Dracula - Facts, Myth, Novel

For the dead travel fast
1
PEOPLE
Dracula is the Romanian expression for "the son of the dragon"
or “devil". Surrounding the fictional character there were many
important people, some are listed here. It is up to you to decide
how high their share of the global success of "Dracula" was.

Eleonore von Schwarzenberg
• 20. Juni 1682 - Schloss M!lník
• 5. Mai 1741 - Palais Schwarzenberg, Wien
THE VAMPIRE PRINCESS
In 2007, an Austrian documentary titled "The Vampire Princess" was
released. The movie was co-produced by several TV-stations and
organizations: ORF, ARTE, ZDF, Smithsonian Network, BMUKK and
Pro Omnia.
In this documentary, the Viennese media researcher Rainer Maria
Köppl represents the thesis that Bram Stoker got the inspiration for
his novel from the life of Princess Eleonore of Schwarzenberg.
The connection to Bram Stoker's novel is also the reason why this
interesting documentary is included in this e-book.
2

Fellow carriage travelers whisper a
phrase from the ballad "Leonore" into
the ear of "Dracula" protagonist Jonathan
Harker: "For the dead travel fast."
The movie is based on an archaeological
find in the former cemetery of Cesky
Krumlov: Three skeletons were found in
typical vampire burial.
In Christian tradition, as a rule, corpses
are buried facing East. The three skeletons
were buried facing from North to
South.
Stones are used to weigh down the
corpses. One of the skeletons' head was
separated and placed between the legs.
In this corpse's mouth was a stone. The
hands were tied with a rosary.
The funeral of the three dead was carried
out according to the rules of Magia
Posthuma. This is the classic ritual of
vampire burial. The Magia Posthuma
was written by Charles Ferdinand von
Schertz in 1706.
Prince Adam Franz Karl of Schwarzenberg
and his wife Eleonora of Schwarzenberg
lived during the first half of the 18th
century in Cesky Krumlov.
Eleonore of Schwarzenberg was born on
June 20, 1682. She suffered massive insomnia
and was therefore very tired during
the daytime. People speculate that
her behavior is associated with the "vampire
disease", which was discussed
among experts in these times.
The Countess lost her husband in a hunting
accident and lived alone and withdrawn
thereafter.
The princess was interested in the occult
and made a very mystical impression to
everyone around her. She ordered vast
amounts of spermaceti, crab eye and
ground unicorn, probably from a narwhal.
It was most likely her lifestyle that led
Gottfried August Bürger to writing the ballad
"Leonore". This ballad in turn was the
inspiration for Bram Stoker's novel.
3

Eleonora died on May 5, 1741 in Vienna. Immediately after the
death the personal physician of Emperor Charles VI undertook an
autopsy. At that time, this was a completely unusual approach, especially
for nobles.
The doctors who conducted the autopsy were paid handsomely.
This large sum might reflect the hazard involved, or - as suggested
in the documentary - the discretion and silence of the doctors was
bought.
In the context of a post-mortem examination, a kind of vampire execution
could have been carried out without making any waves: the
removal of the heart, which is equal to impalement.
The mortal remains of the Princess were transferred to Krumlov on
the day of her demise.
In the St. Vitus Church, Eleonore of Schwarzenberg was buried in a
dedicated and sealed tomb. According to the records, neither high
dignitaries nor family members attended the funeral, which
strangely took place at night.
The simple tombstone shows neither her surname nor the family
crest.
5

Gerard van Swieten
• 7. Mai 1700 - Leiden
• 18. Juni 1772 - Wien
GERARD VAN SWIETEN
Gerard van Swieten (later Baron von Swieten) was born 1700 in Leiden.
His connection to the fictional character of Bram Stoker began
in 1745, when he was appointed personal physician to Empress
Maria Theresia in Vienna.
He designed the Austrian health care system and introduced a medical
college education. He also was the founder of the Older Vienna
School of Medicine.
6

