A Strange Death in Kisiljevo
In 1725, the village of Kisiljevo, on the edge of the Habsburg Empire, was gripped by fear. Locals believed that Petar Blagojević, who had died ten weeks earlier, had returned from the grave to kill nine villagers. The victims claimed Blagojević had attacked them at night, and all died within 24 hours.
An Unusual Investigation
Health official Provisor Frombald was called to Kisiljevo to investigate. The villagers insisted Blagojević was a “vampyri,” or vampire. When Frombald exhumed the body, he noted it was “completely fresh” with blood around the mouth. The villagers drove a stake through the corpse, and fresh blood reportedly flowed from the ears and mouth.
A Sensational Report
Frombald’s report was sent to Habsburg authorities and quickly made headlines. It became the first printed reference to “vampyri” in Europe, igniting widespread panic. The fear spread to other regions, with more alleged vampire cases emerging.
Reactions Across Europe
This first vampire panic sparked debates in courts and churches. By 1746, scholars like Dom Augustin Calmet dismissed the existence of vampires, but the fear had already swept across Europe, leading to lasting changes in burial practices and folklore.
The First Vampire Panic of the 1720s 🧛
A Strange Death in Kisiljevo
In 1725, the village of Kisiljevo, on the edge of the Habsburg Empire, was gripped by fear. Locals believed that Petar Blagojević, who had died ten weeks earlier, had returned from the grave to kill nine… pic.twitter.com/xuhGxdsBwS— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TBBOB2) September 5, 2024