We're heading to Europe for part 4 of my 6 part series, and the place I have in mind, Transylvania. For those who don't know, Transylvania is a region of Romania situated in the upper left side of the country with its boarder with Hungary. The region has a rich history thanks to its position on the crossroads of many great cultures in the past. However, to most people the area is often associated with vampires thanks to Bram Stokers great novel "Dracula".
To be honest I love the story of Dracula and have had a fascination with the region of Transylvania ever since I first read Bram Stokers novel when I was 14. Most people who have read "Dracula" or are aware of the story always seem to be surprised when you tell them that their was a real historical figure that Dracula was based off of. However, the real Dracula wasn't a true vampire, and displayed none of their cool powers (i.e. immortality, shapeshifting), but he was a blood thirsty killer none the less. His real name was Vlad Dracula III "The Impaler" and he ruled over of the Principality of Walachia(another region of Romania) three separate times during his life time. Vlad received his cognomen "The Impaler" because of his less than humane tactics which kept his country from being overrun by the Ottomans.
Vlad III was born in Transylvania during the winter of 1431 to his father Vlad II Dracul who was a member of the Order of Dragons. As a member of the Order of Dragons, Vlad II had sworn an oath to defend Christian Europe from the encroachment of muslims, specifically the Ottoman Turks. However, when Vlad II was ousted from his throne by rival factions in 1442, he decided to break that oath and look for the support of the Ottoman Turks. The Ottomans agreed to give him support as long as he gave his two sons, Radu cel Frumos and Vlad "future impaler", over as hostages to prove his loyalty. I know this seems weird, but it was a common practice at the time. Because of his fathers negotiations Vlad III spend most of his childhood learning logic, how to speak Turkish, and reading the Quran. During the "hostage" Vlads brother Radu converted to Islam and eventually went on to serve in the royal courts of the Ottoman Empire. Vlad III on the other hand went on to become one of the most ruthless and hated opponents the Ottoman Turks would ever have to face in Europe.
The agreement the Ottomans had with Vlad II was short lived as he was killed by Hungarians nearly five years into he new reign. However, the Ottomans didn't want to lose control of Wallachia and insisted that they would back young Vlad III in an attempt to retake the throne. This first attempt at the throne was short for Vlad III as he was ousted by Vladislav II three years after taking power. During this time Vlad III fled to nearby Moldovia and eventually Hungary, where he served as an advisor to his fathers old rival Janos Hunyadi. Vlad would later join Janos in attempting to retake lands that had been conquered by the Ottomans, and in 1456 Vlad retook his old throne by killing Vladislav in hand to hand combat.
During his second reign, Vlad found Wallachia to be in a wretched state due to the constant wars that the country had seen. Crime was rampant, trade was nonexistent, and the agricultural output of the peasants were at an all time low. Vlad knew that if he was going to keep control of his throne he was going to have to implement some drastic policies. First Vlad decided to improve the well being of the peasants by constructing new villages for them to work and live in. Next he decided to rebuild the merchant class in Wallachia by restricting foreign trade to three specific trading cities(Târgșor, Câmpulung and Târgoviște). Finally Vlad implemented a new more extreme form of capital punishment for the criminals of his country, Impalement.
The agreement the Ottomans had with Vlad II was short lived as he was killed by Hungarians nearly five years into he new reign. However, the Ottomans didn't want to lose control of Wallachia and insisted that they would back young Vlad III in an attempt to retake the throne. This first attempt at the throne was short for Vlad III as he was ousted by Vladislav II three years after taking power. During this time Vlad III fled to nearby Moldovia and eventually Hungary, where he served as an advisor to his fathers old rival Janos Hunyadi. Vlad would later join Janos in attempting to retake lands that had been conquered by the Ottomans, and in 1456 Vlad retook his old throne by killing Vladislav in hand to hand combat.
During his second reign, Vlad found Wallachia to be in a wretched state due to the constant wars that the country had seen. Crime was rampant, trade was nonexistent, and the agricultural output of the peasants were at an all time low. Vlad knew that if he was going to keep control of his throne he was going to have to implement some drastic policies. First Vlad decided to improve the well being of the peasants by constructing new villages for them to work and live in. Next he decided to rebuild the merchant class in Wallachia by restricting foreign trade to three specific trading cities(Târgșor, Câmpulung and Târgoviște). Finally Vlad implemented a new more extreme form of capital punishment for the criminals of his country, Impalement.
These policies, which are viewed as cruel by some, actually did a great deal to strengthen the economic and political power of Wallachia. With this new sense of strength Vlad declared Wallachia to be independent of the Ottoman Empire. This didn't go over well with the Ottomans who decided to sent a group of envoys to urge Vlad to reconsider his vasalship and to pay tribute to the Ottoman Emperor. Vlad, being the blood thirsty man that he was, refused to pay the tribute and had the envoys killed and impaled on the pretext that they had refused to raise their hats while in his presence. The Ottoman decided to send yet another eonvoy, this time lead by Hamza Pasha and 1,000 troops, to negotiate peace, and if possible kill Vlad. Vlad knowing that the envoys were coming to kill him decided to ambush the Turks and had all 1,000 of the troops impaled to show the Ottomans that he meant business. During the winter of that year Vlad lead an army through Ottoman controlled Bulgaria and proceeded to kill and impale 23,000 Turks.
The Ottomans were outraged at what Vlad had done, and decided to make a campaign against Wallachia in the spring of next year. To make the matter more personal the Ottomans had put in Vlads brother Radu cel Furmos in charge of the Turkish army. After a bloody campaign, Radu defeated his brother at the castle Poenari, which forced Vlad to retreat back to his allies in Hungary. Radu was declared as the new ruler of Wallachia with the backing of the Ottomans, and Vlad found himself double crossed and thrown in jail by the Hungarians. Five years later Radu would die of unknown causes, and Vlad would set out on another campaign to retake in throne. This third and final reign of Vlad was the shortest of all, ending within two months.
The Ottomans were outraged at what Vlad had done, and decided to make a campaign against Wallachia in the spring of next year. To make the matter more personal the Ottomans had put in Vlads brother Radu cel Furmos in charge of the Turkish army. After a bloody campaign, Radu defeated his brother at the castle Poenari, which forced Vlad to retreat back to his allies in Hungary. Radu was declared as the new ruler of Wallachia with the backing of the Ottomans, and Vlad found himself double crossed and thrown in jail by the Hungarians. Five years later Radu would die of unknown causes, and Vlad would set out on another campaign to retake in throne. This third and final reign of Vlad was the shortest of all, ending within two months.
Bran Castle - a regular place of residence for Vlad during his second term