Dracula Myth vs. Legend, Story vs. Reality

Romania – the land of vampires

When referring to Romania the first thing that comes to mind is Transylvania. Home to some of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe, most relating to the legend of Dracula. This is the reason why, for many foreigners, Romania is the land of Dracula. Although,  not as popular at home us he is abroad, Dracula has become a tourist attraction. Many people come to Transylvania seeking his trail, and many go away again disappointed.


Where does Dracula come from?

Did you ever wonder how the legend of Dracula came to be known and why it belongs to Romania? Besides the impressive story of Vlad the Impaler there are other important elements that build the legend. Perhaps one of the main reasons Romania is considered the homeland of vampires ist hat there are several legends that are centered on vampires.

One of the most important is the myth of Nosferatu- the illegitimate child of illegitimate parents. It is said that his name comes from the Greek nosophoros which means plague bearer of from the old Slavic word nosifor-atu or nesuferitu (obnoxious).

But Nosferatu didn’t feed with human blood. Its main feature was its libido, he being able to be intimate with the living. However, he made his victims-mistresses sick. Their fatigue evolved soon into a disease with symptoms similar to those of tuberculosis.

Nosferati, for there wasn’t only one, could also conceive this is why they were considered dangerous to young married couples; their hatred for those legally married making them to leave the young wife pregnant with their offspring.

Nostefati’s portrait is totally different from what we know today about vampires. The inhabitants of the Carpathians considered them to be highly sexual creatures that had nothing of the following features:  blood-drinking, fang-wielding, daylight and crucifix-fearing. This portrait has, unfortunately, no relation with the original Romanian legends, but in part with Bram Stocker’s novel.

dracula1Other very important legends are those of Moroii and Strigoii. These two are seen in close connection. The essential difference between them being the fact that Moroii are living vampires while Strigoii retourn from the dead. Moroii can also be both women and men and have all the characteristics that Strigoii have. Among the ways a person can become a Strigoi there is suicide or the fact that the dead person is the seventh son in the family. There is also the theory that if a pregnant woman drinks impure water or gets out of the house at night with nothing to cover her head the Evil One will appear and will put a red chitie on the head of the baby. This should be removed as soon as possible in order to prevent the transformation of the child. Although there are several versions of the origins of these mythological creatures: Strigoii and Moroii both have one common characteristic: they hurt their victims. However, only in some areas they are assimilated to the notion of vampires.

Varcolacii are other fantastic figures and they are considered to be the strongest type of undead. They are so strong they can eat the Moon and the Sun, making them disappear. They too appear when an unbaptised child dies. Their name seems to come from Bulgarian and Serbian vylx + dlaka meaning wolf hair. However these creatures don’t attack people directly so they are loosely connected with the vampires.

Morii, Varcolacii,Strigoii and the Nosferatu have contributed to the development of the vampire legends on the Romanian territory, influencing creativity all around the world and generating more and more new legends and interpretations, like the most recent Twilight saga.


The Fictional Count Dracula

Vlad the Impaler

Who is Dracula and what connexion  does it have with Transylvania? - this is the main question when somebody wants to discover the real story of legendary character.  

When one hears the name Dracula, most are inclined to think of a Hollywood fairytale with blood sucking vampires and a fictitious Count Dracula. This is true in one sense and completely false in another.

The figure most people associate to Dracula is a fairytale, written from the pen of Irish Novelist Bram Stoker. Many believe Stoker based his novel on the real life figure, Vlad Tepes III. Vlad was a prince of Walachia, located in central Romania. This is where the similarities end, as Stoker never actually visited Transylvania, or Walachia, and merely drew images from the stories written in European papers at the time.

