- Adeliza de Borgomanero
Adeliza de Borgomanero (c. 1350 – c. 1370) was an Italian murderess. The wife of a
count from theVal d'Ossola region, she wasexile d to a remotecastle atBellogio , nearLake Como , because of her iniquitous behaviour.Adeliza held court at the castle, taking lovers as she chose. Legend turned her into a
vampire -siren figure in popular lore, and she was said to have ordered her lovers to commitsuicide the morning after their sexual revels. Those that chose to refuse this option were dropped through anoubliette into the lake below.References
*E. Staley, "Lords and Ladies of the Italian Lakes", London (1912)
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