The Devil's Son: Vlad Tepes
Attention, members of the Karasakal Korku Kulübü! Brace yourselves as we delve into the real story of Vlad Tepes, the Son of the Devil. Prepare to confront the chilling past and dark fate of the Impaler. We're blending historical truth with a gruesome legend on this ominous journey. Are you ready for a night to remember?
If you live in Istanbul, and encounter a skull without a body during excavation in your garden or any other ground, never underestimate it. Because you might have possibly found the lost head of 'Dracula,' the 'son of the Devil'—and this is certainly not a treasure to be underestimated from the perspective of history.
As enthusiasts of horror literature may quickly recall, the immortal vampire Count Dracula was born from the Irish author Bram Stoker's novel of the same name. Meanwhile, it is well known among those interested that Stoker drew inspiration from the famous Wallachian Prince Vlad the Impaler, whom we Turks refer to in history books as 'Kazıklı Voyvoda' (Impaler Voivode).
As Vlad became notorious for impaling his enemies and drinking their blood, a historical figure with a deep and tragic connection to the Ottoman Empire, particularly with Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, emerged. And little known to many, Vlad was also the blood brother of Sultan Mehmed...
Yes, Vlad had a connection to the Ottoman Empire much deeper and more tragic than what our school textbooks narrate. Moreover, this connection extended to a childhood friendship with Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, even resembling a kind of 'blood brotherhood.'
This story, penned by investigative journalist ALİ MURAT Güven, based on information gathered from the eccentric president of the 'Transylvanian Dracula Association,' Nicolae Paduraru, reveals a chilling historical truth and how it became an immortal literary masterpiece.
Given Paduraru's eccentricity evident from the association he founded, it was clear that his mind was consumed by Kazıklı Voyvoda, making him a man of the 'professorial nerve' type who had digested not only Romanian history but also Ottoman history due to the constant prominence of Turks in Vlad's tragic tale. Let me continue the rest of the story for you as @Karasakal
'The Devil's Son' visits the palace
In 1431, Vlad was born in the town of Sighișoara in central Romania, and from his early childhood to the moment he took his last breath on the battlefield, the Turks were always the most decisive factor in his life. Perhaps it is more appropriate to call it his 'destiny.'
His father, Vlad Dracul, a valiant knight who gained fame for his bravery and ruthlessness in the elite forces of the Hungarian king Vladislav, was known by the epithet 'Dracul,' which in Romanian means 'devil.' This title was a concrete expression of the mass fear directed towards him.
When Wallachia, as the Romanians called these lands, became part of the Ottoman Empire as Eflak and Bogdan after the relentless campaigns of Sultan Murad II, Vlad's father, like all other nobles in the region, had to express his loyalty to the Turks, especially to the then capital of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa.
In the Ottoman policy of conquest, it was not common to appoint foreign rulers from the center to the newly acquired territories. Instead, the state preferred to appoint loyal local leaders who were born and raised in those regions. In this context, Sultan Murad II, after conducting thorough intelligence among the notable nobles of Wallachia, saw the name of Vlad Dracul rising to prominence. Consequently, Vlad's younger sister and he were brought to the capital, Edirne, to be raised and educated.
'Until death, we are brothers'
Young Vlad quickly adapted to Edirne and the Ottoman court life. Sultan Murad, who cherished this little guest running around with his sister in the corridors of the palace, took great care of him. Sultan desired Vlad, who would later efficiently govern the vast lands of the Ottomans in the Balkans, to receive a flawless education in all aspects. To ensure that Vlad developed affection for the Turks, Sultan soon gave him a friend. This person was none other than his beloved son, Mehmet.
Prince Mehmet and Vlad, who were only a year apart, underwent rigorous training together for years. They took special language lessons from the most distinguished teachers, learned swordsmanship, horseback riding, and the intricacies of state administration. Their friendship deepened over the years. As they grew older, they made a mutual vow never to forget each other and to support each other until their last drop of blood, sealing the pact by joining their cut fingers to become 'blood brothers.'
Years passed, and the paths of these two friends would inevitably diverge. Vlad was sent back to his homeland as a promising leader. After the death of his father in 1451, Sultan Mehmet, at a young age, ascended to the throne and achieved the long-cherished dream of conquering Istanbul in 1453, earning the title of the conqueror of the world.
Witnessing this great military success of Mehmet, Vlad, who had returned to Istanbul, declared his political allegiance to the city. In response, in 1456, Sultan Mehmet officially appointed him as the Voivode of Eflak and Bogdan.
Initially, everything went smoothly. Vlad, managing the region with great success, sincerely protected the interests of the Ottomans and regularly collected and sent tax revenues to the capital. In return, the palace granted him an unprecedented level of autonomy as a Voivode.
However, over time, Vlad began to experience a change. Nationalistic winds among the Romanian nobility started to influence him, even though his allegiance to Istanbul was unquestionable. As regional independence movements simmered, everyone expected Vlad to lead this new wave. At this point, his legendary father's feats of valor were frequently mentioned, and he was urged to regain his senses. On one side, the beloved Mehmet; on the other, the dream of becoming the king of an independent Wallachia.
