Elizabeth Bathory, the infamous "Blood Countess," was a Hungarian noblewoman and serial killer who lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. She is believed to have tortured and murdered hundreds of young women, primarily servants and peasants, in her castle in Cachtice, Slovakia. Bathory's sadistic tendencies reportedly included biting, cutting, and burning her victims, as well as bathing in their blood in the belief that it would keep her youthful and beautiful. Although the exact number of her victims is unknown, estimates range from dozens to hundreds. Her crimes were eventually uncovered, and she was imprisoned in her castle until her death in 1614. Elizabeth Bathory's reign of terror and the legends surrounding her have made her a notorious figure in history, inspiring numerous works of literature, film, and art.
