A little bit about Vlad Țepeș and Dracula
Remember I told you about my blog Lune Station? My super post with all things Dracula is finally up! \o/
You can read it here: https://lunestation.com/en/dracula-from-real-life-to-books-and-movies-halloween-week/
I’m a huge Dracula fan and I like to research in my free time about the myth and the real history behind it. So I talk a little about Vlad Țepeș, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, Coppola’s 1992 Dracula movie and the classic vampire anime/manga: Hellsing.
If you ever wanted to learn a bit about Vlad III, I’ll leave the part of the post I talk about him! You can read the rest in my website ^^
Hope you like it, people!!
Vlad Țepeș – Count Dracula in Real Life
Vlad III, also known as Vlad Drăculea and Vlad Țepeș (Vlad, o Impaler), was born at Sighișoara, in December 7, 1431. Son of Vlad II, back then the prince of Wallachia, soon he moved to Târgoviște – the principality capital.
Both Vlad II, the father, and Vlad III used the name “Dracul”, one of the ways to identify them as part of the Order of the Dragon – that had as a goal to defend christian Europe from the advances by the Ottoman Empire. The Order, was created in 1408 by the king of Hungary, Sigismund of Luxemburg, and the queen Barbara von Cilli – having, also, a religious idea behind it.
(The symbol of the Order of the Dragon)
The name Vlad Drăculea, also, can be translated as “son of the dragon”. Some translations, though, can be done as “son of the devil” – once that the word in latin “dracul” is used many times to refer to the devil. In addition, on Saint Benedict’s medal – used frequently by exorcist priests – is written for the saint to deliver the wearer from the dragon.
When he was 11 years old, though, Vlad III and his younger brother, Radu, were given by their father to Murad II – then sultan of the Ottoman Empire – as a guarantee that he wouldn’t rise against the ottomans. Living in Constantinople – nowadays Istanbul – Vlad learned the language and behaviours.
It’s also said that it was during this time that he learned to war and picked up his extremely cruel habits in battle – especially the impaling tecnique.
With the death of Vlad II by the hands of noble men, Vlad III, on his 17 years old, started his incursions to take back the throne of Wallachia, while his brother Radu prefered to remain on Turkey with the ottomans. When he was 25 years old, Vlad III took back Wallachia, killing Vladislav II – who governed the principality back then.
(A map where you can see where Wallachia was located)
Vlad became known by his resistance against the Ottoman Empire – even becoming an example in the region. However, with his brother Radu leading an attack, he was taken from the rule of Wallachia, running away to the Hungarian Empire – that even helped Wallachia with resources.
Living as a prisioner on the Hungarian Empire, Vlad III even got married, had children and participated on the royal life. After some years, though, he decided to conquer back his lands – once Radu, his brother, had already died. Getting back to Wallachia, the ruler back then, Bassarabe, prefered to run away then face him.
(Poenari castle, the main defense point of Vlad III on his resistance agains the Ottoman Empire. Some say it’s the place where his first wife killed herself, jumping from one of the castle’s towers)
Vlad III died when he was 45 years old, under still misterious circumstances. Some say the ottomans killed him trying to get Bassarabe back on the throne, others say he died the same way as his father. A part of people comment that his remains are in the island of Snagov, while another part say he was decapitated and his head taken to Constantinople.
But no one knows for certain what happened and his remains, apparently, weren’t found to this day.
This is what I could put together with my researches for now - I depend solely on books and the internet, so please be nice if there’s something wrong.
I’m always willing to learn more about Vlad III and Dracula: there are a lot of controversial and even shady things about the actual historic facts and some aren’t even a consensus of what actually happened. I put together the ones that seem to be for sure.
If you know any resources I can read more and research more about it, plase do tell me!! I’m always searching for more knowledge ^^
And if you want some good Dracula media to read or watch on this Halloween, be sure to check my recommendations on my blog ;)
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See you around and thanks a lot for reading!!
