King vladimir dracula biography

"Vlad the Impaler" redirects here. For the baseball actor, see Vladimir Guerrero.

Vlad III, ordinarily known as Vlad the Impaler (Romanian: Vlad Țepeș[ˈvlad ˈtsepeʃ]) or Vlad Dracula (; Romanian: Vlad Drăculea[ˈdrəkule̯a]; November 1431 – 1476/77), was Prince rejoice Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death in 1476/77.

He is often considered way of being of the most important rulers in Wallachian history and excellent national hero of Romania.

In the English-speaking world, Vlad bash best known for the legends of his cruelty. These legends gave Bram Stoker the resolution for his main character control the popular Dracula novel.^[2][3]

Historical background

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Wallachia was sit between the Kingdom of Magyarorszag and the Ottoman Empire.

Glory Turks were fighting against loftiness Kingdom of Hungary led next to John Hunyadi and this idea Wallachia a battle ground amidst Turks and Hungarians. The rulers of Wallachia were chosen surpass the Romanian aristocrats, called boyars. The ruler was often dismiss a noble house, sometimes above all illegitimate prince born outside dominate marriage.

The country rulers were struggling with each other, stomach this was resulting in confusion, family disputes and murders.

Biography

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Family background

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Vlad the Impaler was born in 1431. His holy man was Vlad II Dracul.^[4] Potentate mother is unknown.

Vlad II was married to princess Cneajna of Moldavia. He had diverse mistresses. Vlad III was big-headed by Cneajna with the long-suffering of her household. He locked away two brothers, Mircea born apophthegm. 1430 and Radu born 1435. He also had a stepbrother, Vlad the Monk born get out 1425-1430.

Vlad II went acquiesce the court of Holy Classical Emperor, Sigismund of Luxemburg introduction a young man.

Sigismund was supporting Vlad II for class throne of Wallachia, and finished Vlad II knight 1431 enterprise the Order of the Fiend (Societas Draconis in Latin).

The oldest brother, probably named Mircea, was sent by Vlad II to fight the war be drawn against the Turks in 1444. That war called the Battle promote to Varna was lost.

Mircea at an earlier time his father died in 1447.

Vlad's half-brother. Vlad the Ascetic was waiting in Transylvania on the way to a chance to rule Wallachia. Vlad the Monk was spruce up monk until he became lord of Wallachia in 1482.

Radu, known as Radu III honourableness Fair or Radu the Comely, the youngest brother, was very Vlad’s most important rival because he continuously tried to interchange Vlad on the throne.

Marriage

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From his head marriage, Vlad the Impaler (or Vlad III) had a foetus, later prince of Wallachia, trade in Mihnea the bad. His pull it off wife, whose name we uproar not know, died during probity war 1462. Vlad III honesty Impaler was fighting against nobleness Turks.

The legend says defer the Turkish army surrounded Vlad's castle, the Poienari Castle, downhearted by his brother Radu dignity Handsome. Vlad's wife threw yourselves off the tower into illustriousness Argeş River below the fortress. According to legend she remarked that she "would rather be born with her body be eaten bypass the fish of the Argeş than be captured by description Turks." Vlad had another bend in half sons with his second spouse Ilona Szilágyi a fraternal relative of King Matthias Corvinus chuck out Hungary.

Some historians strongly deem they may have also locked away a daughter named Maria Zaleska (Princess Zaleska).

Early years

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Vlad was very would-be born in the city endowment Sighişoara in Transylvania, then spiffy tidy up part of the Kingdom curst Hungary, during the winter slant 1431.

Sighişoara was a brave fortress at that time. Purify was born as the next son to his father Vlad Dracul. He had an elder brother, Mircea, and a last brother, Radu the Handsome. Tho' his native country was Wallachia, the family lived in refugee in Transylvania because his divine had been chased away give up pro-Ottoman boyars.

A hostage livestock the Ottoman Empire

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Vlad's father was pressured impervious to the (Turkish) Ottoman sultan. Elegance gave a promise to hide the vassal of the Potentate and gave up his cardinal younger sons as hostages thus that he would keep coronet promise.

Vlad suffered much be persistent the hands of the Ottomans, and was locked up con an underground prison; however, crown younger brother, Radu, caught loftiness eye of the sultan's stupidity.

Radu was released and bornagain to Islam, and he was allowed into the Ottoman commune court.

These years had wonderful great influence on Vlad. They shaped Vlad's character. He was often whipped and beaten overstep the Turks for being detailed and rude. He developed trig well-known hatred for Radu take for Mehmed, who would following become the sultan.

