Bloodthirsty Facts About Vlad III Dracul, The Man Behind The Monster
Vlad III, known as Vlad Țepeș, Vlad Dracula, or Vlad the Impaler, was a Romanian prince whose cruel methods of punishing his enemies gained him infamy in 15th-century Europe all the way to the modern-day.
We know his name thanks to Bram Stoker's Dracula—but somehow, the real Vlad was even more horrifying than the monster. Read on to discover the dark history of the man behind the legend.
Vlad the Impaler Facts
1. What’s in a Name
The name Dracul originally meant "dragon." Vlad III's father took the name when he joined the Order of the Dragon, a Christian group opposed to the Ottoman domination of Europe. Vlad III took the name Dracula, meaning "son of the dragon."
Wikipedia
2. The Devil Dragon
Dracul originally meant "dragon" in Romanian, but today, thanks to Vlad's chilling reputation, it has a more sinister meaning: "the devil."
3. That’s Sir Impaler
Vlad was given the nickname “Tepes,” which means "impaler" in Romanian. He was also known by the Turks as Kazikli Bey, which means "Sir Impaler." As you're about to learn, this guy really, really liked impaling people.
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