Abhandlung des Daseyns der
Gespenster, nebst einem Anhange
vom Vampyrismus.
German Version
These facts were of great importance for
the Austrian Empire and Empress Maria
Theresa. For Bram Stoker, the decisive instance
was that he took an important part
in the fight against popular superstition.
Van Swieten was concerned specifically
with the case of vampires. They were the
topic of many reports from southern European
villages from 1720 on.
In the year 1755, Gerard van Swieten was
sent to Moravia to explore the vampire rumors.
For him it was pure barbarism of ignorance.
He had set himself the goal to explain
all cases and extinguish the rumors
once and forever.
The investigation and findings were reported
in the "Treatise of the existence of
ghosts."
According to Van Swieten, the conditions
of the exhumed bodies were not due to
vampires, but to natural causes.
Many medical professionals supported his
theories. The increased mortality in villages
was partially attributed to epidemics.
Encouraged by the report of her personal
physician, the Empress forbade all of the
common defenses against vampires. The
impaling, beheading or burning of "vampires"
was banned.
His fight against the vampire superstition
made Van Swieten the model for the vampire
hunter Van Helsing.
7

Hermann Vámbéry
• 19. März 1832 - Szentgyörgy
• 15. September 1913 - Budapest
HERMANN VÁMBÉRY
Hermann Vámbéry was born on March 19, 1832 in Szentgyörgy
near Pozsony and died on September 15, 1913 in Budapest. He
was a highly educated Hungarian Orientalist, Turkologist, traveler,
and supposedly also an agent in the service of the British crown.
In 1890, Bram Stoker met Herman Vámbéry. Following this meeting,
Vámbéry, who in the meantime spoke fluently Arabic, Turkish and
Persian, became an inspiration for the novel Dracula. The decisive
factor was the legend of the Romanian prince Vlad III. Dracula.
8

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu
• 28. August 1814 - Dublin
• 10. Februar 1873 - Dublin
JOSEPH THOMAS SHERIDAN LE FANU
The Irish writer is regarded as one of the most famous authors of
classic horror stories. Le Fanu studied law, but decided to pursue
journalism after finishing his studies. In the year 1838 he published
his first short story "The Ghost and the Bonesetter" in the Dublin University
Magazine.
His numerous works oftentimes focused on spirits, ghosts and
other scary things. His most famous story is probably "Carmilla",
which was published in 1872. It is very well possible that this publication
represented an inspiration for Bram Stoker as well.
9

The novel takes place in a castle in Styria.
Carmilla is a female vampire who is attracted
to other female creatures.
The text appeared initially in three episodes
in the magazine "The Dark Blue", which were
illustrated by M. Fitzgerald and D.H. Friston.
Later, Le Fanu published the story as the anthology
"In a Glass Darkly".
The documents of Bram Stoker show that he
initially settled his novel in Styria, Austria. Furthermore
it is interesting that his first draft
also included a female vampire.
CARMILLA
SHERIDAN LE FANU
GERMAN VERSION
10

John William Polidori
• 7. September 1795 - London
• 24. August 1821 - London
JOHN WILLIAM POLIDORI
John Polidori studied at the University of Edinburgh. He was only 19
years old when he received his doctorate. From 1816 on he was the
physician and traveling companion of the poet Lord Byron.
In the long evenings in Lord Byron's villa on Lake Geneva, a favorite
pastime was to spend the evenings telling gruesome stories and
tales. In this environment, Mary Shelley began to write her novel
Frankenstein, which was published in 1818.
11

Polidori expanded a draft of Lord Byron into his story "The Vampyre".
With this novel, the first vampire story in world literature was
created. The main character of the novel is Lord Ruthven, who embodies
a modern vampire.
The story was published on April 1, 1819 without Polidori's permission.
Due to an error, Lord Byron appeared as the author. This confusion
was intended by both Byron and Polidori. Both refused to
accept a fee for the novel.
The fact that Lord Byron was named as the author made the story
very successful.
Polidori's figure of an elegant vampire was groundbreaking for practically
all of the following novels of this type.
THE VAMPYRE
JOHN WILLIAM POLIDORI
DER_VAMPYR
Polidori transformed the wild beast that
caused his mischief among the people into an
educated member of the aristocracy.
12

Abraham „Bram“ Stoker
• 8. November 1847 - Marino Crescent (Dublin)
• 20. April 1912 - London
BRAM STOKER
He was born as the third of seven children. Up to the age of seven
he could neither stand nor walk alone due to a mysterious illness.
The first years of his life is also reflected in his literary work. The eternal
sleep and the resurrection of the deceased are the core theme
of the bloodthirsty Count.
With the novel Dracula, the Irish writer became world famous. However,
the author has never seen the country in which the most successful
vampire story of all times takes place.
13

