10 Tough Questions about Vlad the Impaler

Answer: Son of Dracul

Vlad III was known as Vlad Tepes (meaning impaler, a name given after his death) or Vlad Dracula (Draculea). The name Dracula was derived from his father's name, Vlad II Dracul. "Drac" means "devil" in modern Romanian but at the time when these men occupied it also meant "dragon".

Answer: 1431

He was born in Sighisoara, Transylvania in 1431. The identity of his mother is uncertain, but the common beliefs are that she was a Moldavian princess or a Translyvanian noblewoman. His father Vlad II was of royal lineage.

Answer: Prince of Wallachia

Vlad actually reigned three times, in 1448, 1456-1462 and lastly 1476. He was known for exceptionally cruel punishments. After the death of Vlad's grandfather the region of Wallachia had fallen into disarray. It was constantly at war, crime was on the rise and their trade partners were disappearing. It is believed that the harsh punishments were meant to restore order.

Answer: Voivode

The term "voivode" is Slavic in origin. The crown of Wallachia did not necessarily get passed from father to eldest son. At the end of a reign the new leader was elected by "boyars", who choose from those with "voivode blood". Boyars were a class of people just below that of royalty.

They would be of noble origin, be land owners with serfs and would have a position with military/administration function. Even then they had to have the position bestowed by the prince. Mircea was actually the name of Vlad III's grandfather, Mircea the Elder.

Answer: Mihnea the Evil

Vlad also had two children by his second wife, after his first wife supposedly committed suicide by jumping off a tower. His first-born son succeeded in becoming Prince of Wallachia.

Answer: The Forest of the Impaled

I can imagine looking over landscape to see thousands of impaled, decaying bodies would turn away even the most seasoned campaigner. Vlad's methods, though warped, were very effective in protecting his territory. They are said to have been impaled in many ways such as through the chest or back but, according to some old woodcuts, his favourite method was to force an oiled spike through the anus until it came out of the victim's mouth while they were still alive.

The corpses would be left to rot.

Answer: hanging

He was also known to burn, blind, mutilate, strip victims naked and leave them for the consumption of wild animals. He was limited in his tortures only by his imagination!

Answer: True

The legend of the vampire is actually deeply rooted in Southern Slavic culture but does not exist in Romania. It is believed that Bram Stoker did not know a lot about Vlad III but had read of his atrocities, and found the immense cruelty this man had shown fascinating.

Answer: Elizabeth Bathory

Elizabeth Bathory was known as the "Blood Countess". She was believed to be among the most prolific serial killers in history. It is said, in popular horror culture, that she bathed in the blood of virgins "to retain her youth". Though she was born in Hungary and her family had ties to the ruling class of Translyvania. (The exact number of her victims is not known).

She is said to have tortured her victims before their deaths. It is thought that Bram Stoker's Dracula borrows from the stories of Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad III Dracula. Bathory's supposed 'pastimes' give rise to the idea of the thirst for blood.

Answer: True

Despite his zest for cruel and unusual punishments, he is a hero in Romania. His methods were extreme but he reduced crime as well as defended his people and territory. Mohammed II is believed to have outnumbered Vlad three to one but he still turned for home at the sight of Vlad's stakes. Vlad was killed in battle with the Turks near Bucharest in 1476, but there are also claims that he was assassinated.