The Story of Vlad the Impaler

Tales of vampirism have long been a part of Eastern European history, and in Romania, fears about these undead spirit-stealers still makes people shudder at night. The world's most famous vampire, Dracula, was based on on Romanian--Vlad the Impaler, who was not, in fact, considered to have vampiric tendencies.

Vlad the Impaler got his name from his choice of punishment for those who defied him or who were considered to be morally lacking. It might be said that Vlad was "cruel to be kind." Though you or I might be hard-pressed to identify the kindnes of his actions, his reign of terror was also one free of crime; rather than risk being impaled if found out, the citizens of Wallachia preferred to keep their hands off of other people's belongings and ask reasonable prices for goods. Even those who were ill or complained of poverty were silenced. This was after Vlad invited a group of these unfortunate peasants to dine with him, then made examples of them by impaling them, too.

Tales of vampirism have long been a part of Eastern European history, and in Romania, fears about these undead spirit-stealers still makes people shudder at night. The world's most famous vampire, Dracula, was based on on Romanian--Vlad the Impaler, who was not, in fact, considered to have vampiric tendencies.

Vlad the Impaler got his name from his choice of punishment for those who defied him or who were considered to be morally lacking. It might be said that Vlad was "cruel to be kind." Though you or I might be hard-pressed to identify the kindnes of his actions, his reign of terror was also one free of crime; rather than risk being impaled if found out, the citizens of Wallachia preferred to keep their hands off of other people's belongings and ask reasonable prices for goods. Even those who were ill or complained of poverty were silenced. This was after Vlad invited a group of these unfortunate peasants to dine with him, then made examples of them by impaling them, too.

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