Vlad found himself in such a great dilemma that he began to fall into the trap of alcoholism to escape. Drinking day and night and torturing those who disobeyed him with unimaginable cruelties became his pastime. Meanwhile, rumors spread among the people that he gained demonic powers by drinking the blood of his enemies.
Completely lost in his disturbed state, Vlad personally arrested the ambassadors upon their arrival at his palace, tortured them with his own hands, and ultimately impaled all of them, carrying ultimatum letters with the seal of Fatih.
When Fatih heard about the fate of his envoys, he pondered for a long time on what to do. The tremendous patience he would display toward Vlad at that moment, which he would show to no one else, suggests that he might have given his childhood friend one last chance to come to his senses. Well, breaking the oath of 'blood brotherhood' is not easy...
"'I'm coming, damn Vlad!'
"Geliyorum deyyus Vlad!"
In the spring of 1462, Sultan Mehmet set out on a Balkan campaign with a large army under his command, with only one goal in mind: to annihilate Vlad as a lesson for the world. The furious commander, advancing towards the heart of Eflak and Bogdan, neutralized all local leaders supporting the rebellion. His primary target, Vlad, found himself cornered in Poenari Castle. Perched atop a 900-meter-high steep mountain, Poenari Castle presented the appearance of an eagle's nest—seemingly impregnable and challenging to conquer from below. However, no difficulty could stop Sultan Mehmet, driven by rage, from reaching Vlad. Surrounding the castle with his forces, the Sultan sent his final message to Vlad: 'It's over! I'm coming, damn Vlad!'
Both commanders were well aware of each other's tactics and personalities. Utilizing this advantage, Vlad managed to resist for months in the high castle. In response, the Ottoman army, with full logistical support, maintained a patient and irritating camp at the base of the castle. At times, just to break the resistance of those inside the castle, they organized military displays with clashing swords and played loud war anthems. Sultan Mehmet, in the face of the significant betrayal displayed against him, sought to humiliate and punish Vlad. While the stubborn Vlad resisted Sultan Mehmet's tactics, his beloved wife Elizabeth, trapped in the castle with him, was not as resilient. The young woman, unable to endure the psychological warfare any longer, threw herself from the castle's battlements and committed suicide during the advancing weeks of the siege.
Wallachia began to simmer with tales of the heavy lesson Istanbul's Fatih had given to the rebellious prince seeking independence. Sultan Mehmet, having politically ended Vlad's rule in his own dominion, decided that leaving Istanbul vulnerable for such a long time for a rebellious Voivode was a risky proposition. Without waiting for Vlad's capture, he returned to the center, taking a portion of his forces with him. He wouldn't neglect to appoint a new and loyal Voivode for Eflak. Vlad, psychologically shattered by his wife's suicide, made a final move to escape. Successfully breaching the somewhat relaxed siege in Fatih's absence, the deposed Voivode, with the help of some Romanian villagers, fled to neighboring Hungary. Romanian historians claim that Sultan Mehmet did not express excessive anger upon learning of Vlad's escape. While we cannot know exactly what the great Sultan was thinking at that moment, the course of events suggests that he still offered his childhood friend a chance to leave the country. After all, breaking the oath of 'blood brotherhood' was not an easy thing to do.
Struggles and Death
Vlad, who spent a full 14 years in exile in the cities of Vishegrad and Pest in Hungary, made one final attempt years later to seize control of his country. In 1476, with the assistance of Hungarian King Matei Corvin and Moldavian Prince Stefan the Great, the former Voivode once again took hold of the Wallachian principality. However, this time, he would be cornered to the point of death in accordance with a special order from Istanbul. The Ottoman intelligence had never forgotten him, and upon the specific order of Fatih, his activities as a dangerous rebel had been carefully monitored for years. This time, the order was executed meticulously, and the new Voivode ruling the region, Radu, trapped and killed the former Voivode along with a few supporters in the Transylvanian forests. Meanwhile, the head of the prince, sent to Istanbul at the request of the palace, would be paraded through the streets of the city as the killer of thousands of Turks, just like he had done to his enemies—impaled on a stake! The headless body of the prince was buried in Snagov Monastery, located on a lake near Bucharest.
From the palace's perspective, this old account was now completely settled.
But what about the Severed Head?
And what happened to the prince's head brought to our country? No one knows. The severed head, displayed to the public in Istanbul for days, was eventually buried somewhere in the city. But where?
You, people of Istanbul, be very careful when excavating from now on. One day, the skull of the most terrifying man of all time might emerge from your garden or construction site. Especially considering Stoker's famous story, waking up the next morning with two small bite marks on your neck might not be out of the question!"
Throughout this unforgettable night, we uncovered Vlad Tepes' severed head and the clashes with Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. As the Karasakal Korku Kulübü, we shared this adventure filled with history and terror. Stay tuned for future dark secrets and horrifying moments. Calling all horror and history enthusiasts, we invite you to join us on the next spine-tingling exploration!
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