Countess Dracula by Tony Thorne

Author:Tony Thorne
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 1974-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

By judiciously arranged marriages, by petitioning the King and frequently by force, the noble Hungarian families were all engaged in a relentless contest to increase their landholdings, enrich themselves and guarantee a secure future for their offspring. If they could choose, their first priority was obviously to acquire land that was cultivable – wine was the most profitable crop, but grain and cattle could bring enormous rewards. As far as the location of estates was concerned, the ideal was that they should be as far as possible from the contested Turkish frontier and also well away from the holdings of more powerful neighbours who might move to annex a village or a few hectares of pasture at any time.

From the King’s vantage point in Vienna, the priorities were different. The Austrians knew that they could not depend on the loyalty of their subjects who lived in the areas bordering Transylvania, nor could they enforce their rule in the Partium, which they had long since tacitly abandoned to the Prince, but everyone was aware that they would never allow strategic strongholds in the western parts of the Kingdom to fall into the wrong hands.

One surviving letter, hitherto unknown, confirms that after she had lost her husband, Elisabeth was subjected at least once to the usual attacks by predatory neighbours on the lands held by widows. The letter also shows clearly the uncompromising strength of the Lady’s character. It was dispatched in early 1606 from her late mother-in-law’s castle of Kapuvár to the Transylvanian nobleman Count George Bánffy:

Magnifice Domine Nobis Observandissime

God give you all the best. I must write to you on the following matter: My servant János Csimber arrived home yesterday evening, and he reported to me that you have occupied my estate in Lindva. I do not understand, why have you done this thing? Just do not think, George Bánffy, that I am another Widow Bánffy! Believe me that I will not keep silent, I will let no one take my property. I wanted only to let you know this. Ex arce nobis Kapu 3 Feb 1606.

Elizabeta Comittissa de Bathor

P.S. I know, my good lord, that you have done this thing, have occupied my small estate because you are poor, but do not think that I shall leave you to enjoy it. You will find a man in me.15

Elisabeth’s scathing reference is to the widow of another Bánffy, Gáspar, who was conspired against by rapacious relatives and dispossessed after her husband’s death. In her final defiant flourish Elisabeth uses a Hungarian phrase meaning ‘I will be more than a match for you.’

When she was placed under house arrest at the end of 1610, Elisabeth Báthory’s first thought was to safeguard those of her domains which bordered on the acres of vineyards surrounding the castle of Tokaj, which had once been Bocskai’s and was awarded to Thurzó in gratitude for his part in arranging the 1606 peace. With this in mind, she gave the estate of Szécskeresztúr over into the hands of her son-in-law, George Drugeth.

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