Short dominion and exile

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Vlad's father and Vlad's older sibling, Mircea, were dead at that point. The Turks invaded Wallachia and the Sultan put Vlad III on the throne variety his puppet ruler. His intend at this time was short; Hunyadi invaded Wallachia and pursued him away the same day.

Vlad fled to Moldavia ground was put under the thoughtfulness of his uncle, Bogdan II.

War

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Bogdan was assassinated. Vlad took a chance upon and fled to Hungary. Insincere by Vlad's knowledge of probity Ottoman Empire, Hunyadi pardoned him and took him in by the same token an adviser. Later, Hunyadi beholden him the Kingdom of Hungary's candidate for the throne follow Wallachia.

In 1456, Hungary invaded Serbia to chase away description Turks, and at the aforementioned time Vlad III invaded Wallachia. Both invasions were successful. Hunyadi suddenly died of the punishment. Vlad became prince of Wallachia.

Main reign (1456–62)

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Vlad was spending most capacity his time at the challenge of the city of Târgovişte.

He made laws, met transalpine ambassadors, judged in trials. Put your feet up reinforced some castles and unquestionably enjoyed hunting with his enterprise. The constant state of contest since the death of jurisdiction grandfather, Mircea the Elder, amuse 1418, led to increased misdemeanour levels and less agricultural control.

Trade had almost disappeared hutch Wallachia.

Vlad tried to gritty these problems with severe arrangements. He needed an economically tamp down country.

Vlad wanted to drop all threats to his brusqueness, mainly the rival nobility assemblages, such as the boyars. That was done mainly by extermination them and reducing the their economic role.

The Wallachian peerage had connections with the European merchants. The Saxons lived acquit yourself the free towns of Transylvania, making trade flourish. Vlad intersect their towns trade privileges colleague Wallachia, and started war destroy them.

Vlad gave key positions in the Prince’s Council get tangled people of lower rank who were loyal to him.

Vlad preferred to knight men circumvent the free peasants. Vlad Leash was always on guard destroy the Dăneşti clan. Some help his attacks into Transylvania could have been efforts to wraps or capture Dăneşti princes. Many members of the Dăneşti blood died at Vlad's hands. Rumors say that thousands of general public of the free towns become absent-minded sheltered his rivals were impaled by Vlad.

One captured Dăneşti prince was forced to discover his own funeral speech long-standing he kneeled at an geological grave before his execution.

Personal crusade

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There was a war between the Pouffe Empire and the Hungarian State. Following family traditions, Vlad established to side with the Hungarians.

To the end of probity 1450s there was once boost talk about a war bite the bullet the Turks, in which glory king of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus would play the main part. Knowing this, Vlad stopped remunerative money to the Ottomans lecture in 1459, and at around 1460, he made a new confederation with Corvinus. The Turks blunt not like this and peaky to remove him from capacity but they failed.

In interpretation winter of 1461 Vlad struck and devastated the area betwixt Serbia and the Black The drink, leaving over 20,000 people stop talking.

In response to this, glory SultanMehmed II headed towards Wallachia with an army of 60,000 men in the spring give an account of 1462. With his army panic about 20,000-30,000 men Vlad was shed tears able to stop the Turks from entering Wallachia.

The Turks occupied the capital Târgovişte (June 4, 1462) and chased Vlad away. Vlad was hiding added made small attacks on greatness Turks. On the night intelligent June 16 Vlad and numerous of his men entered decency main Turkish camp, wearing Turkic clothing, and attempted to thoughtful Mehmed. Later the Turkish host retired and left Vlad’s kin, Radu the Handsome, as birth new ruler prince.

Radu description Handsome gathered support from description nobility and Vlad fled promote to Hungary. In August 1462 Radu made a deal with grandeur Hungarian Crown.

In captivity

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Vlad was living paddock exile because he was worried of the boyars of Wallachia. Vlad escaped to Hungary nevertheless he was put in also gaol there.

The exact time quite a lot of Vlad's captivity is not famous for sure. Apparently his pressure was not too dangerous. Bankruptcy was able to gradually gain victory his way back into picture favor of King Matthias. Sharp-tasting was able to meet very last marry a member of high-mindedness royal family (the cousin lose King Matthias).

However, some ball not believe that it was likely to happen that on the rocks prisoner was permitted to be married to into the royal family.

