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The real life Dracula led a life which in even his wildest dreams Bram Stoker could not capture, though the author is now immortal in our history, his work holds only a fragment of the kind of horror which Vlad Dracula actually lived. Born to Vlad Dracu Tepes in Romania, named Dracula "son of Dracu" or "son of the dragon" with the family's crest as the order of the dragon. His entire life from even his most early years was filled with drama and tyranny the likes most playwrites would envy to imagine. At the time Hungary and Turkey were at odds, Romania between them both, torn up into provinces and made to yield to the stronger of the two sides, whichever may rear its ugly head first. That said, Hungary took a political approach to Romania under the papasy, whereas the Turks took to their more Alexandrian method of foreign policy. Vlad Dracu died at the hands of the nobles in his own land, and the nobles then buried his eldest son Mircea alive. Dracula (12) and his brother Radu (9) both of early age Dracula being the slight elder, were imprisoned by the Turks. Dracula and Radu spent their childhood in prisons which humanists today would not place serial killers, nevermind children. However while Dracula experienced the darker side of the dungeon from his pre to post pubescent years his brother Radu was in some ways more fortunate as the turks particularly Mohammed 11 saw something in him which lead to more leniancy and taught him their ways. Released from prison at the age of seventeen Dracula was posted as a turkish officer to return home, Vlad seized Tirgoviste defeating the Hungarian Janos Hunyadi, and appointing himself Prince of Wallachia. This victory was short lived as Vladislav took the throne a mere two months later, but eventually Dracula reclaimed his throne. They had released the demon they had created in those prison walls. Now with the Hungarians weary of his power and the Turks sure of his loyalty Dracula was Prince of Wallachia and resided in a palace in the city of Tirgoviste. Vlad had learned the meaning of fear, but it did not stump him, instead it taught him that to be feared is to be powerful, many people who are imprisoned fear going back so do no wrong, Vlad feared nothing, but instilled fear in everyone. His nickname "Vlad the impaler" came from his favourite way of killing his foes of whom were many, and this was carried out more than often in many places. He even dined with the trembling corpses impaled around him. An iron stomach would be an understatement. His own brother Radu was to become his foe also, undertaking the ways of the Turban, given a high position and not relinquishing it even though he was only there through incarceration. He saw himself well endowed. If anything nice can be said of Dracula then it is that behind any action he had morals, even when offered power by his brother he would not accept it from the hands of the Turks. Each attrocity of which he is legend has behind it his own reasoning which you can't help but admire. When a Turkish party arived to collect taxes Dracula asked why they did not remove their turbans in his presence, custom was their reply, and so they returned home with their turbans nailed to their skulls and no tribute. Respect was a big issue with Vlad. Throughout Dracula's Six year Reign in Tirgoviste a Golden Goblet was placed in a fountain in the centre of the city, and it remained there the entire time. He invited beggers and vagrants to massive banquets, then after asking if they were happy, he left sealed the building and burned it down. He had no time for dishonest people man or woman infact an unfaithful woman would suffer far more pain than a man. Now after sending three Turks home with nails in their heads, not paying any tribute and not visiting the sultan to kiss his ring as it was annually agreed this was a declaration of war. The Turks underestimated Vlad's intelligence and power and when trying to trick or wage war with him they would find him a mighty foe. On the occasion where the Turks meant to ambush Vlad he knew of their plans despite the neutral grounds and slaughtered the entire Turkish garrison with his men in hiding then impaled them all and the man he was mean't to meet impaled upside down. The Turks then lead a march to Tirgoviste on their way they would march through a valley where the corpses of hundreds of thousands of Turks were impaled along the sides of the road in this valley of death. The Turks could not bare the environment and headed back home. Later the turks would make their way to Tirgoviste only to find the city burned to ashes "How do we fight a man like this" Mohammed II said. Later in battle Vlad died and his brother Radu took his throne not much is known of his bodies whereabouts only rumours, the most popular being that when the grave was found and exposed animal bones lay there. |
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