Vampire bats have begun to feed on human blood for the first time. '' We are surprised ''

Brazilian vampire bat photo: sciencealert

As intimidating as they might sound, vampire bats aren’t usually in the business of bothering humans for their blood. In fact, the hairy-legged vampire bat species was thought to feed almost exclusively on birds.

But researchers have discovered that hairy-legged vampire bats in north-east Brazil have managed to kick things up a notch - they’ve been caught feeding on humans by night, and that’s something no one even thought was possible.

As intimidating as they might sound, vampire bats aren’t usually in the business of bothering humans for their blood. In fact, the hairy-legged vampire bat species was thought to feed almost exclusively on birds.

But researchers have discovered that hairy-legged vampire bats in north-east Brazil have managed to kick things up a notch - they’ve been caught feeding on humans by night, and that’s something no one even thought was possible.

What should theoretically keep humans safe from these bird-targeting bats is the fact that feeding on blood is an extremely difficult adaptation for a mammal to achieve.

Photo: carnivoraforum.com

Extreme morphological, physiological, and behavioural adaptations are required for a species to evolve as blood-feeders, and suddenly switching from avian to mammal blood? That didn’t even seem possible.


As Bernard and his team report:

"Mammal and bird blood differ in their composition, mainly in terms of nutrient composition. Bird blood, for example, has higher amount of water and fat, whereas mammal blood is rich in dry matter, mainly proteins. 

Studies on the feeding physiology of the common vampire bat D. rotundus showed that this species has physiological characteristics that allow higher efficiency in protein processing. 

On the other hand, species with a preference for bird blood, such as D. youngi and D. ecaudata, have higher ability to process and use large amounts of fat found in the blood of their prey."


And it’s not just the theoretical challenges that appear to be involved in switching between a diet of avian blood and a diet of mammal blood.

As Sandrine Ceurstemont reports for New Scientist, previous experiments have shown that when only pig and goat blood was made available to bats that were used to bird blood, many of them opted to fast rather than diversify their diet - and sometimes even starved to death.

A vampire bat skeleton, showing the distinctive incisors and canines photo: wikipedia

But when Bernard and his team investigated the diets of a colony of hairy-legged vampire bats in the Caatinga dry forests of northeastern Brazil, they found something strange.

Genetic analysis of 15 faecal samples contained bird DNA as expected, but 3 of those samples contained a mixture of human and bird DNA - evidence that these particular individuals had been feeding on both.

Interestingly, the team notes that these bats’ most common grey - the white-browed guan, the yellow-legged tinamou, and the picazuro pigeon - have been disappearing in the area due to deforestation and hunting. 

Domesticated birds such as chickens presented an even more tempting option in the face of large wild birds declining, and because many of the locals keep their chickens in close contact, the desperate bats developed a taste for both.

"House conditions in Catimbau are usually poor, and domestic animals are usually in close contact with humans, what may explain the occurrence of both chicken and human blood in our samples," the team reports.

There are a lot of open questions here - the biggest one being exactly how this colony of bats is able to process the protein-heavy blood of humans, when they’ve evolved to digest the fat-rich blood of birds instead.

The other question is if this could pose a serious risk to their new human hosts. 

As Daniel Becker from the University of Georgia, who wasn’t involved in the study, told New Scientist, the species has been found to carry the hantavirus in the past - and this can be fatal to humans who are infected by it.

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The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Sciencealert. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

A brief history of Witches ( Generally persecuted by the Church following Exodus 22.18, “You shall not allow a asorceress to live.“ )

A witch being tortured. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Updated Today: 04/06/2021

Between 1482 and 1782, thousands of people across Europe were accused of witchcraft and subsequently executed. But why were so many innocent people suspected of such a crime, and what would they have experienced?

Witches are everywhere. In fairytales, fantasy and satire, they appear time and again as a versatile synonym for evil and transgression. But, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, men and women of both high and low status believed in witches ubiquity in a far more disturbing way. Lord chief justice Anderson noted in 1602: “The land is full of witches… they abound in all places” – not as a symbol or figure of fun, but as a deadly threat to life, livelihood and divine order.