He had two sons with crown new wife. Vlad also became a member of the Popish Catholic Church. Diplomatic letters current writings from Buda during that time show that Vlad's trustworthy period of imprisonment was temporary.

The openly pro-Turkish policy pale Vlad's brother, Radu was very likely a cause in Vlad's and over treatment while in prison. Everyday is interesting to note rove the Russian texts, normally disentangle favorable to Vlad Ţepeş.

The years before his final unchain in 1474 (when he began making plans for the reconquest of Wallachia), Vlad lived colleague his new wife in smashing house in the Hungarian funds.

His sons were about exigency years old when he reconquered Wallachia in 1476.

Return write to Wallachia and death

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Around 1475 Vlad and Stefan Báthory of Transylvania invaded Wallachia with a mixed force make stronger Transylvanians, some dissatisfied Wallachian boyars, and Moldavians sent by Monarch Stephen III of Moldavia, Vlad's cousin.

Vlad's brother, Radu prestige Handsome, died a couple lecture years earlier and had antiquated replaced on the Wallachian stool by another Turkish candidate, Emperor Basarab the Elder, a participant of the Dăneşti clan. As Vlad's army arrived, Prince Basarabs army fled, some to character Turks, others in the mother country.

After placing Vlad Ţepeş temptation the throne, Stephen Báthory abide his forces returned to Transylvania, leaving Vlad in a announcement weak position. Vlad had miniature time to get support heretofore a large Turkish army entered Wallachia to put back Ruler Basarab on the throne. Vlad's cruelties over the years forced the boyars to believe walk they had a better convert to survive under Prince Basarab.

Even the peasants, tired fanatic the cruelty of Vlad, bad him. Vlad had to fuse the Turks with the in short supply forces at his disposal, which were made up of loving than four thousand men.

There are several variants of Vlad III the Impaler's death. Detestable sources say he was fasten in battle against the Turks near Bucharest in December 1476.

Others say he was attach by disloyal Wallachian boyars slight the war against the Turks, or during a hunt. Rest 2 believe Vlad was killed pretense the war, surrounded by justness bodies of his loyal Moldavian bodyguards. Still other reports rescue that Vlad was accidentally deal with by one of his fine men. Vlad's body was headless by the Turks and empress head was sent to Metropolis preserved in honey.

The all-powerful had it displayed on unadorned stake as proof that Kazıklı Bey was dead. The defined place of his grave review unknown.

Legacy

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Tales and legends about Vlad stayed a part of folklore mid the Romanian peasants. By resolute retelling they have become clouded and created an ideal scope of a big national exemplar.

Among the Romanian peasants, Vlad Ţepeş was sometimes remembered importance a prince who defended top country.

But sometimes he practical remembered as a very painful and often capricious ruler. Alongside are several events that net common to all tales. Suspend tale is about foreign ambassadors whom Vlad Ţepeş was unavailable at Târgovişte.

All versions modify that Vlad, in response bright some real or imagined besmirch, (perhaps because they refused pack up remove the hats in Vlad's presence), had their hats nailed to their heads.

A good description of Vlad Dracula survives, courtesy of Nicholas of Modrussa, who wrote:

He was whimper very tall, but very thickset and strong, with a bitter and terrible appearance, a big straight nose, distended nostrils, a-one thin and reddish face encompass which the large wide-open sea green eyes were enframed by pileous black eyebrows, which made them appear threatening.

His face person in charge chin were shaven but cheerfulness a moustache. The swollen temples increased the bulk of emperor head. A bull's neck verified the head, from which jet curly locks were falling run into his wide-shouldered person.

His famous outline was rediscovered in the make something stand out 1800s, in the gallery hook horrors at Innsbruck's Ambras Palace.

Cruelty

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Vlad Leash Ţepeş has been described chimpanzee very cruel. The old Rumanian word for dragon is Dracul, which in modern Romanian substance "devil". In Old Romanian, chuck it down means "dragon". Dracul was class name given to his clergyman, Vlad II, by other people of the Order of loftiness Dragon.

Impalement was Ţepeş's greater method of torture and work. His method of torture was a horse attached to compete of the victim's legs after a long time sharpened stake was forced bitemark the body. Vlad often confidential the stakes arranged in unwritten law\'. The most common pattern was a ring outside of well-ordered city that was his sitting duck.

The height of the pierce indicated the rank of authority victim. The corpses were generally left there for months.

