When thinking about the most horrific names in human history, we can think of quite a few without effort. But one common denominator remains, Vlad the Impaler and here’s the introduction to horror.

The Heart of Horror

The origins of Vlad the Impaler are not known by everyone. Not many people wish to search for the darkest minds of human history. 

I am one of those ‘freaks’ who devour history from people who spread terror most uniquely and strategically, preferably centuries ago. And Vlad the Impaler, as an introduction to horror, is the right place to start.

Vlad III, also known as Vlad Țtepeș, i.e., the Impaler, saw the light of day for the first time between 1428 and 1431. No one knows his birth date and can only estimate it to be around those times.

Vlad III was born Roman Catholic and would eventually become the voivode, ruler, and warlord of Wallachia, today known as Romania.

From Vlad The Impaler To Horror

The life Vlad witnessed helped him defend his territory many times. He developed an acute tactical sense to protect his people at all costs and be the monster that would strike into the heart of humankind. Vlad’s family was part of the Order of the Dragon.

Dragon is a word that was nonexistent in the Romanian language. It had Vlad III’s father create the word itself as close as possible. He made the word that would become one to fear and inspire literary work for centuries, Draculea.

But do not mix the misinterpretation of Dracul’s meaning of ‘devil.’ After all, what Vlad’s father tried to create was the word dragon. Therefore, the noun Dracula in this historical context meant that Vlad III was the ‘Son of the Dragon’ by adding the ‘a’ at the end.

A secret brotherhood named the Order of the Dragon was an assembly dedicated to protecting Catholics and Christians from the Turk invasion. They were a military force that would maintain their belief and religion. Vlad III’s ancestry was a part of it, and so was he.

Just like his father, Vlad II, Vlad protected Romania by using the Ottoman Empire or rebelling against it and used his name to protect Catholicism. In a time when one would choose to eat or be eaten, Vlad decided to defend his land and rule its borders with an iron fist. 

Vlad the Impaler’s Birthplace

Vlad III was born in a town which, back in the 15th century, was the capital of Transylvania, today at the heart of Romania. The city’s name is Târgovişte, meaning ‘Merchants’ in Slavic. Numerous towns and places share that name due to multiple invasions throughout history.

The name of Vlad III’s mother is even a mystery. No one knows her name for sure. He was born in a humble building today, a restaurant and a tourist place to visit. To conclude, nobody knows the exact year of his birth, nor do they know his mother’s name.

Although Vlad III’s bloodline is noble, the truth is due to Romania’s history, it was hard for his father to maintain his reign. Vlad’s era was unstable due to the constant attacks from Matthias Corvinus and other Muslim-based countries invading kingdoms such as Romania.

Târgovişte was a strategic town and saw many battles in its time. One of the town’s most famous moments was the defeat of one of Vlad III’s harshest enemies. Vlad, the Impaler, was born in someone’s blood and did not fear bathing in other people’s blood either. 

It forged him a reputation like no other in his time. Vlad the Impaler had no problem fighting because he had everything to lose if he didn’t. A desperate human can do anything if pushed far enough; history knows he was shoved rather than pushed.

Vlad the Impaler Is Not Dracula

Fans of Vlad the Impaler know that there is next to nothing Bram Stoker‘s Dracula and Vlad have in common, except for the name itself. Furthermore, while Count Dracula owned much of Transylvania and was rich, Vlad III owned nothing.

Vlad the Impaler was a warlord. He led people to battle and protected his country against the Turks. Vlad the Impaler reigned three times over Wallachia, which means he lost it twice. His only desire was to have his enemy pay for what they did to his family and people.

The famous castle described in Bram Stoker’s novel, the Bran Castle, has nothing to do with the real Vlad the Impaler. Vlad III ordered the construction of one castle, the Poenari Castle. However, he almost certainly never walked inside the Poenari Castle.

It is strategically placed at the top of a mountain overlooking a large part of Romania, like most fortresses at the time. It was easy to stand guard and see anyone coming their way. Nevertheless, Vlad, most likely himself, never set foot in the Poenari Castle and had prisoners sent to the location to build it for him.

The castle is highly placed and looks overly gloomy and terrifying for anyone daring to attack the homeland of the Impaler. The strategy behind it worked, but sadly, the castle was a victim of natural environmental detriment and human battles and bombings.

The Introduction To Horror

This article is only a small introduction and summarizes Vlad III’s life. Furthermore, we can see it as an overview of what he has gone through. 

But do not worry. I am to reveal more about the one man who inspired hundreds of thousands of people throughout generations.

His name inspires fear and lust, one of a hero. Historians and some even dare say we need an anti-hero like Vlad III today. This was Vlad the Impaler, an introduction to horror and my personal obsession.

The OCD Vampire