Vlad the Impaler vs. Count Dracula beyond chance. To begin to understand how Vlad the Impaler and Count Dracula are so similar, one must first understand that Count Dracula was based on the historical being Vlad the Impaler. It is possible to compare and contrast these two legends by simply picking up a book on the subject or even just visiting a website with information on both. Vlad the Impaler became the fearsome ruler who was used as a reference to create the book's character, Count Dracula. The date of birth of Vlad the Impaler is November or December 1431, in the Transylvanian city of Sighisoara. Vlad's siblings included an older brother, Mircea, and a younger brother, Radu the Beautiful. Vlad's father ruled Wallachia from 1436 to 1447 and became the fearsome ruler who would inspire his son to follow in his footsteps. But Vlad's father would only fight if he knew he would win. He would instantly change sides if the one he sided with started losing. Family meant nothing to Vlad's father; and he would end up abandoning his two sons without hesitation if it meant victory for the side he was on. Vlad was 12 or 13 years old when he was abandoned as a hostage by his own father. All the things that happened to him as a child would eventually contribute to the demented personality that Vlad the Impaler grew up to have. As he grew up, everything he knew became war. All Vlad's father knew became war because all he wanted to gain was power. There is no peace in his mind and fighting is the only way for Vlad's father to get what he wanted so much. Power.As an adult, Vlad the Impaler took his...... middle of paper...... are not yet ready to find out, or perhaps they will simply turn out to be people sensitive to sunlight. Although the hypothesis remains, Bram Stoker and every other vampire writer got their ideas from something. This something could have been a smaller version of what is believed to be a vampire. “Figure 2” Vlad the ImpalerWorks cited by Goldberg, Enid A. and Norman Itzkowitz. Vlad the Impaler: The real Count Dracula. NEW YORK: Franklin Watts, 2007. Print. “VLAD TEPES – The historical Dracula. » Don Linke -- Home. Np, and Web. March 13, 2014. “Vlad Tepes/Dracula Page 2.” Vlad Tepes/Dracula Page 2. Np, nd Web. March 11, 2014. “Vlad the Impaler (1431-1476). » Vlad the Impaler. Np, January 2003. Web. March 7, 2014. “Vlad the Impaler vs. Dracula.” Vlad the Impaler. Np, February 7, 2003. Web. March 7, 2014. Wilkinson, Kathryn, ed. Signs and symbols. New York: DK, sd Print.