To find out the real story and the truth behind the story of Dracula, we have to take a look at a chapter from Romania’s History.
Where was Dracula born?
The man who inspired Dracula’s character is actually called Vlad Dr
To find out the real story and the truth behind the story of Dracula, we have to take a look at a chapter from Romania’s History.
Where was Dracula born?
The man who inspired Dracula’s character is actually called Vlad Dracul III and is known in the Romanian History as “Vlad Tepes” or Vlad the Impaler.
He was married three times and had five children: four boys and a girl.
Dracula’s family tree
Vlad Tepes`s family tree is full of very important historical figures that contributed to Romania’s legacy.
Dracula’s father (Vlad II Dracul) reigned from 1436 to 1442 and again from 1443 until 1447. His father (Dracula’s grandfather) was Mircea the Old, another great ruler of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
What state did Dracula rule?
Vlad Tepes was a ruler of an area land which is now located in the southern part of Romania. called Walachia. Walachia (“Tara Romaneasca”) existed as a state for more then 500 years. In 1862 it was united with Moldova, and some other regions to form modern Romania.
Was Dracula cruel?
During his reign, the cruelty shown towards the Ottoman Empire built his fearsome reputation. His execution methods – including decapitation, boiling and burying alive – even terrified the Sultan Mohamed Fatih the ruler of the Ottoman empire.
The forest in which thousands of men, woman and children were skewered with wooden stakes brought terror to all that saw it. Indeed, Mohamed Fatih was haunted by this vision until the day he died.
His cruel reputation transformed him from renowned Romanian leader to Dracula.
The origin of Dracula’s name
Vlad Tepes father, Vlad II Dracul, became famous for his skill in battle and his dedication to fighting the Ottoman empire. He was highly appreciated by the king of Hungary, Sigismund of Luxemburg who knighted him in the Order of the Dragon in 1431 at Nuremberg. The Order of the Dragon was a military-religious group created by Emperor Sigismund in 1408 with the purpose of protecting Christianity people from the Ottoman threat.
In religious illustrations the devil was represented by the image of a dragon – the same image used by the order. In Romanian the word “devil” or “demon” is “Dracul”. The cruelty shown towards his enemies combined with these other meanings earned him the name “Vlad Dracul”.
When the time came for Vlad Tepes to pick his own methods on dealing with his rivals he made sure he would be feared by everyone too. He became known as a monster with a thirst for human blood. Many of his rivals called him “Drac” – which means the devil – due to his punishment methods.
However it was harsh times and Vlad Tepes was aware that this was the only way to keep the Ottoman Empire at bay.
Many historical documents describe the period he was in power. They say “he hated any evil conducted in his country so much, that theft, robbery, injustice or raping women or girls would be punishable by death.” So he was regarded as a good ruler that kept the realm safe and peaceful.
Since his death defamatory and exaggerated rumors circulated throughout Europe about his cruelty. In many manuscripts he is described as an inhuman monster – sadistic and bloodthirsty – that got enjoyment from torturing people. It is even said he enjoyed his tea sitting peacefully in the forest while his skewered torture victims struggle in agony all around him.
Some rumors even suggest he eats human flesh – however this is unlikely as he was an Orthodox Christian with very strong beliefs.
Dracula’s punishment and execution methods
One of Vlad Tepes favorite methods for punishment and executions was skewering. The term “Teapa” in Romanian means a long wooden stake – pointed at one end – which is used as an instrument of torture.
He would slowly insert these stakes into the victim’s anus stopping it just below the neck. This meant all the vital organs were missed, keeping the victim alive for at least 48 hours in unimaginable pain.
It is easy to see with a leap of imagination how wooden stakes feature in Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel – albeit to actually kill the vampire.
Where did Dracula liv