Vlad Tepes was born in or around 1431, in the Transylvanian town of Sighisoara. Today you can visit the house in which Vlad was born, which has been restored to its original condition, and enjoy one of the best preserved medieval citadels in Europe. Prince Vlad III was named Drăculea by his contemporaries. This was because his father, Vlad II was invested by the Emperor Sigismund in Nuremberg on 8th February 1431 with the Order of the Dragon. This chivalric order was a military and religious society whose aims was to stop the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. The arms of the Order depicted a dragon (symbol of the Ottomans) and a cross (symbol of Christianity) in Romanian the word for “Dragon” (“Drahe” in German) is “Drac” (“Devil” in Romanian language) and so Vlad added the epithet “Dracul” (“The Dragon”) this name and his descendents  were named “Drăculești” : Vlad III was “Drăculea” (i.e. “Son of Dracul”).

At the time Vlad was in power, Walachia was a main trading route, and a strategic Vlad Tepes (The Real Dracula) point in the battle between the Turkish, Invaders from the East and the Hungarian throne situated in Budapest. This caused a very turbulent situation, as the battle of religions with these powerful neighbours was often fought on these lands. Vlad was known for many things, most of which being his cruel and ruthless torture methods.

Impalement was Vlad's favourite form of punishment, and he held no favourites, whether it be local thieves, foreign nobleman, or the sick and poor. As stories vary from one person to the next, the true life of Vlad Tepes will never be known. The printing press releases from Germany and Russia have similarities to the stories and life of Vlad, and local folklore is probably the best way to find out more on Vlad's life.

Certainly, it was only the exaggeration of Prince Vlad – The Impaler’s cruelty by malicious chroniclers that led, over time, to the creation of the Dracula myth. A series of chronicles inspired by the life of Vlad The Impaler paint a macabre picture of the prince, who was wont to punish treachery, dishonesty, stupidity, laziness, lying, thievery,  corruption and flattery by impalement, bunging, flying, decapitation, boiling alive, blinding, crucifixion, stabbing and strangulation. Likewise, victims were buried alive, burned, roasted, maimed, or bad their nose, ears, tongues or genitals amputated.

The figure of The Impaler has remained emblematic for Romanians, in spite of the exaggerations  regarding his limitless cruelty. Legends have grown up around him: strange as it might seem, during his reign a golden cup stood at the edge of a fountain in the centre of Târgoviște, without ever beeing stolen.  Many things can be said of Vlad The Impaler: that he was cruel, and merciless, although just and courageous; that he knew no pity, although he was a  “voevod  concerned with people and nation”. The chronicles mention nothing of the monasteries and churches founded by Vlad The Impaler:  Comana (1461), the Churches of Strejnicu and Târgușoru Vechi (1461).  Although inexplicable his identification with a vampire-count, a personage inspired by horror films, has brought Vlad The Impaler an unexpected tourist celebrity. The bloody Drăculea has become a product perfect for “frightening” and “attracting” the tourists.

Vlad Tepes was the Romanian character that is the most famous in Europe and not only. He was the main character in the literary production from the second period of the XVth century in the Eastern Europe and Western Europe. Unfortunately this fame is a negative one and it shows the great leader as the symbol of the evil. How did such a complex personality end up to be such known when he was still alive?

The origins of his image are being pointed out by the nickname he was given “Tepes”, as he is known in the Romanian history. The nickname appears first in the Turkish chronicles of the XVth century and XVIth century. He is named as Kaziklu bey (the prince that impales). Vlad was given this nickname because of the cruel method he had chosen to execute the war prisoners, the convicts and the adversaries. Vlad Tepes was a descendent from the Dragon Order, known as The Draculestilor Order. In German language the Dragon Order is called Drachenorden and in Latin is called Societatis draconistrarum. It was a like any other knightly orders of the time, having as a role model the “Order of St.George” built in 1318. Like his father, Vlad Tepes was a member of the Dragon Order. A proof of this is the signature he used to sign on official documents of the time: Dracula. Along the centuries this signature gained unexpected meanings.

The name Dracula was rapidly spread in all Europe of that time. In the Turkish language it was known under the name of Kazîclî; the Pec Bishop called it Dracole; Dan a knight who wanted the Romanian throne called him Dracul (Devil); in the Serbian annals before 1462 appears as Dracula; in the German story until 1462 appeared as Dracal or Dracao; the bishop Nicolae de Madrussa called him Dracul; the Venice Senat – Dragulia sau Draculia; the Hungarian king Matei. On purpose or not, the name of Vlad Tepes together with his behaviour brought him a great fame. His special skills and qualities along with his actions brought him a special place in the Romanian tradition not as a bad character but as a Robin Hood character. He was unmerciful with the rich people that broke the law and a good friend to the poor people.