Sir Edmund Anderson (Photo: Wikimedia.org)

The large-scale persecution, prosecution and execution of witches in these centuries was an extraordinary phenomenon. It is also an episode of European history that has spawned many myths and much inaccuracy. Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code is one of the purveyors of such erroneous hype, stating: “The church burned at the stake an astounding 5 million women”, which would be astounding if true. 

The history of witch hunts in America and Europe - The Washington Post

The actual numbers are far lower, but still striking: between 1482 and 1782, around 100,000 people across Europe were accused of witchcraft, and some 40–50,000 were executed.

Photo: brh.org.uk

Neither were witches (with the exception of some targeted by the Spanish Inquisition) generally persecuted by the church. Although belief in witches was orthodox doctrine, following Exodus 22.18, “You shall not allow a asorceress to live.“ the 16th and 17th-century witch trials were the result of witchcraft becoming a crime under law, and witches were prosecuted by the state. In England, witchcraft became a crime in 1542, a statute renewed in 1562 and 1604. As such, most witches across Europe received the usual penalty for murder – hanging (though in Scotland and under the Spanish Inquisition witches were burned).

The history of witch hunts in America and Europe - The Washington Post

(Photo: theodysseyonline.com)

Nor were all witches women – men could be witches too. Across Europe, 70–80 per cent of people accused of witchcraft were female – though the proportions of female witches were higher in certain areas: the bishopric of Basel; the county of Namur (modern Belgium); Hungary; Poland; and Essex, England. But one in five witches were male across Europe, and in some places, males predominated – in Moscow, male witches outnumbered women 7:3; in Normandy 3:1.

(Photo: pinterest.com)

Nevertheless, because women were believed to be morally and spiritually weaker than men, they were thought to be particularly vulnerable to diabolic persuasion. Most of those accused were also poor and elderly; many were widows, and menopausal and post-menopausal women are disproportionally represented among them.

North Berwick witch trials - Wikipedia

Although witchcraft trials happened in every county in the country, the best evidence survives from three major witch crazes in the British Isles – in 1590s Edinburgh; 1612 Lancashire; and 1640s Essex and East Anglia, and we focus on those.

Diabolical Act Of Persuasion Art Print By Jon Macnair (Photo: keyword-suggestions.com

Above all, we have tried to consider the perspective of the victims – that is, those who were accused of witchcraft. We consider the circumstances in which alleged witches were accused, and the power of both neighbourhood accusation and elite sanction (James VI and I’s book on the subject of witchcraft, Daemonologie, published in 1597, is a case in point). 

Daemonologie: A Critical Edition. Expanded. In Modern English with Notes (9781532968914): King James, Warren, Brett R: Books

James (right) depicted beside his mother Mary (left). In reality, they were separated when he was still a baby. (Photo: Wikimedia.org)

It is a sad, sorry and often harrowing tale – but it is one that needs to be heard.

Daemonologie — in full Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogue, Divided into three Books: By the High and Mighty Prince, James. Was written and published in 1597 by King James VI of Scotland (later also James I of England) as a philosophical dissertation on contemporary necromancy and the historical relationships between the various methods of divination used from ancient Black magic. 

The title page from James VI and I, Daemonologie (London, 1603). (Photo: english.cam.ac.uk)

It included a study on demonology and the methods demons used to trouble men while touching on topics such as werewolves and vampires. It was a political yet theological statement to educate a misinformed populace on the history, practices and implications of sorcery and the reasons for persecuting a witch in a Christian society under the rule of canonical law. This book is believed to be one of the primary sources used by William Shakespeare in the production of Macbeth. 

Title page Rare Books Keywords: Witchcraft (Photo: Wikimedia.org)

We examine the way that torture – though illegal in England – was employed in late 16th-century Scotland and during the upheaval of the Civil War. We explore the role of the witchfinder, but also the willing collaboration of ordinary people in ridding the land of witches. And we look at what someone accused of witchcraft experienced as their fate.

