HistoryExtra podcast Mutilated corpses and undead mothers-in-law: vampire epidemics through history
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Nov 21, 2025 John Blair, a medieval history expert and author, dives into the chilling concept of vampire epidemics across cultures. He reveals why myths of undead mothers-in-law proliferated and explores the stark differences between literary vampires like Count Dracula and historically feared corpses. Blair discusses the symptoms attributed to vampires, the bizarre remedies used to combat them, and how societal trauma shaped these beliefs. Plus, he highlights the romantic tales of undead returning to lovers, showcasing the complex interplay of culture and fear throughout history.
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Graduated Remedies For Dangerous Corpses
- When communities suspected a corpse, they used graduated remedies from harmless to extreme, starting by turning the body.
- Remedies escalated through tying legs, cutting feet, removing jaws, staking, or burning the heart or corpse.
1090 English Grave-Opening And Burning
- In a c.1090 English case, villagers dug up undecayed corpses and found cloths soaked in blood.
- They decapitated, burned hearts, and surviving victims recovered, mirroring modern Romanian practices.
The Church Reframed Corpses As Demon-Occupied
- Christian theology conflicted with corpse beliefs, but clergy often reinterpreted cases as demonic possession of corpses.
- This theological workaround allowed mutilation practices to be justified within Christian communities.
