Dracula, one of the most well known vampires, is not just a creation of Bram Stoker’s imagination. He is, in fact, based on a real person. Vlad Dracul was a blood thirsty ruler in Transylvania who wrought terror as he fought his way through power. Vlad’s tactic’s eventually led to the moniker of Vlad the Impaler. He was a vampire in the living flesh.
Early Years
Born in 1430, Vlad Dracul, entered an existence that started with hardships. Vlad, his father’s namesake, was called Dracula, meaning “son of Dracul”. Dracul could have been translated as Dragon or Devil. In essense, Vlad was called “Son of the Devil”. This he lived up to.
Due to his father’s political aspirations Dracula was imprisoned at the age of eight. From there his life didn’t get much easier. During this time he was known for torturing small animals and insects. In 1447, at the age of 17, his father was murdered and his brother was burned alive. Dracula’s father’s death put him in position to rule Wallachia, a part of Transylvania. A power struggle between another member of the family ensued, resulting in Vlad only ruling for a couple of months.
Nine years later Vlad Dracul returned to Wallachia to take back the throne. Vlad succeeded in killing the ruler and ruler’s son, giving him the power.
Dracula’s Evil Ways
The first glimpse of the atrocities Vlad would eventually commit started with the revenge of his father and brother. He captured those he thought responsible. Any who were considered old were impaled outside the city walls. Those who were more able-bodied were put to manual labor. The captives were instructed to build Dracula’s new outpost, which would later be known as Castle Dracula.
Dracula took his rule as a chance to impose his morals upon others. In an ironic twist Dracula demanded everyone abide by his ideas of honesty and sexual morality. If someone offended Vlad Dracul he would take his revenge. There were even cases of Dracula punishing a whole village for one person’s indiscretions.
Vlad had a penchant for impalements. He would take those he was punishing and have a stake put in their anus. The stake would then be erected and the person’s own body weight would slowly drive the stake deeper into their body, causing a slow, agonizing death. Dracula would make sure the stake was blunt to prolong the process. Dracula would impale victims through other body parts, but this seemed to be his favourite. This practice earned him the name Vlad Tepes after his death. Translated, this would be Vlad the Impaler.
Dracula was a prolific killer. Along with the impaling he would mutilate body parts, especially sexual organs on women and cut off body parts. He would burn victims, blind them, scalp them, or strangle them. He was also known to leave people exposed outside to fight the elements or wild animals.
There have been accounts of Dracula that further prove his nefarious ways. One story recounts how Dracula invited beggar to a feast. After the feast he asked the beggars if they wished to be without cares. When they answered in the affirmative he boarded up the room they were in and had it set afire.
Another such heinous story involved Dracula’s mistress. The mistress lied to Dracula, telling him she was pregnant. After having her examined he found out
it was not so. He sliced her open from breast to groin.
Dracula’s reign is said to have ended with 40,000 deaths attributed to him.
Dracula, the Vampire
There are many connections we can make between Vlad Dracul and the literary Dracula.
Dracula’s unquenchable thirst for blood is not just figurative. While watching victims die the slow death on stakes he would have a servant go dip his bread in the fresh blood.
Dracula was said to have a disease, most likely due to an iron deficiency that caused him to crave blood. This disease could have made him very pale. It may also have tightened the muscles in his face, making the canine teeth appear longer than they were.
Dracula wore a red and black cape. This cape is quite reminiscent of the more modern day Dracula.
Vlad the Impaler, though while it may seem, is no made up creature. He was a tyrannical ruler who imposed death by the thousands. Bram Stoker has taken this nightmarish ruler and turned him into a monster icon.
Melton, G. (1999). The Vampire Book. Visible Ink Press: MI
