Vlad Dracula Research Paper

Vlad Dracula was born in the winter of 1431 in Sighisoura,Transylvania. Vlad’s father who is Vlad II came from a family of princes from the state of Wallacia. In the same year Vlad III was born, his father traveled to Nuremberg, Germany and became a member of the Order of the Dragon. The Order of the Dragon was select group of European royalty appointed by the head of the Holy Roman Empire, Emperor Sigismund ,who held power over most of Western Europe. These men were dedicated to crusading against the Ottoman Turks, whose faith was Islam, and defending the Empire in the name of the Cross . Sigismund made Vlad II head of the Order and promised that he would be Prince of Wallacia when he returned . After this day, Vlad II became known as Vlad Dracul, “drucul” meant “dragon” ,so therefore his son Vlad III became known as Vlad Dracula which meant “ little dragon”.
When Dracul returned home to Sigisoura, he learned that his brother Alexander Aldea had taken over the throne of Wallacia and without any army to back him up Sigismund’s promise meant nothing. Dracul needed to raise an army so he built an alliance with Moldavia by arranging a new marriage with a Moldavian princess. In the winter of 1436 when Alexander Aldea was laying on his deathbed, Dracul led his army to his palace in Tirgoviste. When they arrived, Aldea had no choice because of his condition and Dracul declared himself Prince of Wallacia. This was the beginning of a new era for young Dracula. The family moved to the palace in Tirgoviste with a new addition to the family, his younger brother Radu. Dracula started his training to become a knight which consisted of bareback horseback riding, bow and arrow, swords,and practicing with axes and daggers. Dracula also learned his most important lesson by watching his father.
Loyalty meant nothing to Dracul and he would sacrifice anything to stay in power. After the death of Sigismund, he had no problem disregarding the vow he made to him to defend the