For the Romanian land peasants he was the national hero that served their cause. He became famous because of the so called German stories that tried to denigrate the great leader. He is presented here as an antichrist, a criminal, a cannibal (an engraved stone shows him in the middle of the a spike forest waiting for his subjects to serve him human organs). This campaign was coordinated by the Hungarian king Sigismund de Luxemburg, who had to justify the desertion of the crusade against the Ottoman Empire, as he was given important help from the Roman Pope.

Illustration from German chronicles of the time.

This is a scene of the impalement. Vlad Tepes aka Vlad the Impaler  is watching the operation from a table, having his lunch and drinking wine. The picture is not necessary relevant to the image of Romanian prince, because the Germanic sources was affected by the myths and political interests.

As Vlad Tepes had organized himself a campaign against the Ottoman Empire, well seen by the Pope, Sigismund’s action was received very well. He paid for some false writings against the Wallachian leader.This falses include: The manuscript from Viena, incorporated in the Chronichle of Thomas Ebendorfer, the comments of Enea Silvio Piccolomini, the next to be Pope under the name of Pius the II (1458-1464), the verses of MichaelBeheim. From all the documents, the verses of Michael Beheim from 1462 – 1463: “About a tiran under the name of Dracula from the Romanian land” seem to be the most complex with 1070 verses. It is a synthesis of the German stories about Vlad Tepes, having a very powerful and eloquent ending. 950 of the verses describe the cruelties of him and in the other verses the horrible betrayal that led rightfully to his arrest. Being at the wrong time in the wrong moment Vlad Tepes was transformed from a great political and military personality of his time into a criminal of the history. The concept of “vampire” has the meaning taken from prehistoric times when the man being a hunter discoveredthat when an animal is killed and his blood drains’ from his veins, his life ends. The blood became in the mind of the hunter the source of life That is why some tribal members used to drink the blood of the animals killed, in order to claim their vitality. This practice was extended until the middle ages, where the prejudices of the Christian church turned this ritual practice from the life to the dead, and so the vampires appeared. As one of the most frequent phenomenon of the world history, the vampires had left their “fingerprint” on history since antiquity. From the Egyptian culture, from the Greek culture (the first wife of Zeus, Lilith, was considered to be a vampire), and from the Jewish culture until the far East to the Japanese (where are the vampire animals), the vampires have fascinated and intrigued the human society.

http://www.produsin.ro

Legend about King Popiel

Popiel, (9 cent.). is the first legendary prince of Poland ruling from Gniezno. Single mentioning about him comes from the Chronicles by Gall Anonymous from beg. of 12 cent. (book I, chapter 1-3). The information is a part of Piast story, the protoplast of Piast dynasty reigning in Poland, therefore it is funded on the Polish Court tradition.

The story contains two episodes. The first is related to the cutting of the hair (initiation) of two Popiel's sons ceremony simultaneously with cutting of the hair of Siemowit, son of Piast, poor footman of Popiel; Popiel plays a negative role in that episode since he drove away two strange guests from the feat, what turned to the Piast's advantage for the strangers invited by Piast for a modest treat miraculously increased quantities of food and bear, so that even Popiel with his court and guests invited to share the  meal, satiated themselves.

The second episode announces elevating Siemowit to the throne at the Popiel's disadvantage.  Prince Popiel, ruler of the Polanie tribe in ancient Poland, was married to the ambitious Ryska, in whose hands he was like putty.  She wanted to place her German kinsman at the head of the Polanie, and the naive Popiel agreed to her wily plan, even at the expense of his Uncles' lives. Both Popiel and Ryska invited his uncles to a feast at which the guests were given Miod (honey wine). When the Polanie learned that their Prince and Ryska had committed murder, they vowed vengeance. Taking refuge in a high wooden fortress in Kruszwica, on the edge of lake Goplo, Popiel and Ryska thought they were safe in the impenetrable tower. Legend has it that God sent swarms of rats and mice to gnaw through the solid walls, fell upon the wicked Popiel and Ryska and devoured them.  The tower still exists and is known as the Mouse Tower.


