Showing results for "dracula" in Politics & Government

The 15th century Romanian Prince Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, is one of the most fascinating personalities of medieval history. Already during his own lifetime, his true story became obscured by a veil of myths. As a result, he has been portrayed both as a bloody tyrant - who degenerated down throughout the centuries into the fictional vampire of the same name created by Bram Stoker at the end of the 19th century - and as a national and Christian hero who bravely fought to defend his native land and all of Europe against the invading Turkish infidels.

Not too many people realize that the story of Dracula was based on a really sadistic ruler in Romania. Vlad the Impaler, or Vlad the Third, was a merciless despot who tried to make an example out of his opponents by impaling them and displaying them in public. He also enjoyed bathing in dead people’s blood and did some other gross, inhumane things. He was the terror of Eastern Europe for many years.

Ladies, gentlemen, and creatures of the night, gather 'round as we sink our teeth into the life story of everyone's favorite bloodsucker, the one, the only, Count Dracula! Grab your garlic necklaces and hold onto your wooden stakes, because this tale is about to get batty! Our story begins in the misty mountains of Transylvania, where, on a dark and stormy night in 1431 (because of course it was), a baby boy was born to the Drăculești family. They named him Vlad, which roughly translates to "Son of the Dragon" or "Son of the Devil." Talk about setting expectations high! Little did they know ...