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Story source:  The above post is reprinted from materials provided by HistoryExtra . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

The legend of Sarah Helen Roberts the Vampire from Blackburn, Lancashire

(Image: ink)

A cemetery in a small city in Peru might not seem like the most likely place to find the grave of a woman from Blackburn, Lancashire. But according to local legend, this may not be the northern English woman’s final resting place, after all. It was long believed by some that Sarah Helen Roberts was actually a vampire, and that her undead body would rise from the grave 80 years after her demise.

This, of course, didn’t happen, but as the fateful day – June 1, 1993 – approached, residents of Pisco, in the Ica Region of Peru, were prepared. The Independent reported soon after that vampire kits of garlic and crucifixes had been made and sold. Meanwhile, pregnant women had left town on the off chance that the dead woman’s spirit was on the lookout for a child to be reborn into.

The legend that grew up around Sarah Helen Roberts is a wild one that began on June 9, 1913 when she was convicted of witchcraft and imprisoned in a lead coffin. Although her trial was held in England, the story goes that no-one would offer to bury the witch-vampire in consecrated ground.

Nosferatu (Image: F.W. Murnau)

Roberts’ husband was condemned to wander the world in search of a place where he could lay his dead wife to rest. That place turned out to be half the world away, in Pisco, Peru. Legend also claimed that the Blackburn woman was one of the three brides of Dracula. Presumably, burying her alive wasn’t going to kill her. It would merely make the ill-fated vampire extremely angry.

The Lancashire Telegraph looked into the real-life Sarah Helen Roberts, and found that she had married a weaver in 1892 and had two children. When her husband’s brother moved to Peru to take a job in a cotton mill, the young family visited him there, where Sarah tragically died. The cause of death wasn’t specified, but we do know that her husband returned to England to open a grocery store.

Quite how Sarah’s story went from tragic tale to vampire legend isn’t clear, but the Telegraph also noted the ominous date of her obituary: Friday the 13th. Perhaps that’s all it took for superstition to take a hold, elevating an ordinary northern woman to the status of bride to one of folklore’s most terrifying celebrities


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The above post is reprinted from materials provided by urbanghostsmedia . Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Vlad Dracula The Impaler Biography (1431-1476)

 Vlad Tepes The Impaler known as Dracula (1431 - 1476)

Updated 05/05/2020 Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler real face 3d

Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler (Romanian: Vlad Țepeș  or Vlad Dracula Romanian: Vlad Drăculea 1428 – 1476), was Voivode of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death. He is often considered one of the most important rulers in Wallachian history and a national hero of Romania.

Vlad Dracula the Impaler real face

He was the second son of Vlad Dracul, who became the ruler of Wallachia in 1436. Vlad and his younger brother, Radu, were held as hostages in the Ottoman Empire in 1442 to secure their father's loyalty. Vlad's father and eldest brother, Mircea, were murdered after John Hunyadi, regent-governor of Hungary, invaded Wallachia in 1447.

Young Vlad Tepes Dracula by simplyyellow on DeviantArt

Hunyadi installed Vlad's second cousin, Vladislav II, as the new voivode. Hunyadi launched a military campaign against the Ottomans in the autumn of 1448, and Vladislav accompanied him. Vlad broke into Wallachia with Ottoman support in October, but Vladislav returned and Vlad sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire before the end of the year. Vlad went to Moldavia in 1449 or 1450, and later to Hungary. wikipedia

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Updated today Monday, November 19, 2018

There will be no more like him until it comes out of his hiding place, one of the greatest warriors in history, similar to Achille but with supernatural powers.

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Childhood of Vlad Tepes
It was born ( november 1431 ) in the city of Sighisoara in Transylvania. He was the son of Vlad II Dracul and Transylvanian noble Anastasia

The danger and insecurity haunted childhood Vlad Tepes. Destined to be the main character in his country's fight for independence from the Ottoman Turks, beginning of his life could hardly be more uncertain.

