Tamás Nádasdy
Orsolya Nádasdy
Erzsébet’s Uncle, István Báthory, King of Poland
Erzsébet’s Cousin, Gábor Báthory
Portrait of Krisztina Nyary, 1625.
Woodcut of Erzsébet Báthory’s family home at Ecsed.
Castle Csejthe as it appears today.
Castle Sárvár in Erzsébet’s day.
Castle Keresztúr in Erzsébet’s day.
Castle Csejthe (19th century photograph)
KNOWN STAFF OF COUNTESS BÁTHORY
Benedikt Desëo Court Master
Gergely Páztorny Sárvár Judge
Janós Ficzkó Personal attendant, Csejthe
Ilona Jó Nagy Nursemaid, Sárvár; personal attendant, Csejthe
Dorottya Szentes Personal attendant, Csejthe
Katalin Beneczky Personal attendant, Csejthe
Anna Darvolia Personal attendant, Sárvár/Csejthe
Ilona Zalay Lady in Waiting
Jacob Szilvassy Administrator, Leka and Keresztúr
István Martonfalvy Castellan, Leka
Janós Desëo Castellan, Keresztúr
Janós Zamabory Provost and paymaster, Keresztúr
Lady Barbara Bixi Attendant to the Lady
Ferenc Symanoffy Castellan, Beckó
Michael Herwoyth Provisor, Csejthe
Mátyás Sakathyartho Cellar Master, Csejthe
Michael Horwath Castellan, Csejthe
Janós Andachy Castellan, Csejthe
Martinus Gablyowych Staff
Dániel Vas Stablemaster, Csejthe
Benedict Bicserdy Castellan, Sárvár
Imre Megyeri Tutor and guardian, Sárvár
Gregor Paisjártó Vice Castellan, Sárvár
Bene
dikt Zalay Paymaster, Sárvár
Ferenc Török Squire, Sárvár
Baltasar Poby Castellan, Sárvár
György Tarnoczky Judge in Beckó
István Vagy Administrator, Csejthe
Pál Beöd Vice Castellan, Sárvár
Bulia, Barbera, Käte Servants, Csejthe
Susanna Servant, Sárvár and Csejthe
Sara Baranyai Staff
Helena Kotsis Staff
Anna Geonczy Staff
(István ?) Kozma Staff
KNOWN CONTRACTORS
Dr. Martinus Pharmacist
Nicolaus Krestyan Carpenter
Adam Pollio Craftsman
Ambrosius Borbély Plaster/paving
Erzsébet Miava (Majorova) Occultist
KNOWN VICTIMS
Kata Berényi
Kata Fekete
Lady Zsuzska Zelesthey
Lady Anna Ztubyczay
Susanna Tukynzky
Anna Barbel
Elizabeth Jezernyczky
Lady Zichy
Szabattkay girl
Draskóczy girl
Lady Sittkey
Ms. Modli
Lady Nagyvathy
Lady Belanczky
Jánosi girl
Szabo girl
Szoltay girl
KNOWN CLERGY
Rev. Michael Fabri Pastor, Kosztolány
Rev. Nicolaus Barosius Pastor, Verbo
Rev. Janós Ponikenusz Pastor, Csejthe
Rev. Michael Zvonaric Pastor, Sárvár
Rev. István Magyari Pastor, Sárvár
Very Rev. Élias Lányi Superintendant
Rev. Phythiaräus Pastor, Keresztúr
Rev. Andreas Barosius Pastor, Csejthe
Rev. Zacharias Pastor, Leszetice
SOME OF THOSE PRESENT ON THE NIGHT OF THE ARREST (along with Thurzó, Megyeri, Zrínyi, and Drugeth de Homonnay)
Rev. Nicolaus Barosius
Martinus Waychko
Rev. Janós Ponikenusz
Rev. Zacharias
Janós Krappmann (church servant)
Andreas Butora
Andreas Pryderowyth
Stephanus Bobochay
Michael Horwath (Csejthe Castellan)
György Kubanovich
Martin Jankovich
Martin Krsskó
Janós Valkó
Andreas Ukrovich
Ladislas Centalovich
Tamás Zima
NAMES: HUNGARIAN TO ENGLISH
Erzsébet : Elizabeth
Ferenc : Francis
György : George
Ilona : Helena
Janós : John
Dorottya : Dorothy
Katalin/Kata : Catherine
Miklós : Nicolas
Mihály : Michael
Mátyás : Matthew
Pál : Paul
András/Andreas : Andrew
Orsolya/Orsika : Ursula
Tamás : Thomas
István : Stephen
Benedek : Benedict
Imre/Emory : Emmerich
Márton : Martin
László/Ladislas : Laslo
Gergely : Gregory
Gábor : Gabriel
SOURCES OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS; ARCHIVES; AND CHRONOLOGICAL AND GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHIES:
Reviczky, Bertalan v., Elisabeth Báthory, Piestány (1903), pp. 18-19.
* Thurzó Letter to his Wife, December 30, 1610
Károlyi, Á., and Szalay, J., Nádasdy Tamás nádor családi levelezése, Budapest (1882), pp. 242-45.
