A Brief History
Okay, so we know Abraham Lincoln created the Thanksgiving holiday on this date in 1863, but what do Wallachians have to be thankful for?
Digging Deeper
Digging deeper, we find Vlad Tepes, later referred to as Vlad the Impaler, known to us more popularly as Dracula, having declared his third reign as ruler of Wallachia (modern Romania) winning the battle that made him ruler for the third time.
Vlad had actually been ruler and been deposed twice before, re-seizing power each time. His father was Vlad II Dracul, making The Impaler technically Vlad III Dracula. The name Dracula is what is known as patronymic, where a son is named partially after the father’s name, similar to the Scottish “MacDonald” or Son of Donald, the Russian “Ivanovich” or Son of Ivan, or the English “Robertson” which by now you surely get! The Impaler part of his “title” stems from his alleged penchant for forcibly sitting his enemies on wooden stakes set in the ground, thus impaling them!
Although revered in Romania for his fierce defense of the church and the people, our popular view of him is as the mythical count of the Bram Stoker book, the blood sucking vampire Dracula! His other popular title, The Impaler, comes from a description of his bloodthirsty cruelty toward his enemies. He was not called “the Impaler” during his life, but only after his death. Probably for political and nationalistic reasons, Vlad was portrayed in other countries as a murderous fiend, with fantastic stories and drawings produced and distributed, starting a legend that grew over time into the whole vampire thing.
Thus, despite his legacy as a patriot in Romania, the rest of the world knows him as an undead vampire flying around as a bat and sucking humans’ blood, spawning an incredible amount of books, TV shows, and movies, as well as Halloween costumes!
Question for students (and subscribers): Was the historic Vlad the Impaler a hero or a villain? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more on the historic Dracula, please see…
Abernathy, Evelyn. The Real Dracula: Historical Origins of Bram Stoker’s Vampire. Evelyn Abernathy, 2013.
Florescu, Radu R and Raymond T. McNally. Dracula, Prince of Many Faces: His Life and His Times. Back Bay Books, 1990.
Goldberg, Enid A. and Norman Itzkowitz. Vlad the Impaler (A Wicked History). Franklin Watts, 2008.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="785 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=785">133 Comments
While he was not really a vampire, he was definitely one of the more blood-thirsty rulers we have come across and I believe the cruel stories of him “impaling” his enemies.
Yeah…definitely a scary guy. I wouldn’t want to face him regardless if he was a vampire or not. It’s pretty easy to understand how his image could have been skewed by people as time went on. Of course, like most other freaky characters today, there is some historical background.
Although he was not a vampire, he was a man to be feared. He seem to have been a ruthless and those who were scared of him even after death made stories up of the horrible things he had done and thus gave us great ideas of vampires today.
I do not think he was a vampire, but I would not want to mess with him even if he isn’t a vampire. He is definitely a guy who you shouldn’t mess with.
He wasn’t a vampire, but should have been considered one! People told stories about how awful he was.
I highly doubt that he was actually a vampire. I’m sure he probably did a lot of bad things throughout his time as a ruler, but I don’t think he was quite as bad as everyone says.
WOW !!! Definitely sounds like a bad A**…. I would never want to mess with somebody like that. He was not a vampire, although in my hear i would definitely call him a vampire. I would keep my distance away from this ruler.
Lets just say that Vlad Tepes is someone I would not want to be an enemy of. He is definitely someone I would be afraid to mess with. No I do not believe that he was a vampire but he does do some crazy things to his enemies.
I do not think he was a vampire either. I think he probably did a bunch of awful things to people and the stories were misconstrued over the years of what really happened.
I do not think he was a vampire, rather since he was blood thirsty (always killing people), the connection of him and vampires was probably made after his death thus from then on he was considered a vampire.
I do not believe he was a vampire. There were a lot of
blood-thirsty men through-out the years. I think there was just a connection with him name after his death.
I don’t think he’s a vampire at all. Though he may have done a lot of awful things to many many people, I think he was simply bloodthirsty and wanted to kill people.
Obviously he was not a vampire because that is just bizarre. Although it would be interesting to say he was.
I don’t think he was a vampire people were afraid of him and let there imagination run wild of the things he could do.
