MITS AND LEGENDS PROJECT

Romanian Legend of Dracula

Vlad Tepeswas born in 1431 in the fortress of Sighisoara. His father, Vlad Dracul, at that time governor of Transylvania, depending on who was called by Emperor Sigismund. Tepes was the grandson of another great Roman prince Mircea the Old (1386-1418).

In the winter of 1436-1437, Dracul became prince of Wallachia (one of the three Romanian provinces) and takes up residence at the palace of Targoviste, the capital of the principality.Vlad Tepes followed his father and lived six years at the princely court. In 1442, for political reasons, Dracula and his younger brother Radu were taken hostage by the Sultan Murad II.

Dracula was held in Turkey until 1448, while his brother decided to stay there until 1462. Turkish captivity surely played an important role in the development of Dracula. It was a period during which it adopted a pessimistic view of life. Turks freed in fact after the assassination of his father by Vladislav II, at which time he learned about the death of his older brother Mircea, who had been tortured and buried alive by the boyars of Targoviste.

At 17 years old, Vlad Tepes, supported by a Turkish cavalery and a contingent of troops lent to him by Mustafa Hassan, made his first move to conquer the throne of Wallachia. But another wish, Vladislav II was defeated, two months later. In order to prepare for the conquest throne, Dracula had to wait until 1456, the year he had the satisfaction of killing his father's murderer.

Now is where Vlad Tepes begins his longest (six years) who committed many bloody deeds which earned him a controversial reputation. The first major act of revenge was to kill the murderers of his father. Thus, in 1459 he arrested all the boyar families who had participated in the assassination. Some of them impaled them, while others forced to walk in the capital (Targoviste) until Poienari city. Those who survived this ordeal could not rest until the child reached the destination. Here Dracula ordered them to build him a fortress on the ruins of another ancient outpost above the Arges River. Most noblemen died during the building of this castle, Dracula thus managing to create a new blanket noble.

In early 1462, Vlad launched a campaign against the Turks along the Danube. It was very risky to entrepreneurs so because the Turkish army of Sultan Mehmed II was far more powerful.

When Sultan arrived in the capital, he was greeted by a gruesome sight: the skulls of 20 000 Turkish captives were stuck in Tepe. This scene was historic horror as "Dracula's Forest". This tactic of terror, inflicted the Impaler, had failed because the Sultan and most of his officers who were very tired and hungry decided to retire.

Vlad Tepes became well known for his brutal punishment techniques. Very often ordered as ungodly to be skinned, boiled, decapitated, blinded, hanged, burned, roasted, buried alive or impaled. Also liked to cut off noses, ears, or language. But of all his favorite method was impalement. I stayed here the name Tepes.

There is a legend that attest that his method of punishing criminals Tepes was effective. It is said that during his reign a golden cup is the fountain in the center of Oradea Targoviste, which served to relieve thirst bystanders. According to chroniclers cup weather was not stolen as long as Tepes ruled.

In 1476 came the Impaler in Wallachia with Moldavia and Transylvania. This third reign only lasted a few months. Vlad was killed in battle with the Turks. He was beheaded and his head was taken to Constantinople, as a proof of his death.

GABRIELA LUMINITABRAILA ROMANIASF. ANDREI SHOOL