In 1431, his father, the pretender to the throne of Romania, was summoned to Nuremberg by Sigismund, the Holy Roman Emperor of the Germanic people. There was made a member of the Order of the Dragon, an unusual honor, asking that he and his followers to defend Christianity against the Turks.

Vlad II father of Vlad III Tepes 1400-1447 photo: wikipedia.org

Young Vlad life has reserved the greatest hardship when, against the oath, his father signed a treaty of allegiance to the Turkish sultan and, as proof of good faith, left his recognizance as hostages sons, Vlad, six years, and his brother Radu. Without being able to resist, the boys were taken to the Turkish city of Adrianopol. In coming years, the two were kept in a state of great uncertainty in the court of the sultan lived with constant fear that they will be executed quickly, where their father, as expected, rebels against the Turks.

Radu the Handsome 1435-1475 Vlad Tepes brother 

Earlier captivity, Vlad's unhappiness was exacerbated by the conditions in which he was held, locked in a subterranean prison, with little food. Instead, his brother, Radu  who was a handsome boy, was converted to Islam and became one of the favorites Sultan.

For Vlad, this was a double betrayal: not only that his father taught him the enemy without fighting, but his brother had changed sides.

These events have undoubtedly contributed to the formation of vengeful character's later Vlad the Impaler; This has fueled his obsession for the division punishment of extreme cruelty to anyone who was suspected of infidelity.


Family and General Considerations

He was twice married: a noble from Transylvania and Ilona Szilagyi, ( Matthias Corvinus cousin. )He had three sons: Mihail , Vlad with first wife and Mihnea I the Bad with Ilona.

Mihnea I the Bad

During his reign, Country Romanian and obtained temporary independence from the Ottoman threat. Vlad the Impaler was famous because of his cruelty and because he was pulling enemies on a stake. On his order 41 men were impaled and 300 people were burned. 

Due to disputes with merchants of Brasov, they have characterized propaganda as a cruel ruler, though his cruelty was common in those days.

In 1453, the Byzantine Empire was replaced by the Ottoman Empire, that obtains control of Constantinople (now Istanbul Turkish name) that continue to besiege Europe. Finally, the Ottoman Empire end up controlling much of the Balkans (Serbia territories partially Hungary, partly Romania, Bulgaria, Armenia and Greece), expanding to the West stopping at the gates of Vienna, whose siege is rejected. 

Conquest of Constantinople 1453

In this historical context, Vlad the Impaler was a prince who fought to defend their kingdom and country against enemies using specific methods of deterrence era, which included executions and torture exemplary and intimidation.


Origin of the name "Dracula" 

Sigismund of Luxembourg

His father, Vlad II Dracul, was drawn into the Order of the Dragon nearly a year before. The order - which can be compared with the Order of Malta and the Teutonic Knights - was a military-religious society, whose foundations were laid in 1387 Sigismund of Luxembourg, King of Hungary (later Holy Roman Emperor) and the de- second wife, Barbara Cilli.

Badge/Insignia of The Hungarian Order of The Dragon photo wikipedia.org

The dragon was the symbol of the Order. The main goals of such fraternal orders were to protect the interests of Catholicism and the crusade against the Ottoman Turks. Because it belongs to the Order of the Dragon, father of Vlad "the Impaler" Vlad Dracul and was nicknamed "devil" at the time and meaning keeping the dragon. As the son of Vlad II Dracul, Vlad III was also called "Dracula" Vlad Tepes himself term used in official correspondence.


Impaler's nickname was attributed to Vlad III from frequent executions by impalement, which he apparently ordered them. The Turks called it Kazikli Bey (meaning Prince Tepes). This name was first used in a Wallachian chronicle of 1550 and was kept in Romanian history.


Early Reign

Vlad Tepes Orthodox Church from Targoviste photo: Ro-tours.com

In the winter of 1436, Vlad II Dracul became ruler of Romania (one of the three Romanian provinces, the other two are Moldova and Transylvania) and settled in princely court in Targoviste, where Vlad Tepes followed his father and he lived six years. 

