Vlad the Impaler
You might recognize the legendary Vlad III, not by his birth name, but as the chilling muse behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula. His infamous nickname was earned as his men ruthlessly plundered Saxon villages. The unfortunate captives were then transported to his homeland of Wallachia, where they met their grisly end, impaled on menacing spikes, a sight that would send shivers down anyone’s spine.
Defying the Ottoman Sultan’s command for personal homage, Vlad audaciously impaled his two envoys. In 1462, he brazenly attacked Ottoman lands, slaughtering tens of thousands. The Sultan retaliated, forcing Vlad to seek aid from the Hungarian King. However, he was betrayed and imprisoned. Eventually released, Vlad met his end on the battlefield, his body brutally dismembered, his head delivered to his adversary. His name, thereafter, evolved into a captivating tale of folklore.