Vlad the Impaler

About

Vlad III (1428–31 – 1476/77), commonly known as Vlad the Impaler (Romanian: Vlad Țepeș [ˈvlad ˈtsepeʃ]) or Vlad Dracula ( DRAK-yuu-lə, -⁠yə-; Romanian: Vlad Drăculea [ˈdrəkule̯a]), was Voivode of Wallachia during three separate reigns (1448, 1456–1462, and 1476). He was born in the House of Drăculești, as the son of Vlad II Dracul. Vlad is chiefly remembered for his efforts to strengthen central authority, suppress the power of rival boyars, and resist the expansion of the Ottoman Empire. His 1462 campaign against Sultan Mehmed II, including the Night Attack at Târgoviște, became one of the most notable military episodes of his reign. He was killed in battle in 1476 or 1477 during his final attempt to retain the Wallachian throne.
He was the second son of Vlad Dracul, who became the ruler of Wallachia in 1436. Vlad and his younger brother, Radu, were held as hostages in the Ottoman Empire in 1442 to secure their father’s loyalty. Vlad’s eldest brother Mircea and their father were murdered after John Hunyadi, regent-governor of Hungary, invaded Wallachia in 1447. Hunyadi installed Vlad’s second cousin, Vladislav II, as the new voivode. Hunyadi launched a military campaign against the…