In 1442, for political reasons, Vlad and his younger brother, Radu the Handsome were taken hostage by the Sultan Murad II; Vlad III the state hostage until 1448, while his brother remained until 1462. 

Sultan Murad II photo: wikipedia.org

This period of captivity has played an important role in the ascendance to power of Vlad; most likely in this period adopted that view of life very pessimistic. Turks set him free after informing him of his father's death in 1447 - assassinated by order of Vladislav II, to the throne of Romanian rival. He found out about the death of his older brother, Mircea, and how the eldest legitimate son of Vlad Dracul was tortured and buried alive by the boyars of Targoviste.

At 17 years old, Vlad Tepes, supported by a Turkish cavalry and a contingent of troops lent to him by pasha Mustafa Hassan, made the first step in conquering the Wallachian throne. But two months later was defeated by Vladislav II, who resumed the throne. To secure the second and longest reign, Vlad III had to wait until August 20th 1456, when he had the satisfaction of their mortal enemy and kill the murderer of his father.

Pasha Mustafa Hassan

The first major act of revenge was aimed at the boyars of Targoviste, guilty of the death of his father and his brother. On Easter Sunday 1459, he arrested all the boyar families who attended the princely party. The elderly were impaled, and others were forced to cross the road down a hundred kilometers from the capital to Poenari, where they were forced to build a fortress on the ruins of an older outpost overlooking the Arges river. 



Those who died were replaced, so the prince managed to create a new nobility and obtaining a fortress for future emergencies.

Poenari Castle, the house of Vlad Tepes photo: Tourist in Romania

Vlad Tepes was known for his brutal punishment techniques. According to detractors Saxons (Transylvania), he often ordered people to be skinned, boiled, decapitated, blinded, strangled, hanged, burned, roasted, chopped, nailed, buried alive, stabbed, etc. He also liked to cut off their victims' noses, ears, genitals and tongue. But his favorite method was impalement, where he originated the nickname Tepes, who impale. 

This technique was used in the years 1457, 1459 and 1460 against Transylvanian merchants who ignored his trade laws. Incursions which he did between the Transylvanian Saxons were also acts of protectionism to protect its commercial activities in the Romanian Country. At that time he was used as pretenders to the throne of Romanian find support in Transylvania, where waiting for the right time to act.

Stories about Vlad the Impaler

There are many stories and anecdotes that capture the philosophy of Vlad III Dracula. He was known for his fierce call to honesty and order. Almost any crime, from lying and stealing to killing, could be punished by impalement. Being sure of the effectiveness of its laws, Vlad III left them a golden cup in sight, the central square in Targoviste. Cup could be used by thirsty travelers, but had to stay in the market. According to historical sources, during his reign, it was never stolen and remained almost unused.

Vlad III was also concerned that all inhabitants of the land to work and be productive to the community. He looked sick, vagrants and beggars as thieves. As a result, one day all the homeless and sick in Romania country were invited to the royal court in Targoviste for the feast. After the guests ate and drank, he asked them if they would never be poor. After receiving a positive response, he ordered to be closed and fire hall. Nobody survived.

Another story says that two monks who entered the Romanian Country, came to visit him at his castle Vlad. The monks knew Vlad's reputation and when he has asked opinion about him, they responded differently. One lied, saying that Vlad was tough, but still just a prince and the other openly condemned his methods of torture. Reports vary to say which of the two monks were impaled.

There is a legend that tells how Vlad Tepes impaled a supposed gentleman who said that he could shamelessly stole a purse with a hundred ducats. The prince asked her protection. Two days later, he returned nobleman.

Another legend says that a nobleman staged a theft in the country (a bag with 50 yellow) and when he was presented the prince said that the theaft had stolen 100 coins. To lier was impaled.

The conflict with the Ottoman Empire

1459 Impaler refuses to pay tribute to the Turks (10,000 coins each year). It seems that this rebellion would be due to a possible organization of a crusade against the Ottomans crusade supported by the Pope, and the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus, would have played the most important role (even receives from the Pope sum of 40,000 ducats , an amount sufficient to equip 12,000 men and 10 warships). 

