Vlad the Impaler

Vlad the Impaler Overview

• Full name: Vlad III, commonly known as Vlad the Impaler.
• Nicknamed "Vlad the Impaler" due to his brutal method of punishing enemies.

Rule of Wallachia

• Vlad ruled Wallachia three times during his lifetime.
• The first reign occurred from 1448, with additional rule periods in 1456-1462 and 1476.

Family Background

• Father: Vlad II Dracul, a member of the Order of the Dragon.
• Both Vlad II and Vlad's eldest brother, Mircea, were murdered by political adversaries.

Political Context

• Mușat and his followers installed in the aftermath of his father's murder sought to control Wallachia.
• The new voivode (governor) of Wallachia following Vlad II’s death was Radu’s brother, Vlad.

Personal History

• Vlad and his younger brother, Radu, were taken hostage by the Ottoman Empire for political reasons.
• The Ottoman Empire invaded Wallachia in 1447, leading to significant regional conflicts.

Leadership Timeline

• Ruler of Wallachia in 1436: Vlad II Dracul, preceding Vlad III’s eventual claim to power.

Death of Vlad the Impaler

• Vlad the Impaler died in 1476 under mysterious circumstances, with his exact cause of death still debated among historians.