I love vampires!! Well the idea of vampires. Dracula was probably not real but seeing that he was feared he was given a reputation as a blood sucker. Maybe his teeth were pointier than most and he had great strength and when he was angry he probably got the “crazy eye” which made people fear him and cower at the sight of him.
Heck yeah vampires are real…did you ever watch the Underworld trilogy?
I dont believe he was a vampire at all. He simply just had a desire to kill people. Bloodthirsty may be the proper word.
Dracula was totally real; how else could someone have built such a large fanclub?
Werewolves are totally real, too.
Doubtful he was a vampire, although it could be cool.
Pretty impressive, being deposed twice and overcoming it each time.
Dracula seems to be a fitting name for someone who performed such horrors upon his enemies.
I do like that he gained control of Wallachia three times as it matches the third in Vlad’s name quite well. What he did to his enemies was somewhat less amusing though quite effective in deterring enemy attacks.
I would say that he was a man who definitely left a mark on the world. I could only imagine how shocking it would be to see all those impaled bodies.
Although Vlad was a bloodthirsty ruler, the vampire saga that exploded off his story makes little sense to me. He was a gruesome guy but I don’t understand how that equates to bloodsucking fiend.
This might be ignorant of me to say, but why are these people ever even in power? I mean I know that historically, people generally took the throne based on family lineage, but if I ever thought that my son / daughter was going to be this crazy, I think I might find another heir to the throne. Some of the people that we have learned about in class are absolutely crazy. Imagine if some “exceptions” were made to the rule and some of the awful rules throughout history never actually got a chance to make important decisions.
I think its cool that because he was such a barbaric killer he eventually became known as a “vampire” because he was so bloodthirsty
How shocking… people exaggerating the truth… Dracula the blood sucking vampire! — DAVID WARDLE
Its wild when the truth gets stretched. A blood thirsty killer becames a literal bloodthirsty killer.
He was a bloodthirsty man and seemed to enjoy this role. I can see how this spun off into the Dracula stories.
Reading the history of Dracula does make me wonder how exactly his actions led to him being known as a vampire. Obviously his cruelty was a factor, but did the idea of him being a vampire stem from the other countries who were portraying him as a murderous fiend also claim he was a vampire, or did that happen over time. Also it makes me wonder if the idea that a vampire can only be killed by a stake stem from Dracula forcibly sitting his enemies on wooden stakes and impaling them, or was this idea already in place and this is the reason Dracula is seen as a vampire.
interesting article! I didn’t really have a clue about Dracula’s real history to be honest
i honestly don’t believe vampires are real but thats just my way of thinking! it just seems farfetched
Stories retold by word of mouth can often times becomes grossly exaggerated! I had no conception of Dracula other than a literal blood sucking vampire whom may or may not had existed in history.
I can understand why Dracula was based off of Vlad! I mean he was extremely brutal in the way he killed his enemies that it is no wonder he is now seen as a blood sucking tyrant
I never knew where the story of Dracula came from! Very interesting
I have never heard of this before!
Interesting how stories come about.
It’s interesting how to the Romanians, he is remembered as a patriot who fought for their country. But to almost everyone else, when someone says “Dracula,” people think of a mythical creature that sucks blood. It is clear to see how the character of Dracula was based off of Vlad.
Wow this story I never heard of before, very interesting to read!
Haven’t heard this story, interesting though
Hopefully, I receive my badass title before my death! — DAVID WARDLE
glad i didn’t piss him off
Who would want a ruler who has “impaler” as part of their name.
Who wouldn’t want a ruler with “impaler” as part of their name!
I didn’t know that about the names being “the son of”. That is quite intersting.
How ruthless can you be to impale people and let them slowly bleed out? This is what confuses me. Why can’t “Dracula” just kill them in a quick and painless way? I would be devastated to be called a “murderous fiend”.
I would not fight Vlad the Impaler, in fear of what he does to his enemies. He would win the battle off of straight intimidation.
Why does fiction over rule fact in many instances? I know books and movies become almost the historical record for many events on history. Bu there are many occasions when the fact is better than the fiction and this may be the case.
Reading this article makes me want to learn more about what he did to his victims, like how cruel was he.
