Elizabeth Báthory

Elizabeth Bathory (1560–1614) was a countess who lived in Transylvania, then a part of the Kingdom of Hungary. She was from a very important family that included kings, cardinals, knights, and judges. Her family ruled Transylvania as an independent region within the Hungarian kingdom. She was well-educated, beautiful and wealthy. She was also virtually untouchable as a member of the Bathory family. 
Reputation
She may have been a vicious female serial killer. It is impossible to know what  part of her story is fact and what part is fiction. Her gruesome legend has become a part of folklore. She is the central character in a number of books, plays and movies. As the "blood countess", she has often been compared to another fictional character, Count Dracula. Some scholars now argue that Báthory was not a murderer but instead may have been the victim of a political betrayal.
Legend
According to her legend, she was supposed to have tortured and killed over 650 servant girls. It also claimed she bathed in human blood. That, after hearing of all the deaths and tortures going on in her castle, the countess and her servants were put on trial. Her servants were said to have been executed. Báthory herself was walled up in a room in her own castle. There were only slits for air and food. She was found dead three and a half years later. After her death, the story of the evil countess began.
In movie
In 2008 a movie was made about her called Bathory starring Anna Friel. The movie suggested she did not spend her time bathing in blood. It was a rumor spread by those who were after her wealth. 

 References 

 Other websites 
 Countess Dracula - Elizabeth Bathory (part 1); YouTube
 Countess Dracula - Elizabeth Bathory (part 2); YouTube

Category:1560 births
Category:1614 deaths
Category:Hungarian nobility
Category:Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment
Category:Earls and countesses
Category:Serial killers