Vlad III the Impaler: Prince of Wallachia 1431-1476

[Friday The 13th]

Vlad has always been a favorite historical figure of mine. I got in trouble with more than one teacher from junior high through college for writing papers/giving speeches on the topic. (Apparently teachers didn't like hearing about impalements and gore even pre-Columbine.)

One of my all-time fave books is The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova which combined the history of Vlad with the folklore of Dracula in a quest to discover Vlad's grave and a missing woman.

I like Vlad as well...
I mean he knew how to impale some bitches!