In this political context Vlad Tepes an alliance with Matthias Corvinus, probably in early 1460 that the Turks are trying to prevent. 

Moreover, they will try through Hamza Pasha bey of Nikopol and Diac Catavolinos Sultan, Vlad catch him by guile, without success. Once foiled plans Ottomans and punishment of perpetrators (the two were impaled with all Turks captured), Vlad the Impaler organized a surprise campaign south of the Danube in winter 1461-1462. 

Vlad Tepes 1462 campaign trail

A vast region, from Obluciţa Novo Selo and the mouth of the Danube to the Black Sea to Rahova, was devastated. Moreover, Nikopol city being occupied by guile than 20,000 Turks died under arms Vlachs, Turks dead number being specified by Vlad Tepes himself in a letter to Matthias. In that letter, sent in Giurgiu on 11 February 1462, the board stated that his peace with the Turks and insistently ask for help Hungarian king. Although it has secured from March 4, 1462 that will come to his support, just Buda Matthias left in late August, when the Ottoman campaign was already over. As it regards Mehmed the Conqueror, it surprised contempt Impaler, will prepare a response to match. In the spring of 1462, Sultan, an army giant cca.100-120.000 people (the second largest after that conquered Constantinople) plus 175 warships whose purpose was to conquer Chilia, will head the Danube. 

Mr. Wallach did not exceed herds after most optimistic estimates, 30,000 soldiers. Although it will try to stop the Turks from the Danube in Turnu city , they in the shelter overnight manage to cross the river heading straight for Targoviste (June 4, 1462).

In these conditions will apply Impaler harassment tactics: the desolation of the earth - especially the road to Targoviste - poisoning wells, attacking Turkish detachments left for food. In this oppressive atmosphere the Turkish armies, hungry and frightened, advancing through the desolate land, was the great shot of Vlad Tepes, attack the night of 16-17 June 1462, aims to further demoralize the Ottoman army, which attack mention all sources related to the campaign in 1462. 

The target of the attack was the sultan himself, but he escaped his tent being confused with that of a vizier. However the psychological effect of the attack occurred. Many Turks were killed, Sultan reportedly "left the camp hidden in the chip shameful"; convinced by his advisers to come back, and seeing "the great loss suffered by his people" gave the order to retreat. 

Near Târgoviştei a show that was waiting for him to put his troops terror in a forest of thorns hanging in a lot of Turks killed before or during the battle; at the sight Turks "were terrified" and Sultan acknowledged that "the country can not take a man do such great things" and that "it will be worth more."

Oil Painting Night attack on turks at Targoviste photo: wikipedia.org

 Except chronicles Turkish sultan defeat all other sources testify that he was forced "to return to flee the Danube with its largest loss princes and shame of being turned back." Turkish army was directed towards the Danube and so quickly that the July 11, 1462 Sultan had Adrianople. According to the Byzantine chronicler Chalkokondyles sultan allowed him to go, Targoviste, prince, Vlad the Impaler's brother, Radu the Handsome the idea to draw his side all who were opposing him Impaler.

 Pasha Nikopol was to provide armed support Radu. The period that followed was very cloudy for the history of Romanian, in which two brothers who confront each sought to strengthen its forces to eliminate their opponent. Unlike Vlad the Impaler who wanted to continue the fight against the Ottomans, Radu the Handsome boyars offered peace and friendship with the sultan. Slowly Radu's arguments are so convincing landowners joined him. 

On August 15, 1462 Radu the Handsome was accepted and Transylvania. In these circumstances, abandoned by most of the boyars, but still having an army quite large that it seems that on or around September 8 would have acquired even a final victory over his opponents in October 1462 Impaler goes to Transylvania to meet with his ally Matthias. How come he did not even prepared nor too decided to fight, he decided pretty quickly to change the original plan, acknowledging the situation in Romanian country and giving in to support him on Tepeş. 

