When Bram Stoker's fictitious Dracula ingested blood, he transformed into a gorgeous, young version of himself. Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th-century Hungarian countess, is claimed to have utilized the blood of her slain victims to improve the condition of her skin. The claim is contained in two books published after Bathory's death in 1614: A True History and A Full Account of the Most Notorious Queen of Hungary. Bathory is believed to have been the first person to apply cosmetics to her face. She used a mixture of herbs and crushed diamonds for this purpose. Her expertise in beauty products is thought to have come from her mother, who was also an accomplished makeup artist. At an early age, Elizabeth is said to have taken charge of their household staff, hiring and firing them as she saw fit. She also is reported to have executed servants that gave her trouble. It is believed that Bathory began killing her servants in order to use their blood to make up for the poor quality of life she gave them. She would take her revenge on those who offended her by slicing their throats and drinking their blood while it was still flowing from their wounds. It is said that she killed around 300 people in this way. She also is reported to have eaten some of her murdered servants. After the death of her husband in 1597, Bathory became the ruler of Transylvania.