Comments on: The Quick 10: 10 Stories About the Real Dracula

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:58:26 +0000

I might be wrong but I think those Turkish „ambassadors” were there to collect the tribute of Romanian Country („Țara Românească”)to Turkish Empire.
Also, it is well known that Vlad was assassinated, but the burial place is unknown.

By: Norkio

Norkio — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:35:00 +0000

The vampires in the Necroscope series by Brian Lumley are partly based on stories of Vlad the Impaler, though it’s been many years since I read these books and I can’t quite remember now. If you like really mean, scary vampires and not those romantic, foppish ones in another vampire series, check out Brian Lumley.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:55:00 +0000

I’ve heard the same story Tiffany recounted, but in one version he kills the monks who flatter him and let the one who spoke honestly go free.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:13:00 +0000

Very informative article, grazie.

Tiff-Where do you have such a uniquie tattoo? And do you have many people who ask about it or why you have it?

By: R.

R. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:57:00 +0000

A Romanian’s perspective: I heard most of these stories, but with a bit of context: in the medieval times impaling wan’t particulary gruesome. What Vlad Tepes did was to use it as a psychological weapon, and apparently with great success. Some other fun facts:
- There is a famous story about thieves being so afraid to steal during his time that at a fountain on a crossroad he placed a gold cup, and it remained there for as long as he was a ruler.
- Most of his life and probably his death were in a hungarian prison, even though hungarians were supposed to be allies against the turks. There’s a lesson here somewhere :)
- In his youth he was educated at the Constantinopole.

Overall he’s considered a pretty competent ruler, and one of the few revered kings of old Walachia (now Romania).

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:56:00 +0000

Huh. I thought everyone knew that Dracula and Vlad the Impaler referred to the same person. Guess not. [shrug]

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:46:00 +0000

I don’t get why he wasn’t referenced as “Vlad the Impaler” earlier in the article. I think a lot of us have heard of both Dracula and Vlad the Impaler, but never made the connection before.

Interesting article. Weird writing.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:26:00 +0000

One of my favorite Dracula stories involves a small group of wandering monks. They were traveling through and Dracula asked them to come speak with him. Seeings as how he was worried, constantly, about the state of his immortal soul and where he would finish up. He asks each of the monks what was thought of him and if he would go to heaven, since he built churches and monastaries…no mention of the cruelty part. Most of the monks said that he was only doing what he must and that he would be rewarded for doing what had to be done. However, one monk was very serious and told him that he was a terrible man and that he was going to hell for the things that he had done to so many people. Dracula let the man speak his piece. When he was finished Dracula grabbed a stake and started stabbing the monk in the head…and to make sure that everyone got the ‘point’ he also took and impaled the man’s donkey as well. It’s a good story…not sure if it is true. I find the man fascinating and actually have a tattoo of the picture you showed in the article.