Both episodes belong to classic medieval stories, common to many cultures. They can be reduced to two details: Popiel reigned in Gniezno and lost the crown to Siemowit and Siemowit established new dynasty ruling the tribe of Polanie, being a core of future kingdom of Poland.



Popiel became a character of literature ("Myszeis" I. Kracicki, "Krol Duch" J. Slowacki (rapsod I), dramat "Popiel i Piast" M. Romanowski and "Stara basn" J.I. Kraszewski).

King Popiel

Poem by Nobel Prize winner Czeslaw Milosz

Those were not, it is certain, crimes just like ours.
It was all about dugouts carved out of linden trunks
And some beavers' pelts. He ruled over marshes
Where the moose echoes in a moon of acid frosts
And lynxes walk in springtime onto the drying holms.

His palisade, his timber fort, and the tower
Built by the fins of the gods of night
Could be seen beyond the water by the hidden hunter
Who dared not push aside the branches with his bow.
Until one of them returned with the news. Over the deep into the rushes
The wind chased the largest boat, and it was empty.

Mice have eaten Popiel. The diamond-studded crown
He got later. And to him, who vanished forever,
Who kept in his treasury three Gothic coins
And bars of bronze, to him who went away,
No one knows where, with his children and women,
To him lands and seas were left by Galileo,
Newton and Einstein. So that, for long centuries
He might smooth, on his throne, his javelin with a knife.

Mice Tower In Kruszwica (remaints of a castle)

The Mouse Tower in Kruszwica, constructed in 1350, incorrectly associated with Popiel

The castle was a Kruszwica sub-prefect seat. In XIII cent. it was a property of the Calisia prince, Boleslaw, after that it it belonged to the Kujawy princes. Since 1319 it belonged to king Wladyslaw Lokietek. The Teutonic Order knights won the castle in the battle and burned it. King Kazimierz Wielki restored the castle and later he left it by his will to the Slupsk prince Kazko, but the king's will was voided and the castke with the town went to the king Ludwik Wegierski's estate. The castle was once more taken by the Swedes and burned on June 18, 1657. Since then it was just a ruin. Finally it was taken down almost entirelly at the end of XVIII cent. and the brick was sent by barges to Inowroclaw. The 100 feet octogonal tower some of the adjoining walls is all what remains today. The tower was hosting prisoners in the past. Its name comes from the legend on king Popiel who was eaten by mice.

Devil Boruta (Łęczyca)

Character and look.

Devil Boruta was presented in  many ways of characters. A popular version he is a tall noble with long, black mustache and dark eyes. People called him Black Boruta or Noble Boruta.

However, Boruta was seen in many places. For example as a big bird with large wings on the meadows or as a big fish with horns at the Bzura River. He was also met as an owl.  He robbed  nearby mills from flour. He gave it to the poor.

The symbol of devil’s presence was fire which suddenly burnt  and quickly went out.

Boruta lived in 14th century.  In 1360 when people were building the Royal Castle in Łęczyca, the king Kazimierz the Great went through Łęczyca and got stuck in his carriage in the mud. Boruta helped him. The King Kazimierz the Great gave him a castle.

Łęczyca; this wooden statue of Casimir greets visitors to the castle.

There are a lot of versions how Boruta became a devil. Probably in the 14th century in his castle the Prince of Mazowsze had to hide hoard. Since that time on  Boruta was seen in dungeons of the castle.

Boruta sometimes goes outside and he saves chest of gold. In the legends Boruta is clever and cunning. He has also superhuman powers. He usually outwid people by his devil’s trick but in a lot of legends he appears as good man who helps poor people.

Boruta as a drownman

Befind Witonia there is a pond in which drownman alives. People believe that this drownman was a ghost which swallowed drank people to the pond. He could be a mouse, a fish or a child. He is devious.

