Countess Elizabeth Bathory: A Vampire and Serial Killer All Rolled into One

A Transylvanian Tragedy

For hundreds of years, people all over the world have been fascinated by the mysterious tales of vampires. Although in the general public, the consensus is that no such creature actually exists, the fact remains that may not necessarily be accurate. Granted, vampires as we see them in the movies probably don't exist. However, there do seem to be a few elements of truth sprinkled throughout the vampire legends.

Although many believe the concept of vampirism originated with a Romanian Prince by the name of Vlad Tepes - - more widely known as Vlad the Impaler - - he is not the only one associated with this folklore. It is, of course, widely accepted that Bram Stoker used Tepes as the basis for his character Dracula. Particularly since Tepes's Romanian surname was Draculea, which loosely translates into Dracula. And there is certainly no denying that many the allegations associated with Vlad were damning. But to his people, he was considered somewhat of a hero; making it appear as though he had a kind of Jekyll and Hyde character.

Although impalement was believed to be the prince's favorite form of execution, it was by no means the only torture in which he is said to have indulged. It also appears as if no one was exempt from his wrath. He supposedly thought nothing of torturing and/or killing men, women, or children and peasants or nobility alike. His methods were horrific employing such techniques as blinding, burning, mutilating his victims. Some believe that he also indulged in scalping, skinning, freezing and boiling people alive.

In truth, however, there were others just as merciless and just as depraved as Vlad himself. One of the most noted, and actually considered by many to be the first true vampire, was Countess Elizabeth Bathory. For those who don't believe in vampires, there is still no denying that she reigns supreme as one of the most prolific serial killers of all time.