That would be absolutely terrifying to see 20,000 of your men impaled. Really wouldn’t want to be on Vlad’s bad side.
If he could see all the stories and movies that have come out because of his legacy, I wonder if he would be proud that his name (and the death and destruction that goes along with it) has continued to today? Pretty epic.
Want to go further into what he does to his victims too interesting
Interesting that the name Dracula has been masked to generations because of the movies and vampire depiction…In reality he was the impaler.
Out of all the psycho killers in history, how does this guy get so lucky as to become a vampire to modern people.
That sounds painful , glad I wasn’t born in that time to meet him!
I don’t recall the video (it was a documentary), but the act of impalement was described in detail, and was horrific. Similar to the inquisitor’s pyramid, a stake might be inserted rectally and then just up and out. Disgusting.
Dear Jake, was it a documentary I showed in class? Sincerely, Dr. Zarzeczny
I really can’t remember. I did a presentation a while back about medieval torture, and impalement was one of the more detailed entries (had a video and all). I don’t know if it was one you showed, or if I remembered part of the video from that presentation.
I think I knew of this story, but I am still surprised to hear that he was mostly revered by the people he ruled over (obviously not his enemies… and maybe the reverence was out of fear?). The legend has taken on a completely different life in modern history and the journey from impaler to vampire is very interesting!
I can see how the people Vlad ruled over could see him as a hero. Yes he was a little gross but he protected his people which is what all good rulers should do.
Well this just changed my whole perspective on Dracula….I did not realize he was based off of a real historical figure.
I always took Dracula to be a fictional character. Seeing the background of who he really was was very interesting.
It’s funny how he eventually became portrayed as a vampire.
Perhaps this is how people cope with such vile individuals. By elevating them to the status fictional creatures
The development from Vlad to a vampire is an interesting story
Its funny how we all know Dracula as the famous blood sucking monster, but in reality he is a patriot in Romania, it seems that the vampyre thing is much more of an insult to what the Romanians view him as.
Before initially reading this, I thought as Dracula as a mythological figure who stayed hidden in a castle in Romania, not an important face of a country.
It’s a little funny, but my first introduction to Vlad as a historical figure was in a fiction book that I can’t even remember the name of now. From what I do remember he was referred to by his name rather than Dracula and didn’t approve of being called a vampire, and out of curiosity I looked him up. Its interesting what variations have been put on the story over the years.
I’ve always wondered how someone goes from being a famous killer to being some fictional vampire, where does that logic come in?
I never realized the connection between Vlad and Dracula… kinda mind blown… but it is also crazy how ones reputation changed into a fictional killer.
I did not know any of this. Interesting.
That’s really interesting that Vlad was considered a good leader during his time but is reviled as literally a monster today.
Historical events are really just a matter of perspective. Radical to some is revolutionary to others. Murderous guerrilla fighters may be seen as terrorists by the attacked but as heroes by the attacking group. Although brutal in his rule, Vlad was apparently a good ruler to his people; nevertheless, he was feared by all who opposed him.
I didn’t know that about Dracula.
Vlad III Dracula is certainly an interesting historical figure. He probably would not be so important if not for the book, Dracula.
I find him as a good historical figure since how to his own people he was a hero but to everyone else he was evil and then got turned into a vampire figure
I have known about Count Dracula for a while, he is the most terrifying person in human history. If he even is human
I never knew that he was actually a real person, I’ve always just known him as Dracula before this class. I’m glad that there’s some historical background to his legend though.
It’s crazy how in today’s culture and on this part of the world Dracula has a negative and scary connotation but really he was a hero to many people
I still think Vlad’s transition from “impaler” to vampire is fascinating. It reminds me of a long game of telephone how stories get transferred and can change so much throughout history.
I cringed when reading about Vlad impaling people. Ouch, not a good visual.
He is truly one of the more insane people we have read about. Very shocking.
He was truly one of the more intriguing figures in history. How a someones life’s atrocities can transcend into such a horrifying supernatural entity of legend for so many centuries later to some yet a stalwart patriotic hero to others.
You could make the argument that almost all “great men” in history are seen on both sides, as heroes or villains by one group or another, even someone as evil as Adolph Hitler is seen as a hero to some.