Boruta as a muddy

Boruta is famous in Łęczyca. Boruta was angry that church was being built next to his house. He was disturbing the workers and trying to distroy a church. After a few years, the God's house was built. One dark and wet night, dirty Boruta wanted to distroy one of the towers. He failed.  Since them the sign of his hand still is there.

Boruta as a noble

Until now, near the ruins of the Leczyca’s castle Boruta devil lives. People saw him many times when he was walking there. People think that now he is too old to leave his house too often. He stays in dungeons and quarts his gold. Many people tried to take his money away, but hardy no one managed to do it and survive. But anyone who dealt with Boruta was alived after it.

The noble lived next to the castle and wasn’t afraid of anything. He was good at fighting with a sword. Even neighbours started to call him Boruta and he liked it. One day that noble bet with the other people that he would rob Boruta’s money. It was midnight when he stopped in front of the entrance of the dungeons and he got scared. He was walking more confident with every step. He got to a chamber full of gold and diamonds. In the centre of the room a noble was sitting on a chair.

- Hello Master – Stanger started talking.- Who are you?
- Boruta, and you?
- I’m Boruta too but I don’t remember you as a member of my family.
 Now the noble discovered that another one was a devil.
 - Have you come for my money?- The devil asked.
- I won’t take all the money.
- You are so modest and brave. Take as much as you want and then we will have a drink.

The noble started to pack the money into his pockets and sacks.

- To your health - devil!- the noble started to toast. When he drank his alcohol, he got frightened. He started to run away with the gold. Ghosts and devil started to follow him. Luckily, the rooster started to craw and everything disappeared when the noble got out of the caves, he looked into the sacks. The money changed into the stones.

No one believed that he visited Boruta. People didn’t want to talk to him. It was said that he still called his brothers  Borutas. A year later,  he went  hunting and didn’t come back. Nobody knows what happened to him.

Boruta as a peasant

People say a story about this bad ghost. The priest from Łęczyca was praying when he was invited for a dinner. When he was walking through the meadows, he met peasant who was smiling  when he saw him and he said:
'Good evening! '
' But it is morning , not evening. ' – a suprised priest replied.
' It must be evening, beacuse it is becoming dark! '
Priest recognised who he is talking to. This is Boruta who took a treasure.

Boruta as an owl

Boruta is the name of a famous devil who lives under the Łęczyca's  castle. He is very old about  400 years old. He became rich and he has hidden himself since then.

Royal Castle in Łęczyca was built about 1350 by the king Casmir III the Great...

Later the castle served as a prison for the gentry, but for the whole period of its existence it has been officially recognized as the residence of Boruta Devil - a malicious prankster who has been accompanying the local community for generations... Łęczyca, Poland...

Nearby Łęczyca's castle the noble lived whose name nobody knew. He was very brave and he won ale the fights. He received the nickname - Boruta , because it was believed that the devil Boruta had to help him with the fights.

He was called  Grey Boruta, because he was wearing a grey cap. From that time on, nobody disturbed him, because people were afraid of him. People had Grey Boruta in high esteem. It made him feel proud of himself . Grey Boruta promised that if he found the devil Boruta, he would take his treasure away .

Grey Boruta often drank a lot of alcohol - he toasted at the devil Boruta. Grey Boruta had a lof of money, but he spent all of them quickly. So he decided to steal some treasures from the Devil Boruta's vault.

At midnight he lit a lamp and he went to the dungeons. He was going and walking around the dungeons and finally he found gold and wealth. He was very suprised, because he saw an owl - Grey Boruta knew that this owl was the image of the devil Boruta. Grey Boruta bowed down. Then he started to fill his pocket with all gold. He also packed it to his mouth and then when he was going out, the door closed and it hurt his foot . He was covered with his blood, he hardly reached his home. From that time, he had  lot of money, but he lost his health. One day neighbour killed him.

The house was empty and nobody wanted to live there, because the devil Boruta often sat on the willow and he was transfering the treasures to his castle.