- The man of which Dracula is originally said to be based on is the real life ruler,
Prince Vlad the Impaler. Dracula was NOT a Count, nor was he a vampire.
- Vlad Dracul, father of 'Dracula' was the governor of Transylvania and member of the Order of the Dragon. Their purpose
was to protect Catholicism and fight against the Turks.
- Vlad Dracula (also known as Vlad the Imapaler and Dracula), was born in 1431 in Transylvania and was the second born son of Dracul.
- "Dracula" means "son of Dracul" in Romanian, and "Dracul" means "dragon" or "devil" in Romanian. Therefore young Vlad was "son of the dragon" or "son of the devil". Scholars believe that
this was the beginning of the legend that Dracula was a vampire.
- In 1447, after Dracula's father was assassinated and his eldest brother was buried alive, he set out against his enemies and fought
many wars. Vlad became quite known for his brutal methods of torture and punishment; he often ordered his victoms to be skinned,
boiled, decapitated, strangled, blinded, hanged, burned, roasted, nailed, buried alive or stabbed. But his favourite method was
impalement on stakes, hence the name "Vlad the Impaler".
- Killed in December 1476 fighting the Turks near Bucharest, Romania, Dracula's
head was cut off and displayed in Constantinople.
Definitions
Catholicism: the beliefs and practices of a Catholic church.
Assassinated: to murder; destroy.
Brutal: harsh; extremely cruel.
Decapitate: to cut off the head of; behead. |