Open AccessElisabeth Báthory – a true story
Author(s) -
Aleksandra Bartosiewicz
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
przegląd nauk historycznych
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.101
0eISSN - 2450-7660
pISSN - 1644-857X
DOI - 10.18778/1644-857x.17.03.04
Subject(s) - legend , history , classics , genealogy , art history , literature , art
Almost everyone has heard the legend of cruel Elisabeth Báthory who bathed in the blood of young virgins to preserve eternal youth. The countess is also known as one of the bloodiest women in Europe. She is registered on the world list of Guinness records as the biggest serial killer of all time. However, there is a doubt whether she committed all crimes attributed to her. Thus, the article presents two alternative biographies of the Hungarian aristocrat: one that derives from legends, and the other that is based on historical facts recently determined by contemporary researchers of the topic.