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Vlad III Tepes (1431 – 1476), also known by the title of Vlad the Impaler; his birth name, Vlad Draculesti; and the patronymic name Dracula, was a Voivode of Wallachia who ruled the region intermittently from 1448 to 1476.

Biography[]

As a member of the Templars, Vlad Tepes played a significant role in the Order's fight against the Ottoman Empire. In 1476, the Ottoman Grand Vizier Ishak Pasha, who incidentally was also leader of the Ottoman Assassins, defeated Vlad when he tried to spark an uprising in Hungary.[1] Following his capture, Vlad died shortly after and his decapitated head was brought back to Constantinople as a trophy. His head and sword were later deposited in a specially-made prison just outside the Constantinian Walls.[2]

Legacy and influence[]

The Wallachian former Assassin Vali cel Tradat idolized Vlad and believed the Ottomans were responsible for his death because they had brokered a truce with the Assassins. This grievance eventually led to Vali betraying the Brotherhood to join the Byzantine Templars.[3] Years after Vali's defection, in 1511, the Italian Assassins' Mentor Ezio Auditore recovered Vlad's sword from the prison.[2]

Vlad was later the inspiration behind many vampire legends and stories surrounding him.[4] According to said tales, some people believed that Vlad was a vampire because of his pale white skin and the fact that he rarely went outside. This folklore, combined with his ruthless acts during his reign, was the beginning of the vampiric mythology attached to the Wallachian Voivode.[5] As if to give credence to the rumors of Vlad's supernatural nature, his tomb conspicuously contained a lone skull bearing long canine fangs.[2]

In 2012, the Templar company Abstergo Industries used his genetic memories to create the Animi Avatar known as "the Count" for the second stage of their recruits' Animi Training Program. Despite historically possessing a sword, his avatar in the program used a mace.[6]

Personality and traits[]

Known as brutally violent among his enemies, his actions quickly garnered the reputation of being a monster.[4] He was given the epithet of "The Impaler" as a result of the way he tortured his victims, wherein he would put lard or another lubricant on a large wooden spike and place it between their legs to eventually impale the subject. Afterwards, the spikes were arranged in a circular barricade around Vlad's fortresses as macabre displays and also to threaten any who opposed him.[5]

Behind the scenes[]

Vlad the Impaler is a historical individual and makes an appearance in Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Vlad is usually thought to be shortened from names beginning with the Slavic element volod, "to rule". Tepes is Romanian for "impaler".

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

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