Moreover, the king's decision would have contributed so called letter of the Impaler by the sultan that faces Wallachian apologizes for any shortcomings caused it and, moreover, took his commitment to help him against hosts Hungary. As a result, in November 1462 Vlad Tepes  instead of receiving help its ally is arrested on charges of treason and imprisoned in Visegrad 12 years and then 2 years in Buda resident forced. 

Will be released in 1475 at the request of Stephen the Great, Prince of Moldavia, in the context of increasing pressure on the Turkish territories north of the Danube.

The alleged tomb of Vlad Tepes at Snagov Monastery The conflict with the Ottoman Empire

 In this political context Vlad Tepes an alliance with Matthias Corvinus, probably in early 1460 that the Turks are trying to prevent. Moreover, they will try through Hamza Pasha bey of Nikopol and diac Catavolinos Sultan, Vlad to catch him by guile, without success. 

Last reign, end of life and the grave site

Vlad Tepes tomb?

According to legend, when was Vlad's wife committed suicide by throwing himself off a high ridge - a scene exploited by Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula in the film, to escape from Turkish prison, .Vlad managed to escape the siege of his fortress by using a secret passage through the mountains. Helped by some peasants in the village of Arefu, he managed to reach Transylvania where he met with Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus. 

But Matthew arrested him and imprisoned him in the Hungarian capital of Visegrad. The reason for the arrest can be discussed by some historians in that it was directly taken to Budapest to Vlad was protected by the Germans who wanted to kill him. Vlad was recognized as prince of Wallachia for the third time in 1475, but has enjoyed a very short period of reign. 

The legend say that it was assassinated in late December 1476. His body was decapitated and his head sent to the Sultan, which has placed a stake as proof of the triumph of Vlad Tepes. 

It hypothesized that "Dracula" was buried at Snagov Monastery, on an island near Bucharest. Recent examinations have shown that "grave" Impaler from the monastery contains a few horse bones dated to the Neolithic remains not true of Mr. Wallach.

Snagov Monastery

In the opinion of renowned historian Constantin Rezachevici, as the location of his grave Comana Monastery, founded by Prince.

Dracula

Bram Stoker's book Dracula, do not rely directly on the rule of Vlad Dracula but a fiction that takes place in Transylvania and England nineteenth century. Following the success of the novel, the fictional character Dracula is associated Transylvania.

British writer Bram Stoker could easily see the Royal Library in London a few of those engravings Saxon fifteenth century, which were found in the collections of the British Museum, where Vlad Tepes is described as a monster, a vampire who drinks human blood and a great lover of cruelty. It probably had access to the book History of Moldavia and Wallachia of Johann Christian Engel, who describes Vlad the Impaler as a bloody tyrant, which gave him perhaps the idea to take the prince of Wallachia as a model for his character fictional Dracula. Some scholars have proposed that Stoker had a relationship of friendship with a Hungarian professor from the University of Budapest, Vambery Arminius (Hermann Vamberger), and it may be given to them about Vlad the Impaler. 

Bram Stoker photo: wikipedia.org

Moreover, the fact that Dr. Abraham Van Helsing mentions his friend Arminius in 1897 as a novel source of his knowledge of Vlad III called Dracula , seems to support this hypothesis. 

Note also that this seems to be the only cause and there is a real link between Vlad Dracula history (1431-1476) and modern literary myth of the vampire is Bram Stoker's book. It was used by folk sources, historical references and personal experiences to achieve a complex character. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that Vlad's main political detractors - generally Saxons - were using the word meaning devil demon ruler to shade reputation. 

Thus, the association between the two meanings of the word, dragon and the devil, and once named Dracula Vlad II could explain why Vlad III the Impaler was associated with vampirism by Bram Stoker. An important symbolic element of the Order of the Dragon, which was inspired Stoker to create the character demonic, it was official clothing of the Order - a cape black over a red jacket - which was worn only on Fridays to commemorate the Passion of Christ. All Bram Stoker had the idea to associate this European legends a South American animal: Vampire bat hemophagocytic said (Desmodus rotundus).

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