Vlad tepes bram stoker biography

Introduction

Most authorities believe the character of Dracula in Bram Stoker�s novel was based upon the historical figure Vlad Tepes (pronounced tse-pesh), who intermittently ruled an area of the Balkans called Wallachia in the mid 15^th century.

He was also called by the names Vlad III, Vlad Dracula and Vlad the Impaler. The word Tepes stands for "impaler" and was so coined because of Vlad�s propensity to punish victims by impaling them on stakes, then displaying them publicly to frighten his enemies and to warn would-be transgressors of his strict moral code.

He is credited with killing between 40, to , people in this fashion.

Origin of the name "Dracula"