Vlad Dracula: From Prince to Myth

Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was a prince of Wallachia in the 15th century, known for his brutality and reign of terror. His penchant for impaling his enemies earned him a fearsome reputation, and after his death, stories of his cruelty became legends. These legends blended with local vampire folklore, creating the iconic Count Dracula. He was said to sleep in coffins filled with Carpathian earth, avoided sunlight and could transform himself into a bat to escape his enemies. Bram Stoker's 1897 novel "Dracula" solidified the image of the aristocratic and seductive vampire we know today.