The Bloody Countess
This Hungarian noblewoman is known as the "Bloody Countess".
Who is Elizabeth Báthory?
Her story shows how this can corrupt people.
What is power?
This common (and forbidden) practice in noble families led to many of Bathory's relatives to be closely related.
What is incest/inbreeding?
Most of the crimes took place in this type of building.
Authorities began investigating Báthory after reports of this
What are disappearances/deaths of young girls?
She was accused of kiling young girls to maintain this.
What is youth/beauty?
She feared losing this as she aged.
What is beauty/youth?
Some accounts suggest her relatiaves suffered from this condition.
What is mental illness?
Many of her victims came from this social class.
What are peasants/servant girls?
Witnesses gave this type of evidence against her.
What is testimony?
This country is where Bathory lived and committed her crimes.
What is Hungary?
Her actions highlight the gap between nobles and this group.
What are lower classes/peasants?
Her family's obsession with maintaining this led to repeated marriages within the same bloodline.
What is purity of blood/status?
This castle was her main residence and crime location.
What is Cachtice Castle?
Her servants were punished with this after being found guilty.
What is execution (or torture/execution)?
Bathory's noble title gave her this advantage over others.
What is power/authority (immunity from punishment?)
Her lack of punishment shows injustice in this system.
What is the social/class system?
These power relatives helped protect her from immediate punishment.
Who are influential nobles/royalty?
What is work/employment?
Her noble status prevented her from receiving this punishment.
What is execution/death penalty?
What is being walled up and imprisoned in her castle?
This idea explains how stories change over time.
This idea suggests her violent behavior may have been influenced by her family background.
What is inherited traits/genetics (or learned behavior)?
This behaviour was strongly observed when Bathory drew pleasure from her victims suffering.
What is sadism?
This powerful connection helped shield her from harsher justice.
What is political/noble connections (or influence of royalty)?