* Two Letters of Erzsébet Báthory to Ferenc Nadasdy, 1596
* Letter of Orsolya Nádasdy to E. Báthory, 1604
Statny oblastny archiv Presov, Packet Drugeth Humenné, inv. C. 718.
* Chronicle of Castle Csejthe
Magyar Országos Levéltár (MOL), Budapest, Packet E 142. Act. publ. fasc. 28. No. 18.
* Letter of Mátyás II to Thurzó, Jan. 24, 1613, and Thurzo’s reply from Feb. 5, 1613
* Letter of Thurzó to András of Keresztúr, March 5, 1610
* Report of András of Keresztúr, September 19, 1610
* Letter of Thurzó to Mózes Cziráky, March 5, 1610
* Report of Mózes Cziráky, October 27, 1610
* Letter of Mátyás II to András of Keresztúr, Jan. 14, 1611
* Report of András of Keresztúr to Mátyás II, July 28, 1611
* Report of Mózes Cziráky, December 14, 1611
* Report of the Court at Újhely, Jan. 9, 1612
* Last Will and Testament of Erzsébet Báthory, Sept. 3, 1610, Id., at Act. publ. facs. 44 no. 25.
* Letter of Ponikenusz to Lányi, January 1, 1611, Id., Packet E 196. Rksz. 3. Fasc. 7. no. 69.
* Mátyás’s Letter to Thurzó, January 14, 1611, , Id., Packet E 196. Act. publ. fasc. 8. no. 7.
* Letter of Mátyás II to Thurzó, Feb. 26, 1611, Id., at publ. fasc. 8. no. 40.
* Letter of Mátyás II to Thurzó, March 18, 1611, Id., at publ. fasc. 18. no. 9.
* Letter of Mátyás II to Thurzó, April 17, 1611, Id., at publ. fasc. 23. no. 22.
Statny oblastny archiv Bytca (SOBA), Faszikel OK-Thurzovska korespondenicia, sign. II-Z/24.
* Zrínyi Letter to Thurzó, December 12, 1610
* Thurzó Letter to His Wife, December 30, 1610, Id., at sign. III-T/12
* Zrínyi Letter to Thurzó, February 12, 1611, Id., at sign. II-Z/24
* Nádasdy Letter to Thurzó, Feb. 23, 1611, Id., at sign. II- N/2
* Letter of Stanislas Thurzó to György Thurzó, Aug. 25, 1614, Id., at sign. II-T/22
R.A. v. Elsberg, Elisabeth Báthory, Breslau (1904), pp. 262-69.
* Letter of Thurzó to Mátyás II, March 30, 1611
* Letter of Hungarian High Chamber to Mátyás II, March 31, 1611
* Letter of Mátyás II to Thurzó, April 17, 1611
* Second Testament of Erzsébet Báthory, August 3, 1614
Hesperus, Prague (1817), vol. 1, No. 31, pp. 241-48 and July 1817, vol. 2, no. 34, pp. 270-73.
* Trial transcripts of January 2nd and 7th, 1611.
Tóth, István György, Literacy and Written Culture in Early Modern Central Europe, Central European University Press (2001).
* Letters of Tamás and Orsolya Nádasdy
ARCHIVES
Országos Széchényi Könyvtár, Budapest
Magyar Orsazágos Levéltár, Budapest
Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum, Budapest
Státni Knihovna Ceske Socialisticke Republiky, Prague
Státny Oblastny Archiv, Bytca
Státny Oblastny Archiv, Presov
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna
Österreichisches Staatsarchiv, Vienna
CHRONOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
1575
Franciscus Hipolytus Hildensheim, Euchai gamikai Apollinis et Musarum. Ad spectabilem et magnificum dominum, D. Franciscum de Nádasd, sponsum: Et generosam ac magnificam virgiem Elisabetham de Báthor, sponsam. Viennae Austriae ex officina Stephani Creuzeri, Anno MDLXXV.
1609
Protestaria Elisabetha Bathory, fol. 210 liber II, Archives of the Cathedral Chapter of Graner (1609)
Civitate libera regia Tyrnavense feria II, proxima ante festum S. Martini episcope et confessoris 1609. Archives of the Cathedral Chapter of Graner (1609).
1729
László Turóczi: Ungaria suis cum Regibus compendio data, Dum Illustrissimus, Rev. ac Doctissimus Comes Franciscus Barkoczi De Szala, Tyrnaviae, Typis Academicis Soc. Jesu per Fridericum Gall. Anno MDCCXXIX. Mense Septembri, 8., 245, pp. 188-193.
1735
Mátyás Bel, Apparatus ad Historiam Hungariae, sive collectio miscella, Monumentorum ineditorum partim; partim editorum, sed fugientium, Posonii, Typis Joannis Paulli Royer, A. MDCCXXXV, pp. 353-80, pp. 366-67, and p. 370.
1817
Abschrift des Zeugen-Verhörs in Betreff der grausamen That, welcher Elisabeth v. Báthory, Gemahlinn des Grafen Franz Nádasdy beschuldiget wird. 1611. Hesperus,
Prague, vol. 1, No. 31, pp. 241-48 and July 1817, vol. 2, no. 34, pp. 270-73.