Vlad Dracula: Origin of the Vampire by Bram Stoker

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It has been nearly one hundred and seventeen years since Bram Stoker published his ground breaking novel entitled “Dracula” and only twenty-two years since the movie “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, a film based upon the novel, was unleashed upon the world. The book and the movie were a success and influenced the creation of a genre that still is seen today in pop culture. Though many raved about the story, no one ever explored the source of this fantastical tale of blood shed. To understand where his inspiration took flight, one would have to look back five hundred and eighty-three years ago, when a notorious Romanian prince inflicted fear upon the masses. Vlad III, also known as Vlad Tepes or Vlad the Impaler, was a ruthless warrior with an intense blood lust and the sort of person Stoker would have drawn from to create his masterpiece. In exploring why Vlad would make such a likely candidate for Stoker, one need only take a peek into his blood-stained past and it would become quite clear.

His legend began in Transylvania in the year 1431. The second son of Vlad II was born within Romania during the winter months in the fortress of Sighisoara (Fasulo). Vlad III along with his two brothers, Mircea and Radu, had pleasant childhoods considering they were sons of nobility. When Vlad III was just five years old he joined an apprenticeship for knighthood in which he learned combat skills and the art of warfare that were paramount in becoming a knight during this era (Fasulo). His father was also part of an elite group know as the Order of the Dragon. He was so entranced by the Order that he even took the dragon to his name and became Vlad Dracul and Vlad III used the sobriquet “Dracula” which means “The son of Dracul” (Fasulo).The Order had...

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...hat brought it to its mainstream statues. One could only assume why Val Dracula would put so many people through so much pain and anguish, but with certainty one could say that his actions have left a permanent stain in history and has greatly peaked interest in the world wide phenomenon of vampires.

Works Cited

"Dracula's Lost Palace — History.com Video." History.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
Fasulo, John. Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. .
Gee, Joshua. "Dracula Lives!" Encyclopedia Horrifica: The Terrifying Truth! About Vampires, Ghosts, Monsters, and More. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2007. 2-9. Print.
"Was Dracula a real person? — Ask HISTORY — History Q&A." History.com. N.p., 22 May 2013. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. .

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