| 110 years ago, Bram Stoker's Dracula frightened | | | | Literary fiction seeks historical legend |
| Europe and started the vampire-fashion, bringing | | | | This was the controversial figure that Bram |
| Romania into the spot light and turning | | | | Stoker stumbled upon and decided to transform |
| Transylvania into a magic land, home to incredible | | | | into the Vampire figure. The theories about how |
| creatures and undying legends. | | | | Stoker wrote his novel and what his sources |
| But few people know that things are not quite as | | | | were, are, again, highly controversial. It is certain, |
| Stoker presented them in his book. The likeliest of | | | | for instance, that he took the name Dracula from |
| assumptions is that the main character, Dracula is | | | | his readings of Romanian history. |
| a portrayal of the cruel Vlad the Impaler - Vlad | | | | For an extra touch of exoticism, he chose to give |
| Tepes ruler of a medieval Romanian state. | | | | this name to his character, instead of the initial |
| The truth is slightly different. | | | | Count Wampyr, a simple reference to earlier |
| What's in a name? | | | | gothic writings, such as those of Sheridan le |
| Vlad the Second was the father of Vlad the | | | | Fanou, the first writer to theorise upon the |
| Impaler. For his bravery in combat on behalf of | | | | vampyric. It is unlikely that Stoker sought further |
| the Christian cause, he was accepted into The | | | | historical information about Vlad the Impaler, aside |
| Order of the Dragon, a group of knights founded | | | | from the name itself. If he had, it is likely that he |
| by Sigismund of Luxemburg in 1387. Because the | | | | would have been pleasantly surprised to uncover |
| idea of dragons was not known to Romanians of | | | | the legends of the ruler's inhuman cruelty. Yet he |
| those times, they played upon a word similarity | | | | does not mention Dracula's killings, and at a certain |
| and called Vlad the Second Dracul - "the Devil", in | | | | point in the book, his character claims to be a |
| Romanian. As for Draculea, a name that Vlad the | | | | "Szeckely", which is a Hunnic name. Other theories |
| Impaler was to frequently use in his | | | | claim that in creating the vampire figure, Stoker |
| correspondence, it meant "the son of Dracul", as | | | | was partly inspired by the figure of Countess |
| "lea" was a common name-ending that meant | | | | Erzsébet Báthory, a member of the |
| "son of". | | | | Hungarian nobility in the XVIth century. She was |
| From law enforcement to drinking blood | | | | famous for her sadism and is said to have |
| The small medieval states that were to later | | | | tortured and killed over 700 maids to bathe in |
| form Romania were in an almost constant state | | | | their blood, in order to maintain her beauty. There |
| of chaos. Whether they were weakened by wars, | | | | are, of course, many other theories regarding this |
| overrun by Muslim invaders or forced to pay | | | | subject, but it is unanimously accepted that Vlad |
| tribute to stronger neighbours, internal affairs, | | | | the Impaler was the historical figure that inspired |
| such as economy or law enforcement, were pray | | | | Stoker's character. |
| to general indifference and decadence. Against a | | | | Finally |
| background of political instability and general | | | | Whether you're interested in the history, the |
| disrespect for the law, Vlad the Impaler (Tepes in | | | | legend, the literature or the modern cult, you'll find |
| Romanian) appeared as a just and brave ruler, | | | | their rock-hard basis in the place that started it all |
| albeit a particularly cruel one. He had a draconian | | | | Transylvania, Romania. |
| view on restoring order, and preferred the | | | | Indulge yourself with a visit to the medieval citadel |
| bloodiest possible execution: he impaled more | | | | of Sighisoara, Vlad the Impaler's birthplace, Bran |
| condemned prisoners than any other ruler before | | | | Castle, his feared residence and supposedly |
| his time. | | | | Stoker's inspiration for Dracula's castle, or Borgo |
| Some medieval chronicles take a step further and | | | | Pass, the ominously rugged terrain where the |
| describe him taking pleasure in senseless sadism. | | | | Bloody Count claimed his victims. Or you may |
| They account for the legend of a "blood-drinking" | | | | choose to explore the mysterious, and stroll |
| ruler, a metaphor later to be taken literally. These | | | | through any one of the dozens of picturesque |
| writings are disputed by sources maintaining that | | | | villages set against those breathtaking mountain |
| he only killed the laziest and most hopelessly | | | | views to which Bram Stoker's book finally begins |
| dishonest of lawbreakers. Among them he | | | | to do justice. For a well rounded Romanian |
| counted the Transylavanian and German | | | | experience add to all these the traditional |
| merchants who regularly ignored his state's | | | | Maramures, a place of long forgotten customs, |
| borders and its commercial laws. Therefore, a | | | | the world renowned monasteries in Bucovina - |
| common historical theory states that the stories | | | | UNESCO World Heritage Site, season with the |
| about his devilish cruelty were mostly spread | | | | unique taste and the variety of the Romanian |
| through medieval German sources, and were | | | | cuisine in traditional dining experiences and what |
| generally meant to avenge the damage that Vlad | | | | you'll get is an incredible Romanian adventure. |
| the Impaler caused to German merchants. | | | | |