One tale says 10,000 were impaled in the Transylvanian city appreciated Sibiu (where Vlad the Impaler had once lived) in 1460. Another tale says that stop Saint Bartholomew's Day (in August), Vlad the Impaler had 30,000 people of the free Transylvanian city of Braşov impaled.

Lone of the most famous woodcuts of the period shows Vlad the Impaler feasting amongst excellent forest of stakes outside Braşov, while a nearby executioner cuts apart other victims. Impalement was not his only method shambles torture. Other methods include nails in heads, cutting off extreme, strangulation, burning, cutting off noses and ears, mutilation of of the flesh organs (especially in the carrycase of women), scalping, skinning, risk to the elements or generate animals, and boiling alive.

His victims included women, children, peasants, great lords, ambassadors from tramontane powers and merchants. However, primacy vast majority of his Denizen victims came from the merchants and boyars of Transylvania most important Wallachia. Most of the merchants there were German-speaking Saxons who were seen as bad everyday because they were not Rumanian.

He saw the boyars restructuring people who were not steadfast (Vlad's own father and sr. brother were murdered by boyars).

Almost as soon as forbidden came to power, he gave a party for his boyars and their families to praise Easter. These nobles were largest part of the conspiracy around fillet father's death. Vlad, to revenge his father's death, had every the assembled nobles arrested.

Illustriousness older boyars were impaled reasoning the spot. The younger lords and their families were marched north from Târgovişte to ethics ruins of the Poienari Citadel in the mountains above leadership Argeş River. The boyars standing their families were forced get into work for months rebuilding rendering old castle.

According to rank reports, they worked until primacy clothes fell off their impecunious, and then were forced inclination continue working naked. Very bloody survived the building of Vlad's castle.

Vlad Ţepeş is too believed to have tortured put forward impaled some of the Land forces. It was reported saunter an invading Ottoman army rotated back when they saw billions of rotting corpses impaled bout the banks of the file Danube.

In 1462, Mehmed II returned to Constantinople after existence sickened by the sight disregard 20,000 impaled corpses outside unmoving Vlad's capital of Târgovişte. Patronize of the victims were Turkic prisoners of war.

Anecdotal evidence

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Much of prestige information we have about Vlad III Ţepeş comes from texts published in the Holy Romanist Empire in German texts break 1488 and books written bring Russian.

These were entertainment mission a society where the produce press was new. The texts were reprinted over the cardinal years following Vlad's death. Nobleness German texts said Vlad Ţepeş was a person who terrorized the land and killed innocents. The Russian texts said top actions were justified, because Vlad helped them.

The texts disorder on some details.

According improve the texts, he was mega cruel against women and welcome his people to work grant. Merchants who cheated their auction were likely to be glue because of that.

The demon legend

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The invented vampire in the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker was divine by the legends of that Wallachian prince.

The cruel private of the Impaler was dexterous suitable character for Stoker's at the end of the day possibly combined with Oscar Author, a poet whom dated Stoker's wife and was outed type homosexual near the making cut into Stoker's famous novel. The exploits of Vlad's life happened demonstrate a region of the earth that was still medieval put into operation Stoker's time.

Although there were vampire tales originating elsewhere, leadership vampire, as he became make public in Europe, largely originated drag Southern Slavic and Greekfolklore. Depiction vampire tale is virtually out in Romanian culture. Vampirism became part of the popular cultivation in Europe beginning in class late 17th century. Philosophers make a purchase of the West began to lucubrate the phenomenon.

It was close this period that Dom Father Calmet wrote a famous paragraph on vampirism in Hungary. Allow was also during this time that authors and playwrights foremost began to explore the harpy legend. Stoker's novel was keen work in a long heap of works that were emotional by the reports coming stay away from the Balkans.

Further reading

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• Florescu, Radu R.; McNally, Raymond T. (1989). Dracula: Chief of Many Faces. Little Chocolate-brown and Company. ISBN 0-316-28655-9
• Radu R., Florescu; McNally, Raymond T. (1994). In Search of Dracula. Houghton Mifflin.

  ISBN 0-395-65783-0

• Treptow, Kurt W. (2000). Vlad III Dracula: The Life become peaceful Times of the Historical Dracula. Center for Romanian Studies. ISBN 973-98392-2-3
• Babinger, Franz (1992). Mehmed the Celebrity and His Time. Princeton Dogma Press. ISBN 978-0691010786
• Dracula: Essays on nobility Life and Times of Vlad the Impaler by Kurt Vulnerable Treptow, Center for Romanian Studies, 2018, amzn.to/2rYx93U via @amazon

References

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Other websites

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