As seen in many stories about the people who win. Vlad became more of a nightmarish dream to people that saw him from outside of his kingdom. While the people Vlad positively effected seen him as the protector.
He defiantly was in control if he could regain the power twice. Also getting the title the impaler that is a nasty name is you did that to people.
He was so powerful due to his distinct way of killing people. He also was one of few leaders to resize power more than once.
Vlad seemed to have a unique way for killing but it seems like a stretch from the mystical man we hear about today.
I do not understand why people become so famous for killing other people in a “creative” way. Are we saying that if you kill you will be remembered ?
Seeing such violence, unique or not, is still disgusting.
I do not understand why/how people become famous because of them killing people. This is truly a disgusting world that we live in.
I find it interesting how drastically he went from being a terror inspiring warlord to mythical creature so quickly
he was definitely an interesting man
I had no idea that the legend or Dracula originated from Vlad.
Certainly not the nicest guy but he has a rather impressive legacy.
You must not be a very successful ruler if you are only remembered as a blood thirsty killer/ mythical creature.
he received all of his fame from killing people.
I never realized Dracula was based off of Vlad. He was definitely one cruel human being.
Impressive legacy to say the least. Didn’t know Dracula originated from Vlad. Awesome
Who wouldn’t want to be known as Dracula? He has evolved from the impaler to the vampire!
Why/how do people over time bend the story from an actual person killing people to a fictional character of seemingly joking actions?
very well known, but not a good thing to be known as this type of “person”.
He has such a legacy and is still known everywhere today
This is such a well known legend and I think that it is pretty cool to learn the facts.
It’s interesting to see how dracula becme known as dracula and where the legend comes from.
Dracula in my eyes was far more scarier then the kids version.
That interesting to know I never knew that’s where Dracula came from.
I think Dracula is a pretty cool name to be known by.
I think its interesting how the name Dracula became sort of a pop culture icon. With it being well associated with vampires and such. I don’t understand why they came up with a story for what we now know as Dracula… just keep the original story is spooky enough as is.
Not sure if “The Impaler” is a good name to go by. It depends on your point of view, I guess.
It is a good thing people gave him the nickname after his death because he probably would have killed anybody who called him Dracula.
Now the name is the one of the biggest names in history!!!! As soon as you say the name only one image pops up in your mind. Thats magic
Its amazing how Dracula now is portrayed as a blood sucking vampire but he really was a leader that took many lives. However it is very true that when people hear Dracula a vampire is what comes to mind and not the actual person he was in human form.
I never knew Dracula was real! It’s scary to hear that he really was a terrible killer.
it is funny when i hear the name Dracula i don’t think of a human being but more of a mysterious blood sucking vampire.
Kind of ironic that he was never a mysterious vampire but instead a great leader
Dracula to me is someone that has a very pale skin complexion with bright red blood on their face. I always thought of this person as a mythical person. I had no idea he was a real blood sucking vampire.
Whenever I think of Dracula, I will always think of a vampire first before a human.
The whole concept of being able to impale as many people as this guy did is mind blowing.
When I was, younger I heard of Dracula but never knew he was a real person. I always consider Dracula as a vampire and not a real person who ruled Romania.
I never knew Dracula was a real person.. that’s kind of scary in a way.. it makes me think different about the movie because I now know its real.
I always find it interesting how people will gain a new name after their death.
Never even realized Dracula was a real person!
i will totally think about dracula differently because he was a real person! so werid
he was not really a vampire he was just cruel in the way she killed his enemies
So he forced people to impaled themselves and somehow the Dracula we all know about came out of this? Hope does that work?
Dracula the vampire is fiction. The way that works is, the writer can make up whatever he or she wants to. That is what Stoker did.
I had no idea Dracula was a real person! Very interesting read.
This was one of the most interesting articles yet and I Love it.
I don’t see how people could come up with such ways of killing masses like rulers use to do. I also never knew what patronymic meant.
Very interesting article, and still gruesome to think that Vlad killed people by forcing them to sit on spikes.
Wow! That’s one way to torture and kill someone.
it is crazy how he gets to be ruler three times.