The following is a list of serial killers (that is, a person who murders more than one person, in two or more separate events over a period of time, for primarily psychological reasonsA serial killer is most commonly defined as a person who kills three or more people for psychological gratification; reliable sources over the years agree. See, for example:
) who began committing their crimes before 1900. This list does not include mass murderers, spree killers, war criminals, or members of democidal governments. This list is chronological by default, but can be re-ordered using the button at the top of each column.
Table of serial killers before 1900 Name Country Years active Claimed victims Notes Liu Pengli Western Han 144–116 BC 100+ Prince of Jidong during the reign of Emperor Jing, his uncle. Helped by slaves, he attacked civilians in his lands during the night, killing over a hundred. Although the court advised the Emperor to execute him, the emperor only reduced him to a commoner and exiled him to Shangyong (modern Zhushan County, Hubei Province). Livia Drusilla Roman Republic 23–29 BC 4–10+ Empress Livia Drusilla is believed to have murdered her husband, Octavian, her grandchildren, the sons of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, and Augustus's nephew. She supposedly poisoned them in a modus operandi similar to that of a black widow, although her crimes had a political motive. Statius Albius Oppianicus Roman Republic 74 BC 8 Accused of having killed eight people, mostly his family members, for financial gain, and of causing the deaths of several others who were witnesses or accusers. Valeria Messalina Roman Empire 39–48 BC 4–50+ Famous for her nymphomania, she was guilty of several political crimes, although some of the murders committed by the empress had passionate motivations, such as the executions of Gaius Appius Junius Silanus, whom she killed out of spite, and of Sivilla, whom she killed out of jealousy. She used her power over the emperor to ensure the executions of her victims. Anula of Anuradhapura Anuradhapura Kingdom 50–47 BC 5 Poisoned five husbands before holding the throne as queen regnant for five years, after which she was overthrown and burned alive.The Mahavamsa, Chapter XXXIV Locusta of GaulGibson, Dirk C. (2012) Legends, Monsters or Serial Murderers? The real story behind an ancient crime. Praeger, 202 pages. Roman Empire 54–55 AD 5–7+ Poisoner in the service of Emperor Nero. Executed by Galba in 69 AD. Unknown Abbasid Caliphate 871 and earlier Unknown An unnamed man from Karkh, Baghdad, strangled a number of women and buried them in his house. After his arrest, he was tortured to death; his remains were publicly displayed and later burned. White-Necked Crow Chu 929 and earlier UnknownWhite-Necked Crow, a forty-year-old female bandit leader in Chen Zhou, disguised herself as a man and commanded a large force with bravery and strict discipline. Skilled in spear, sword, and horseback archery, she was appointed a Civilization-Conscious General by a barbarian king to suppress bandits east of the mountains. Her base was 80 miles south of Chen Zhou’s capital (modern Huaiyang, Henan). She was later interviewed by Zhao Yanshou and assassinated by Fu Yanqing. Yamashiro Province 985–988 Unknown Nobleman who repeatedly committed robberies in Heian-kyo. He lured merchants into his mansion and killed them by dropping them into a hole. He attempted suicide before his arrest, but failed, and died from the wounds sustained in the attempted suicide the day after his arrest. Alice Kyteler Ireland 1302–1324 3–4 "The Witch of Kilkenny". Hiberno-Norman noblewoman prosecuted in the first modern witch trial in the British Isles for the alleged poisoning of her four husbands, heresy and witchcraft. Fled to England, her ultimate fate unknown. Petronilla of Meath (her servant) was tortured and burned at the stake in her place. Wang Chŏng Goryeo 1330–1332 Unknown King who raped and murdered women. He was exiled to Yuan dynasty in 1332. Khadijah of the Maldives Maldives 1347–1376 3Sultana who murdered her brother and her two husbands in order to ascend the throne for several consecutive years; it