In reading Emily Gerard’s book Transylvania Superstitions (1885), Bram Stoker was inspired to write a Gothic horror novel based on the age-old Eastern European vampire myth. Never having visited Romania or previously studied the country’s history himself, when writing the book, he relied on the description of the history of medieval Romania as outlined in Account of the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia with Political Observations Relative to Them (1820). (Wallachia and Moldavia are the two other provinces of Romania, besides Transylvania.)
Speculatively, he may have had a clandestine political agenda in his literary colorization of a patent blood-sucking tyrant with few rivals in “human” history. Anyway, as an Irishman whose mother survived a catastrophic plague in Ireland, he may have been drawn to the metaphysical intrigue that his Dracula represented to him, especially in Dracula’s reflection as a perpetual overlord of his soulless victims he stealthily managed to ensnare into his demonic spiritual realm through his august and wicked noble charm.
For reasons unknown, Stoker chose Wallachia Count Vlad Dracula as his life-and-blood antagonist for his novel and made Transylvania his fictional principality (perhaps because of its eerily scenic beauty). However, like no other ruler of late medieval Europe, he was by far and away the cruelest and “evil” in his gruesome treatment of his foes and unruly subjects. So, knowing little more than that, his Count Dracula fits the bill. FYI, soon after his death, Vlad’s reputation was known in Europe through the circulation of German pamphlets.
In light of all the general angst surrounding Vlad’s rule, most Romanians today regard him as a national hero because of his fight against Ottoman Turk invaders and struggle to gain Romanian independence from the domination of Hungary. Moreover, many would regard his harsh rulership style as justifiable given the horrendous conditions he contended with, both in employing draconian measures to subdue relentless and merciless enemies he faced on all sides of his realm, even within.
Contrary to Stoker’s errant belief, Vlad was an agnatic descendant of Genghis, Great Khan of the Mongols (1162 – 1227) instead of Attila the Hun ( – 453) 59th King of Huns (primogenitor of the Magyar/Arpad royal dynasty of Hungary). Both, however, possess pedigrees that show them as descendants of ancient emperors of China (primarily, Han and T’ang dynasties) at some point along their respective ancient lineages.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, there were numerous reports of half-dead humans (perhaps best characterized as zombies) who survived consuming human flesh. Putatively, they were victims of plagues that often decimated human populations.
Since the 1920s when book sales began to rapidly increase in response to a Broadway play adaptation, Dracula continues to capture the hearts and souls of Gothic horror film, television and literature aficionados. Dracula mania reached a fever pitch with Universal’s blockbuster 1931 film, starring Hungarian actor Bela Lugosi.
Related ancestral blog articles
Agnatic descendant of Genghis, Great Khan of the Mongols (1162 – 1227)
Other direct descendants include: Mary (Princess) of GREAT BRITAIN & Ireland ; George (1st Duke) of KENT ; George VI Albert WINDSOR (King) of ENGLAND ; Henry William Frederick Albert (1st Duke of GLOUCESTER) ; Edward VIII (King) of ENGLAND
SOURCES
Bram Stoker (1847 – 1912) Bibliography
Transylvania Superstitions (1885)
The Historical Dracula, An Essay by Ray Porter
Vlad the Impaler: Brought to life as a modern man
Where Does The Word “Dracula” Come From?
Vlad the Impaler YouTube videos
What do King Charles and ‘Dracula’ have in common? The House of Windsor history reveals
The Patricians, A Genealogical Study – Ebook Editions US$5.95
Steven Wood Collins (1952 – ) Antiquarian, Genealogist, Novelist
The Patricians Genealogical Research Foundation 