Vlad Draculea - The Impaler
by Briana Sandru
Known as Dracula in the Western world and often associated with the vampire myth made famous by Bram Stoker's book, the man behind the legend is a national hero to the Romanian people and his real life is just as interesting as the myth.
Vlad Draculea was the real name of the Romanian voievode (this was the title of the ruler in the Romanian kingdoms) who fought and temporarily won independence for his country from the Ottoman Empire. Draculea is a name that does not make a reference to the devil or the Dracula vampire legend. It was a nobility title held by Vlad's father - Vlad the Second, who was a knight of the Dragon Order.
Upon the death of his father, at only 17, Vlad took the throne, but kept it for only 2 months. Nine years later, in 1456, with the support of the Sultan's army, Vlad the Third took the throne again and started on the path of becoming the terrifying Vlad the Impaler. His second rule lasted six years, and during this time, Vlad imposed new trade laws which made the merchants very unhappy and created a justice system which did not recognize rank or fortune. The penalty for crime or treason was impalement and for lesser crimes the offenders' noses could be cut off.
In 1459, Vlad the Third rebelled against the Ottoman Empire and refused to pay the annual tribute. He allied himself with Mathew Corvin, King of Hungary and prepared to fight against the Sultan's invading army. He was very successful, until the Sultan sent a fake letter to King Matthew Corvin in which Vlad the Third seemingly turned against him and offered his services to the Sultan. As a result, Vlad was imprisoned for twelve years by the Hungarian King.
He was released in 1475, at the intervention of the Moldavian ruler Stephen the Great and once again became king of The Romanian Country. After only two months, Vlad the Impaler was assassinated, leaving behind a very unusual historical legacy: to some people he was a hero who imposed justice through brutal methods, not taking into account noble titles or wealth; to others, he was an opportunistic traitor, who used the Ottomans to take the throne and then turned against them and his own nobles, because he wanted to avenge his father and brother; to the German merchants of Brasov and Sibiu he was a murderer, because he had punished them and their families for not adhering to his commercial laws.
Do you know who was the first vampire in literature? Hover over the black box below.
No, it wasn't Dracula from Bram Stoker's novel. Sekhmet, the ancient Egyptian goddess of war and healing was the first vampire.