Vlad the Impaler: The Original Dracula
Dracula. Everybody knows who that is. He inspires terror in everybody's heart. He is the blood sucking monster that haunted Transylvania. He is an iconic legend that has inspired a countless amount of classic movies and novels to this day. However you may be surprised to know that he is not pure fiction. Bram Stoker the author of “Dracula” based his novel off of the Prince of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes or “Vlad the impaler” as he was called as a result of his fascination with impaling people was one of the most evil men this world has ever known. He has set the bar for the true limits of cruelty a human can explore.
Vlad was born in 1431 in Sighisoara, Transylvania and died in 1476 in present-day …show more content…
This influenced Vlad to try to take back the throne. He succeeded, but he was disposed after only 2 months. Nobody knows where Vlad was from 1448 to 1456 but it is known that he turned on the Ottomans and started fighting against them. He reclaimed the throne in Wallachia and his first order of business was to cut all ties with the Ottomans even if it meant that tensions would rise between the Wallachians and the Ottomans. Many say that his time in captivity with the Ottomans is what influenced the terror he would reign as prince. There is not a single person credited with inspiring Vlad to undertake such cruel actions. Instead it is a mixture of the men who held him captive, his family, and the people that killed his dad and brother. Vlad is most famously known for the vile ways in which he tortured people. One of the first instances of that is when he had just claimed the throne again and had to establish power. He invited hundreds of boyars to a banquet he was hosting. All the boyars challenged his authority -which he knew they would- and he had all of them stabbed and impaled on spikes. This may have started his thirst for blood and …show more content…
However he can be credited for being the originator of one of the biggest subcultures in America today. It has stemmed from novels, to tv shows, to movies, to actual lifestyles that people lead. The legends of Dracula are such a big part of pop culture in America. There have been so many classic movies made about him so many different versions of it. When you think of monsters, you think of Dracula, when you think of Halloween you think of Dracula. He is one of the most recognizable myths and legends today. I truly believe that if Vlad the Impaler had not existed, American culture would be so different. Many of the cultures around the world would be affected also because so many traditions and stories are stemmed from the legend of Dracula. However this does not mean he didn't have a negative impact on the world as well. He is truly one of the most evil men alive. He has set the standard so high and I don't think anybody has ever or will ever reach it. While he did not kill as many people as Hitler or Leopold have, the truly sadistic way in which he crafted all of his victims murder is something that ranks him as one of the most villainous figures in history. While Hitler had Jews all over the world killed by his many soldiers, Vlad would either be the one to kill or be present at the death of every single one of his victims. He had no reason whatsoever to be so cruel either, he was
Dracula. Everybody knows who that is. He inspires terror in everybody's heart. He is the blood sucking monster that haunted Transylvania. He is an iconic legend that has inspired a countless amount of classic movies and novels to this day. However you may be surprised to know that he is not pure fiction. Bram Stoker the author of “Dracula” based his novel off of the Prince of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes or “Vlad the impaler” as he was called as a result of his fascination with impaling people was one of the most evil men this world has ever known. He has set the bar for the true limits of cruelty a human can explore.
Vlad was born in 1431 in Sighisoara, Transylvania and died in 1476 in present-day …show more content…
This influenced Vlad to try to take back the throne. He succeeded, but he was disposed after only 2 months. Nobody knows where Vlad was from 1448 to 1456 but it is known that he turned on the Ottomans and started fighting against them. He reclaimed the throne in Wallachia and his first order of business was to cut all ties with the Ottomans even if it meant that tensions would rise between the Wallachians and the Ottomans. Many say that his time in captivity with the Ottomans is what influenced the terror he would reign as prince. There is not a single person credited with inspiring Vlad to undertake such cruel actions. Instead it is a mixture of the men who held him captive, his family, and the people that killed his dad and brother. Vlad is most famously known for the vile ways in which he tortured people. One of the first instances of that is when he had just claimed the throne again and had to establish power. He invited hundreds of boyars to a banquet he was hosting. All the boyars challenged his authority -which he knew they would- and he had all of them stabbed and impaled on spikes. This may have started his thirst for blood and …show more content…
However he can be credited for being the originator of one of the biggest subcultures in America today. It has stemmed from novels, to tv shows, to movies, to actual lifestyles that people lead. The legends of Dracula are such a big part of pop culture in America. There have been so many classic movies made about him so many different versions of it. When you think of monsters, you think of Dracula, when you think of Halloween you think of Dracula. He is one of the most recognizable myths and legends today. I truly believe that if Vlad the Impaler had not existed, American culture would be so different. Many of the cultures around the world would be affected also because so many traditions and stories are stemmed from the legend of Dracula. However this does not mean he didn't have a negative impact on the world as well. He is truly one of the most evil men alive. He has set the standard so high and I don't think anybody has ever or will ever reach it. While he did not kill as many people as Hitler or Leopold have, the truly sadistic way in which he crafted all of his victims murder is something that ranks him as one of the most villainous figures in history. While Hitler had Jews all over the world killed by his many soldiers, Vlad would either be the one to kill or be present at the death of every single one of his victims. He had no reason whatsoever to be so cruel either, he was