The real Dracula was born in, yes, Transylvania in the winter of 1431. Transylvania was then ruled by Hungary, and Dracula's father, Vlad Dracul, was its military governor. The family was not actually Transylvanian. Vlad Dracul was descended from the royal family of a nearby country, Walachia. "Dracul" was a nickname given to him after he proved his ferocity in battle against the Turks. It meant "dragon" or "devil," so Dracula simply meant "son of the dragon" or "son of the devil."
Dracula's real name was Vlad. He had an older brother named Mircea and a younger brother named Radu. Their mother's identity is uncertain.
When Dracula was still a child, his father rebelled against Walachia's ruler, Alexandru I, overthrew him, and became the new prince, or voivode. After a few years the elder Vlad was driven out of the country by his enemies, but he later recaptured the throne with the assistance of the sultan of Turkey. To prove his loyalty to the sultan he sent Dracula and Radu to live in Turkey as hostages. A few years later, Vlad Dracul and Mircea were murdered. Dracula -- who was still only seventeen -- raised an army, returned to Walachia, overthrew his father's killers and seized the throne. Like his father, he was driven out of Walachia, but returned and conquered it again.
Then he began his reign of terror.
Bram Stoker's "Dracula" was downright civilized compared to his real life counterpart. Dracula was not a vampire, but he got great enjoyment out of impaling people alive so that he could watch them slowly die. Vlad Tepes ("Vlad the Impaler") is said to have slaughtered tens of thousands of people during his brief reign.
In 1462, Dracula went to war with his erstwhile allies, the Turks, and lost. He was forced to flee Walachia, and ended up in Hungary. At first King Matthias Corvinus had him imprisoned, but in time Dracula ingratiated himself with the Hungarian royal family and even married one of the king's relatives. In 1476 Dracula invaded Walachia, hoping to regain his crown. He was killed in battle and buried at the island monastery of Snagov. But the story doesn't necessarily end there. Because his gravesite was excavated in 1931... and no Dracula was found. Yes, Dracula's corpse and coffin are missing! Shades of Count Dracula??
Happy Halloween!
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