is estimated that she died between 1379 and 1380. Adeliza de Borgomanero Republic of Genoa 1370 and earlier Unknown The Countess of Val d'Ossola was an alleged nymphomaniac and sadist who killed her lovers, forced them to commit suicide, or ordered them drowned in a lake near her castle. She was exiled to a remote castle in Bellagio. Gilles de Rais France 1432–1440 140+ French nobleman accused of torturing and murdering over 140 children. Rais and two accomplices in the murders were hanged on 26 October 1440. Blaž Hrvat Kingdom of Croatia 1469 5 Tailor who was executed on the breaking wheel for murdering five people.Kako je u Zagrebu slučajno otkriven Blaž Hrvat, serijski ubojica koji je prije pet stoljeća ostavio krvav trag diljem zemlje Pierre Burgot and Michel Verdun France 1521 and before 6 A pair of Frenchmen who confessed to killing and eating several children. They claimed to have committed the murders in wolf form after making a pact with a witch coven. Burned at the stake.Leslie A. Sconduto, Metamorphoses of the Werewolf - A Literary Study from Antiquity Through the Renaissance, McFarland · 2014, page 137 Kateřina of Komárov Bohemia 1529–1533 14–30+ Noblewoman who murdered serfs on the estates of her husband. Sentenced to life imprisonment in a tower in Prague Castle. Peter Stumpp Holy Roman Empire 1564–1589 16 "The Werewolf of Bedburg". Confessed under torture to murdering and cannibalizing 14 children, including his son, and two pregnant women. Broken on the wheel, beheaded and burned. Peter Niers Holy Roman Empire 1566–1581 544 Bandit leader who confessed under torture to killing 544 people, including the murder of 24 women and the use of their unborn children in black magic. Broken on the wheel and quartered alive. Martin Roháč Bohemia 1568–1571 59 Czech who formed a gang with fellow soldiers to rob, kidnap, and murder people. Executed on the breaking wheel in 1571. Björn Pétursson Iceland 1570–1596 9–18 Called Axlar-Björn ("Shoulder-Bear"). Farmer who robbed and killed people who traversed his land. Beheaded. Gilles Garnier France 1572 4 Hermit known as "The Werewolf of Dole". Confessed to strangling four children and eating their flesh. Garnier was caught attacking a young boy and burned at the stake in 1573. Jan Philopon Dambrovský Bohemia 1572–1585 4 Catholic priest responsible for the fatal poisonings of four bishops. Niklaus Stüller Holy Roman Empire 1577 4 Executed for shooting a cavalryman and disembowelling three pregnant women.Vronsky, Peter (2004) Serial Killers: The method and madness of monsters. Penguin, 432 pages. Unknown Old Swiss Confederacy 1580 and earlier 16 Known as "The Werewolf of Geneva"; Unnamed man who murdered 16 children and ate their bodies in Geneva. Elizabeth Báthory Hungary 1585–1610 80–650 Known as "The Blood Countess"; tried for torturing servant girls to death. Accomplices were executed, and she was imprisoned until her death in 1614. The veracity has been disputed. Geordie Bourne England 1597 and earlier 7 Scottish bandit active in the East English March. Confessed to having killed seven Englishmen and "lain with above forty men's wives, what in England, what in Scotland". Executed by unknown means. by Sir Robert Carey Nicolas Damont France 1598 50 A French tailor accused of killing and eating 50 children in Châlons-en-Champagne whose remains had been found in his house. The brutality of the crimes and the accused's repeated psychotic episodes led authorities to accuse him of being a werewolf. Burned at the stake. Jacques Roulet France 1599 and earlier Unknown Alleged werewolf sentenced to death for murdering a 15-year-old. He also confessed to killing multiple other adults and children. Simon Bingelhelm Holy Roman Empire 16th century 26 German robber and serial killer; executed by quartering on 2 June 1600. Jean Grenier France 1603 50 A French teenager and self-proclaimed werewolf, Jean confessed to killing and eating 50 children while in wolf form. At his trial, it was decided that Grenier was a weak-minded lunatic rather than a denizen of the devil. The court sentenced Grenier to life imprisonment at a monastery in Bourdeaux. Died in 1611. Catalina De Erauso