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The Irish Sun
03-08-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Is this Dracula's REAL tomb? Coffin of bloodthirsty ruler who inspired vampire ‘found'… and it's NOT in Transylvania
For centuries it was thought that the ruler who inspired the famous Dracula novel was buried near Bucharest BLOOD LINES Is this Dracula's REAL tomb? Coffin of bloodthirsty ruler who inspired vampire 'found'… and it's NOT in Transylvania THE bloodthirsty ruler who inspired the Dracula legend was buried a thousand miles away from Romania, bombshell new research has claimed. Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula, was a notorious medieval tyrant who ruled over Wallachia, a region in modern-day Romania. Advertisement 7 The tomb in Naples will open to visitors in October Credit: Supplied 7 The inscription deciphered by researchers includes 'Blad' - interpreted as a variant of the name 'Vlad' - and 'Balcani' the region where Vlad ruled in the 15th century Credit: Supplied The despot, who earned his nickname for impaling his enemies on stakes in the ground and leaving them to die, was the inspiration behind Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Vlad Dracula not only lends his name to the character, but the pair were also rulers over Transylvania, a region in Romania, and are known for their acts of cruelty. For centuries, it was believed the prince was buried in his homeland in the churches of Comana or Snagov near Bucharest after he was killed in battle at the end of December 1476. But excavations there have failed to find his remains, fuelling speculation about his death and final resting place. Advertisement Now, historians claim Vlad was actually buried a thousand miles away, and not even in Romania. The team of researchers identified a tomb in Italy they believe could belong to the ruler. Historians have long speculated that he did not die in battle as was widely believed but fled to Naples with his daughter. After 10 years of research, the experts believe his tomb is at the Church of Santa Maria La Nova, in the Turbolo Chapel, in Naples. Advertisement Professor Giuseppe Reale, the director of Santa Maria La Nova, told The Sun how the tomb features symbols related to Vlad and his ancestry - and they have finally translated mystery inscriptions. The inscription includes two key words - "Blad" - interpreted as a variant of the name "Vlad" - and "Balcani," the region where Vlad ruled in the 15th century. 7 The letters B and V had the same sound in the Neopolitan dialect and were often interchangeable. Advertisement The marble tomb is decorated with a knight's helmet crowned with a dragon's head - a symbol of the Order of the Dragon, a medieval society of which Vlad was a member, according to historians. Professor Reale said the text and symbols appears to be a "funeral eulogy" - and it mentions a possible date of death in November 20, 1480. The exact circumstances of Vlad's death have never been clear but it was previously thought he died in around 1477. Two sphinx-like statues also sit around the tomb - which researchers believe allude to the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes and Vlad's Romanian epithet - Țepeș. Advertisement Bram Stoker himself - the author of Dracula - also lived in Naples in 1875 with his father. Born in 1431 in Transylvania, a mountainous region in modern-day Romania, Vlad the Impaler was ruler of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death in 1476. He is considered one of the most important rulers - and a national hero of Romania. In a bloody battle in 1462, Vlad is said to have left a field filled with 23,844 impaled victims in a bid to stop enemies pursuing the Ottoman forces. Advertisement 7 Gary Oldman kisses Winona Ryder in the 1992 film Bram Stoker's Dracula Credit: Alamy 7 Portrait of Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula after he is said to have enjoyed impaling his enemies Credit: Alamy It comes as Vlad the Impaler's home is set to open to the public. Until five years ago, Poienari Castle in Curtea de Arge, Romania, had been left untouched for decades. Advertisement Cornel Popescu, manager of Arges County Museum, said Poienari is the "true" castle of ruthless Vlad. The "impenetrable" fortress - perched on an 800m cliff - was home to the notorious ruler. Many believe Bran Castle - a national monument in Transylvania - is the castle that inspired the fictional bloodsucker. But Popescu said it has "no connection" to Vlad - a warlord with a taste for blood. Advertisement He told The Sun: "Vlad the Impaler-Dracula reigned three times. "During the second reign, he built up only three monuments - the Comana and Snagov monasteries and Poienari castle. "Bran castle has no connection with Vlad the Impaler. He did not build that castle - it is only marketing for tourism. "The true castle of Vlad the Impaler is Poienari castle." Advertisement Only accessible via 1,500 steps, Popescu said the Gothic fortress was never conquered by Vlad's enemies - despite several attempts. The fortress was rebuilt in 1459 when Vlad the Impaler used slaves to make bricks, cut stones and finish the construction in just a week. Surprisingly, the eerie landscapes of Transylvania became popular with King Charles in the nineties and he now visits every year and even has a holiday home there. 7 Professor Giuseppe Reale said the tomb features symbols related to Vlad Dracula and his ancestry - including a dragon and sphinxes Credit: Supplied Advertisement 7 A drawing of Vlad III from 1560 shows the ruler impaling his enemies on huge spikes as he dines Credit: Getty
India.com
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
World Dracula Day 2025: 7 Creepy Facts About Dracula You've Never Heard
Muskan Kalra May 26, 2025 The Name 'Dracula' Means 'Son of the Dragon': Vlad's father belonged to the Order of the Dragon, a knightly group, which gave Vlad the nickname Dracula — meaning 'son of the dragon' or 'devil.' Dracula Was Inspired by a Real Bloodthirsty Prince: Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century Romanian ruler, was notorious for his brutal methods — including impaling his enemies on stakes. Dracula's Character Was Partly Inspired by an Austrian Count: Bram Stoker researched an Austrian nobleman named Count Johann Helfried von Dracula, which influenced the aristocratic vampire image. The Dracula Legend Helped Create the Modern Vampire Myth: Many vampire traits we know today—like transforming into bats or being repelled by crosses—were popularized through Dracula's story. Bram Stoker Never Visited Transylvania: Despite writing a detailed setting in Transylvania, Stoker never traveled there — he based his descriptions on library research. The Original Dracula Was Afraid of Garlic: Folk legends and vampire myths often associate garlic with repelling vampires; this was woven into the Dracula lore, but there's no historical evidence Vlad feared it. Dracula Was One of the First Monsters to Become a Pop Culture Icon: Since the 1920s, Dracula has appeared in hundreds of films, TV shows, and books — making him one of the most famous monsters ever. Read Next Story
