Nothing conjures up images of a “bloodthirsty vampire” quite like the name Dracula. However, expert analysis suggests that Vlad the Impaler—the man who inspired this character—was actually a vegan.
Brutal, Yet Not a Carnivore
It’s a widely held belief that the fearsome 15th-century Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s fictional character Dracula. It is said that this ruler of Wallachia (who reigned from 1448 to 1477) was notoriously cruel to his enemies, famously impaling them on wooden stakes.
This brutal historical figure inspired Bram Stoker to create the infamous vampire prince in his novel “Dracula.” However, recent scholarly analysis of some handwritten letters reveals that Vlad the Impaler may not have been as bloodthirsty as the literary character he inspired, as he reportedly consumed only plant-based foods.
The letters penned by Vlad Dracula himself have allowed researchers to draw some rather astonishing conclusions about the life of this Romanian ruler. From these documents, scientists extracted a wealth of material for study, including biomolecules from blood, fingerprints, sweat, and saliva, which likely belonged to Vlad the Impaler. The signatures “Vlad Dracula” and “Prince of Transylvanian Lands” confirm that the letters were indeed written by him.
Vlad Dracula Didn’t Eat Meat, But Wept Blood
Experts extracted materials from the letters for analysis, which revealed an absence of animal proteins. As one of the study’s authors, Gleb Zilberstein, noted in the Daily Mail, they found only plant-based proteins. This is quite an unusual discovery, suggesting that the vampire prototype may have been a vegan.
Mr. Zilberstein suggests that the renowned Romanian prince’s decision to adopt a plant-based diet may have been more of a necessity than a personal choice. He explains this conclusion by noting that during the 15th century, Europe experienced a very cold climate with limited food availability. According to bioarchaeologists, aristocrats across Europe had a very meager diet and often went without meat.
The research team also discovered that the letters contained hints about another characteristic of the real Dracula. The fearsome ruler may have suffered from hemolacria. At least in the later years of his life, the real Dracula might have been afflicted with this pathological condition, which causes a person to cry tears mixed with blood.