Alright historians, let’s dive into a spicy topic that’s sure to raise some eyebrows. We’re about to explore the darker side of history and spotlight some of the most notorious women who’ve left their mark – and not in a good way. Buckle up, because this list of the top 13 most evil women in history is going to be one wild ride!
Elizabeth Báthory: The Blood Countess
Kicking off our list of 13 most evil women in history with a bang (or should I say, a bite?) is the infamous Elizabeth Báthory. This 16th-century Hungarian countess takes the cake when it comes to twisted nobility.
Legend has it that she bathed in the blood of young virgins to maintain her youth. While that particular tale might be more myth than fact, what’s certain is that she tortured and killed hundreds of young women. Talk about taking “beauty is pain” to a whole new level!
Báthory’s reign of terror lasted for years before she was finally caught and confined to a castle room until her death. She never failed, probably because her family was too powerful. I guess being rich and noble had its perks, even for serial killers!
Ilse Koch: The Witch of Buchenwald
Moving on to more recent history, we have Ilse Koch, also known as “The Witch of Buchenwald.” As the wife of Karl-Otto Koch, the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp, Ilse had free rein to indulge in her sadistic tendencies during World War II.
Koch was notorious for her cruelty towards prisoners, but her most infamous act was collecting tattooed skin from murdered inmates to make lampshades and other household items. Talk about interior decoration gone horribly wrong! After the war, she was tried and sentenced to life imprisonment, eventually taking her own life in 1967.
Jiang Qing: Madame Mao
Let’s take a trip to China and meet Jiang Qing, better known as Madame Mao. As the fourth wife of Mao Zedong, she played a significant role in the Cultural Revolution, a period of intense social and political upheaval in China.
Jiang was responsible for the persecution of countless intellectuals, artists, and political opponents. She had a particular vendetta against traditional Chinese culture, leading to the
destruction of countless historical artifacts and sites. After Mao’s death, she was arrested and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. She eventually committed suicide in 1991. Talk about a fall from grace!
Isabella I of Castile: The Catholic Monarch
Now, I know what you’re thinking – isn’t Isabella the one who funded Columbus’s voyage? Well, yes, but she also had a pretty dark side. As the Queen of Castile and León, Isabella, along with her husband Ferdinand, established the Spanish Inquisition.
This lovely institution was responsible for the torture and execution of thousands of people, particularly Jews and Muslims who refused to convert to Christianity.
Isabella’s reign saw the expulsion of Jews from Spain and the forced conversion of Muslims. So while she might be celebrated for unifying Spain, let’s not forget the blood on her hands.
Irma Grese: The Hyena of Auschwitz
Back to World War II, we have Irma Grese, one of the most notorious female Nazi guards. Known as the “Hyena of Auschwitz,” Grese was infamous for her sadistic cruelty towards prisoners in the concentration camps where she worked.
Despite being only in her early 20s, Grese quickly rose through the ranks due to her brutality. She was known to set her trained dogs on prisoners and personally beat inmates to death. After the war, she was convicted of crimes against humanity and executed at the age of 22. Youth is no excuse for evil, folks!
Mary I of England: Bloody Mary
No, we’re not talking about the drink here. Mary I of England earned her nickname “Bloody Mary” for her persecution of Protestants during her attempt to restore Catholicism in England.
During her five-year reign, Mary had over 280 religious dissenters burned at the stake. Talk about being a sore loser in the religion game! Her actions not only caused immense suffering but also deepened the religious divisions in England. Maybe she should have stuck to mixing vodka and tomato juice instead.
Griselda Blanco: The Cocaine Godmother
Let’s take a detour to the world of drug cartels and meet Griselda Blanco, also known as the “Cocaine Godmother.” This Colombian drug lord was a pioneer in the Miami-based cocaine drug trade during the 1970s and early 1980s.
Blanco was known for her innovative smuggling techniques and her ruthlessness in eliminating rivals. She’s believed to be responsible for up to 200 murders and was one of the first to engage in large-
scale violence in the US drug market. Blanco was eventually arrested and deported to Colombia, where she was assassinated in 2012. Live by the sword, die by the sword, I guess!
Ranavalona I: The Mad Queen of Madagascar
Time for a trip to Madagascar to meet Queen Ranavalona I, who ruled the island nation from 1828 to 1861. Known as the “Mad Queen of Madagascar,” Ranavalona was notorious for her brutal policies and her resistance to European colonization.
During her reign, it’s estimated that the population of Madagascar halved from 5 million to 2.5 million due to her policies, which included forced labor, regular purges, and the use of tangena (a poisonous nut) in “trial by ordeal” rituals. Talk about population control taken to the extreme!
Delphine LaLaurie: The Cruel Mistress of New Orleans
Let’s head to New Orleans and meet Delphine LaLaurie, a socialite in the early 19th century who became infamous for her cruel treatment of slaves. LaLaurie’s sadistic nature was exposed when a fire broke out in her mansion, revealing a torture chamber where she had been conducting gruesome experiments on slaves.
The discovery led to a mob attacking her home, but LaLaurie managed to escape to France. Her story has become a part of New Orleans folklore and has even been featured in popular culture. Who knew Southern hospitality could be so… horrifying?
Belle Gunness: The Black Widow of the Midwest
Next up is Belle Gunness, a Norwegian-American serial killer who operated in Indiana around the turn of the 20th century. Gunness is believed to have killed both her husbands and all of her children, as well as most of her suitors, possibly up to 40 victims in total.
She lured men to her farm with promises of marriage, only to murder them and take their money. Gunness disappeared after her farm burned down in 1908, leading to speculation about her fate. Some believe she faked her death and escaped. Talk about a twisted version of “The Bachelorette”!
Joanna of Naples: The Medieval Man-Eater
Let’s take a trip back to medieval times and meet Joanna I of Naples. While her reign was marked by political intrigue and war, it’s her personal life that earns her a spot on this list.
Joanna is believed to have been involved in the murder of her first husband, Andrew of Hungary. She was also accused of having numerous affairs and of using her lovers to maintain her power.
While some of these accusations might be exaggerated, there’s no doubt that Joanna was a master manipulator who wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty to keep her crown.
Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova: The Saltychikha
Time for a trip to 18th-century Russia to meet Darya Nikolayevna Saltykova, also known as Saltychikha. This noblewoman was convicted of torturing and killing at least 38 of her serfs, although the actual number could be much higher.
Saltykova’s crimes were particularly brutal, involving beatings, burnings, and other forms of torture. She was eventually arrested and spent the last 33 years of her life in the dungeon of a convent. I guess even in Imperial Russia, there were limits to what the nobility could get away with!
Katherine Knight: The Cannibal Killer
Last but certainly not least, we have Katherine Knight from Australia. In 2000, Knight committed one of the most gruesome murders in Australian history when she stabbed her partner John Price 37 times, skinned him, and then cooked parts of his body, apparently intending to serve them to his children.
Knight became the first woman in Australian history to be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Her case is a chilling reminder that evil knows no gender boundaries.
13 most evil women in history. From medieval queens to modern-day serial killers, these women prove that the capacity for cruelty and violence isn’t limited to any one gender, time period, or culture.
It’s important to note that while these women committed horrific acts, they don’t represent womankind as a whole. History is full of examples of women who have made positive contributions to society. These 13 are the exceptions, not the rule.
So, the next time someone tries to tell you that women are always the gentler sex, you might want to point them to this list. Just maybe don’t bring it up on a first date – unless you want to ensure there won’t be a second one!
