Vlad the Impaler

Vlad III, the 15th century ruler of what is now southern Romania, had a terrifying nickname—the Impaler. It originated with the grisly way he dealt with his enemies: He demanded that their not-yet-dead bodies be impaled on stakes. Vlad’s reputation for brutality only grew and later became entwined with the legend of the vampire Dracula. This in-depth account presents the true story of Vlad the Imp...