Dracula’s full name is Count Dracula. Joking aside, while Dracula is a fictional character from a Bram Stoker novel, the widely popular character is inspired by a real-life Walachian Prince. His name is Vlad Tepes, Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracul the III, and his own life is in part the stuff of legends.

Vlad Dracula Halloween Bran
Vlad Dracula Halloween Bran

 

With a name after the popular method of torture and execution at the time (impalement) or literally meaning Satan in Romanian (Dracul), it is easy to understand why Bram Stoker drew inspiration from him. With an unknown date of birth or death, half of his life spent either a fugitive or as a hostage, raised in the Ottoman empire but most known for fighting against it and ruling Wallachia for three separate times, Vlad the Impaler is the most famous personality of the Romanian Middle Ages.

Dracula's Castle Halloween Party
Dracula’s Castle Halloween Party

Furthermore, he is linked to several popular attractions in Romania, some having more or less an actual link to him. While the Old Princely Court in Bucharest and Poienari Fortress were built by him, Bran Castle’s link is only a supposition and beautiful story.

Poienari fortress
Poienari fortress

 

Read more about the Man behind the legend, Vlad The Impaler 

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