Dracula Man or Myth
By Leslie Strand
Axia College of University of Phoenix
There are many facts about “Dracula” of which people are unaware of. Dracula, although widely considered to be a fictional character from Bram Stoker’s classic novel, is thought by many historians and researchers to be an actual historical figure named Vlad Tepes, who was known for his atrocities. Vlad Tepes a Voievod (warlord) and a prince of Wallachia was born in 1431, 466 years before Bram Stoker’s classic novel “Dracula” was written. There are some who think that Bram Stokers classic novel “Count Dracula” was not based on Vlad Dracula’s life or any of the horrible acts he committed but the name itself speaks of atrocities and mayhem that both Bram Stokers Count Dracula and Vlad Dracula, committed and created in their fictional and non-fictional life times.
Vlad’s father, Vlad II, also known as Dracul was a knight in the order of the Dragon. The order of the Dragon, created in 1322, was a secret order sworn to uphold Christianity and defend the empire against Turks. (Encyclopedia of Medieval World 2005). Dracula III’s name has an added “a” at the end of the name Dracul to add the meaning of “son of”. The name Dracul has different meanings, but in Romania it is translated to “Devil;” hence Vlad III was known as Dracula III, the son of the devil. . The name Tepes has the meaning “spike”, or “Impaler.” Vlad was referred to as this by others but referred to himself as Dracula. The fact that 40,000 to 100,000 deaths can be attributed to Dracula explains why he was referred to as the Impaler, since this was his preferred way of torture but by no means his only method (Ray Porter 1992). Vlad Dracula is also remembered by many to be a just prince who defended his people from foreigners such as Turkish invaders and German merchants. Vlad had an immense insistence on honesty and put forth a large effort to eliminate crime and immoral behavior from the region.
Was Bram...