Is Elizabeth Báthory the most prolific serial killer in history?

Did a 16th-century countess really murder hundreds of girls? HistoryExtra's Isabel King explains what's really known about Elizabeth Báthory's monstrous reputation

Published: October 27, 2026 at 9:38 AM

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On a remote hilltop in what is now Slovakia stands Čachtice Castle – a crumbling reminder of a dark and chilling past. This is no ordinary fortress. It is said that hundreds of girls once ventured into its depths – only to disappear and never be seen again. This is the castle once home to Elizabeth Báthory, a countess born in the 16th century.

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In this video, *HistoryExtra'*s Isabel King explains what's really known about Báthory's monstrous reputation. With expertise from a podcast interview with Shelley Puhak, author of The Blood Countess: Murder, Betrayal and the Making of a Monster, Isabel considers the factors that point to the countess being more innocent that she first appears.

Authors

Isabel KingJunior content producer

Isabel King is a junior content producer at HistoryExtra

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