Prince of Darkness: The Real Count Dracula

History Facts

Where: Various haunts in Sighisoara, Transylvania, Romania, Eastern Europe.
When: The real Dracula lived in the 15th Century, epitomised in the 1900’s Bram Stoker novel – a Gothic era masterpiece
History: Romania’s national hero, a Wallachian warlord with a penchant for impaling heads on sticks

Vlad Dracula (1431 – 1476)

In 1431, Romania’s most famous son, Vlad Tepes, or Count Dracula as we know him familiarly, was born in Sighisoara, Transylvania. At least that’s what the guide books say. Dracula is linked to many places in Transylvania on shaky evidence but there is no doubt that he roamed the forests and valleys of Romania during the 15th century.

The popular image of Dracula is of a blood-sucking vampire, who snoozes in a coffin and turns into a bat when the sun goes down owes much to Bram Stoker who created this blood-thirsty Nosferatu based on the equally gory heroics of a real Romanian Prince in his novel published in 1897.

Who Was Dracula?

Vlad Dracula was actually a Wallachian warlord who fought against the Turkish invaders during the 15th century. The name Dracula came from his father who also fought the Turks; Dracul meant Dragon (from a German order of knights) hence Vlad Dracula “son of the dragon”. Vlad had a passion for impaling his enemies on huge stakes and picked up the catchy nickname of Tepes – the Impaler. Vlad was a little psychotic and regularly took to having his dinning table placed outside near the dying so that he could watch the show whilst having dinner. On one occasion there were so many impaled enemies hanging around that the area became known as the “Forest of the Impaled”.

Despite his cruel and savage reputation Vlad Tepes is a national hero, remembered for defending Romania against the invading Ottoman Empire and references to him can be found all over Romania.

Visiting Sighișoara

The myths and legends surrounding the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel are inescapable here and Dracula is big business. Fortunately for Sighisoara, a recent plan suggested by the Romanian Tourism Board to build a Dracula theme park (complete with an Institute of Vampirology and a brand new Castle Dracula) has been stopped. The effect on the citadel – one of only two inhabited medieval citadels in Europe – was deemed too destructive and the proposed site has been relocated to the outskirts of Bucharest.

Essential haunts to visit for Dracula fans:

By Dan Porter