It has been almost one hundred and seventeen years since Bram Stoker published his groundbreaking novel entitled “Dracula” and only twenty-two years since the film “Bram Stoker's Dracula”, a film based on novel, was released to the world. The book and film were a success and influenced the creation of a genre that is still seen in pop culture today. While many were enthusiastic about the story, no one ever explored the source of this fantastic tale of bloodshed. To understand where his inspiration took flight, one would have to look back to five hundred and eighty-three years ago, when an infamous Romanian prince inflicted fear on the masses. Vlad III, also known as Vlad Tepes or Vlad the Impaler, was a ruthless warrior with an intense bloodlust and the type of person Stoker would draw from to create his masterpiece. To explore why Vlad would be such a likely candidate for Stoker, just take a peek into his blood-stained past and it would become quite clear. His legend began in Transylvania in the year 1431. The second son of Vlad II was born in Romania during the winter months in the fortress of Sighisoara (Fasulo). Vlad III together with his two brothers, Mircea and Radu, had a pleasant childhood considering they were children of nobility. When Vlad III was only five years old he joined an apprenticeship for knighthood where he learned the fighting skills and art of war that were crucial to becoming a knight in this era (Fasulo). His father was also part of an elite group known as the Order of the Dragon. He was so fascinated by the Order that he even took the dragon after him and became Vlad Dracul and Vlad III used the nickname "Dracula" which means "The son of Dracul" (Fasulo). The Order had...... middle of paper...which led to its main statues. One could only speculate as to why Val Dracula subjected so many people to so much pain and anguish, but it could be said with certainty that his actions left a permanent stain on history and sparked great interest in the worldwide vampire phenomenon . "Dracula's Lost Palace - History.com Video." History.com. Np, nd Web. April 22, 2014. Fasulo, Giovanni. Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York. Np, nd Web. April 22, 2014. Cabbage, Joshua. "Dracula lives!" Horrifica Encyclopedia: the terrifying truth! Information about vampires, ghosts, monsters and more. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2007. 2-9. Print."Was Dracula a real person? - Ask HISTORY - History questions and answers." History.com. NP, May 22, 2013. Web. April 22. 2014. .