Dracula a victim of bad propaganda ?

But you only believe this because of what you've read. Which is what the OP is asking; is everything we know about Vlad tainted by exaggerations and totally false stories?

But you only believe this because of what you've read. Which is what the OP is asking; is everything we know about Vlad tainted by exaggerations and totally false stories? Historical record gathered from three different countries. The tales are not questioned, validity of the actions is. His methods of torture went beyond impalement, he also enjoyed viewing : nails in heads, cutting off of limbs, blinding, strangulation, burning, cutting off of noses and ears, mutilation of sexual organs (especially in the case of women), scalping, skinning, exposure to the elements or to wild animals, and bur... [More]

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I read somewhere that he did cut off a piece of the dead enemies liver and chew on it. I think he spit it out, but the act drove fear into all who saw him do it. You really don't want to mess with a crazy man!

I thought the article would show some evidence to support the claim, really just came down to the curator just saying he wasn't so bad. Then I would ask "Why?" And I expect the response to be "Because." "Because why?" "Just because, ughh leave me alone you are so uncool!" That's some excellent curation right there.

Vlad III Impaler/Tepes He was a real contemporary historical personality in every bit. I think that he didn't put to death much more people than the similar rulers in his time. Did he do it right or wrong? Who cares after 500 years? But the original person as Dracula was Vlad II (Vlad Dracul), Tepes' father. Vlad II Dracul For instance more famous was Rex Mathias for his all-pervasive tax laws i.e. chimney tax, farm-wagon tax, smoke tax etc.

I would have to agree that Vlad Tepes was definately a cruel person, though at that time, his actions could be considered an almost "accepted"- and possibly expected from a ruler. Was only a step more crueller than the ancient Roman policy of a row of live crucifixions along the road leading into the city as a warning to potential law breakers. And let's not forget the flaying and live disembowlements... not to mention live drawing and quartering of people in the rest of Europe. I should also point out the other half of the Dracula archetype: Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who would torture and m... [More]

I should also point out the other half of the Dracula archetype: Countess Elizabeth Bathory, who would torture and murder young women so that she could bath in their blood thinking that doing so would keep her eternally young. Just adding to Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) ... The biological facts refute these hearsays unambiguously however, since in the human blood - because of its clotting - impossible to take a bath. The basis of the brutal stories is a writing put down on paper by a Jesuit priest 150 years !!! after Elizabeth Bathory's death. So the truth value of these stories is fairly que... [More]

Aside from some "slight acting out" behavior, he really didn't have a good PR agent looking out for his place in history

Just adding to Elizabeth Bathory (1560-1614) ... The biological facts refute these hearsays unambiguously however, since in the human blood - because of its clotting - impossible to take a bath. The basis of the brutal stories is a writing put down on paper by a Jesuit priest 150 years !!! after Elizabeth Bathory's death. So the truth value of these stories is fairly questionable in the light of this. Well, the murders of several female villagers is certainly not in question. Either way, the acts committed by her and Vlad were not really all that uncommon during their time periods. The only di... [More]