Vlad the Impaler = Dracula--- How was this determined?

Question

If Bram Stoker used Vlad the Impaler as his "model" for Dracula, how was this fact determined? Did Stoker ever mention or refer to The Impaler?

Did James Joyce "miss" Inbad, the Impaler" ?

Answer 1

Because he studied Vlad Tepech.

Answer 2

The theory that Count Dracula was modeled after Vlad the Impaler didn't originate until the 1970s. Prior to that time, no one took much notice of the fact that the character's name had been taken from the nickname of a historic figure. The idea that Count Dracula was meant to be Vlad the Impaler in more than name alone has become quite popular, but Elizabeth Miller (probably the world's leading authority on "Dracula" as a literary work) has argued convincingly that Stoker drew minimal inspiration from the historic figure.

All Stoker says in the novel about what Count Dracula was like in life was that he was a Romanian nobleman noted for his battles against the Turks. That's true about Vlad the Impaler too, but this seems to be the extent of what Stoker knew about Vlad. There's nothing in his personal research notes for "Dracula" indicating otherwise. Stoker doesn't even seem to have known that his name WAS Vlad, or that he was also called "The Impaler" and had a reputation for cruelty.

What Stoker's notes do say is that he saw the name "Dracula" mentioned in a book on Romania, and thought that it would be a good name for his character -- especially since it could be translated as "Son of the Devil". He'd originally planned to call his vampiric villain "Count Wampyr", but apparently felt "Dracula" was better. There's no evidence that he changed anything else about his original idea for the character other than the name.

Oh, contrary to what john posted above, there is no Romanian legend about Vlad the Impaler being a vampire. In fact, Vlad is a Romanian national hero who is revered for helping to defend the country against the Turks. When the Iron Curtain fell, a lot of Romanians were shocked and offended to discover that the English-speaking world thought Vlad was a vampire! Some are still kind of ticked about it, although others are happy to make money selling Vlad the Vampire souvenirs to tourists.

Answer 3

The real person Vlad the Impaler was actually a descendant of the real Vald who was bestowed the title of Dragon Knight, (I think thats right, east Europe). Dragon translates to Dracul and Dracul can EITHER be dragon or devil. Therefore people started to associate him with the devil and evilness instead of the given title. His bloodline kept the title and the association (weather they wanted to or not) and a couple of Vlad's (the original) heirs became blood thirsty giving to the legend you know of today.

I do know Stoker also studied old true vampire tales or acts of vampirism from those in isolated eastern Europe before writing Dracula.

It's in a book about Dracula, can't think of the author though, something like Radu LeFlorescu or other.

Answer 4

In order to stop the onslaught of the fanatical Turks, the Pope made Prince Vlad Teplar a member of the Order of the Dragon (Dracul). Vlad used extreme measures to defeat the intractable and hard fighting muslim Turks and keep them out of Christiandom. In a sense Prince Vlad Teplar was the front line defense against moslem imperialism.

It was documented that Vlad would 'impale' his prisoners and leave thousands upon thousands out on the roads to intimidate the Turks.

Some historians claim that Vlad's acts of cruelty were exagerated while other sources claim accuracy.

Answer 5

Dracula is the last name of Vlad, the impaler...just simple historic fact. I think Stoker just liked the sound of the name.

Answer 6

The bodies he impaled. Were all live people. And he left them impaled on these pikes outside of his city, to ward off the Turkish Invasions from the South (In Thrace). So imagine all these people impaled on pikes. Yet half of them are still alive. And the other is probably unconscious, and/or dead. (Some of these other guys have things I didn't know about. All interesting stuff). And I also wanted to add, that he may have been "evil", but he was a hero to the Catholic world, for repelling Turkish invasions. And much of them were massive. He kept the Turks in the Balkans. And out of Christian Europe.

Answer 7

Because Dracula was another name for Vlad the Impaler. Vlad Dracula.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_III_the_Impaler

Answer 8

Vlad Drăculea was the impaler's name or Vlad Dracul, when he impaled his victims some say he ate among the impaled corpses or even drank their blood, Transylvania is in Romania, Vlad was from Romania this is where the correlation arises

Answer 9

Stokers descriptions of the physical castle matched one of Vlads castles. Stoker himself never visited any of the Romanian sites of Vlad. However, the story of Vlad "Dracul" hasd spread from old woodcuts and word of mouth andwere in pamphelet form by Stokers time. It is believed that he had seen several of these.

Answer 10

Dracula has always been Vlad the Impaler. it's a romanian legend.

Answer 11

Vlad the Impaler used the signature "Drakul," or "Dragon." Even if he didn't actually drink blood, he was definitely bloodthirsty, and the legends of vampires originated in Transylvania, the land he ruled.