Bram Stoker published his novel in 1897. Two
years after the death of Stoker, an introductory
chapter was published as a short story entitled
"Dracula's Guest". This part takes place in Styria
and is about female vampires.
Reading "Dracula's Guest" clearly shows that
Bram Stoker was very impressed by Le Fanu's
story. The fact that Count Dracula was finally
settled in Transylvania dates back to a conversation
with Hermann Vámbéry. The opinions on
whether or not Bran Stoker created his vampire
after the ruler Vlad Tepes differ.
The novel Dracula launched a flood of horror
stories. The classic content of this kind of stories,
such as crumbling castles, dark fortresses,
ghosts, and ancestral curses, have survived
to this day.
DRACULA
BRAM STOKER
WIKISOURCE.ORG
DRACULA’S GUEST
BRAM STOKER
GUTENBERG.ORG
14

Bela Lugosi
• 20. Oktober 1882 - Lugos
• 16. August"1956 - Los Angeles
BELA LUGOSI
Bela Lugosi was the first performer of Count Dracula in the eponymous
novel adaptation of 1931. His real name was Béla Ferenc
Dezso Blaskó. In the early days of his career as an actor he also performed
under the name Arisztid Olt. The name Lugosi was chosen
in tribute to his hometown. In Hungary, where Lugosi became one
of the most famous actors, he was politically active. This led to him
having to flee to Vienna. In the year 1919, he emigrated to Germany
and lived until his immigration to the United States in 1921 in Berlin.
From 1927 on, Lugosi was the successful hero of the Broadway
play Dracula. This play was written by Hamilton Deanes based on
the novel by Bram Stoker.
15

Lugosi added an erotic touch to his role and
therefore conquered his audience. In the year
1930 the director Tod Browning decided to
film the novel Dracula. After much back and
forth, Browning finally offered Lugosi the title
role. The fee was only $ 500 a week and
there was no profit share for the provided title
character.
Dracula was a huge success and Bela
Lugosi became a celebrated star overnight.
Horror films made Bela Lugosi world famous.
As the popularity of this type of films decreased
in the 1930s, his film career came to
an end.
Today, the great horror actor is a cult figure.
His fame is mainly due to his exceptional performance
as Count Dracula.
DRACULA - 1931
ORIGINAL FILM
ARCHIVE.ORG
16

Reality, Mystery & Fantasy
2
PLACES
The fictional character Count Dracula is still alive in readers'
minds. When traveling to Romania on the footsteps of Vlad
Tepes, reality merges with mysticism and fantasy.

Hotel Castel Dracula
• 427363 Piatra Fântânele
• DN 17 Bistrita-Nasaud
rezervari@casteldracula.ro
www.hotelcasteldracula.ro
HOTEL CASTEL DRACULA
If this hotel had been there a few hundred years ago, Bram
Stoker's fictional character Jonathan Harker might have stayed
here. Hotel Castel Dracula is located about 40 km after Bistrita, at
1.116m above sea level. It was built in the years 1976 to 1983. In
the year 1980, 21 members of the London "Dracula Society" included
a document with their signatures in the hotel's building
shell.
Right outside the hotel doors, next to two birch trees, there is the
statue of author Bram Stoker. The birch trees are named Adam
and Eve. Another eerie element is the small cemetery in the hotel's
frontcourt.
18

Bram Stoker never visited the country in
which his novel takes place. He placed the
castle of the vampire, Count Dracula, in the
north of Transylvania. Bistrita and the Borgo
Pass found their way into his narrative. In reality,
however, this area had nothing to do with
Vlad III.
But since this is about vampires, a visit to Romania
on Dracula's footstep should definitely
include a visit to this hotel.
The crypt of the vampire is on display in the
hotel's basement. But be careful: It is well
known that vampires sleep when it is light
outside, but they are very active in the dark.
According to the novel, Jonathan Harker was
picked up by the Count's coach at the place
where the hotel is located. Bram Stoker
placed the castle of Count Dracula on the Izvorgul
Câlimanului (2,033 m), about 20 km
southeast of the Borgo Pass.
19

The hotel is very comfortably furnished. The
rooms and suites are stylishly adapted to suit
the subject.
Every year at Halloween, vampire fans meet
at the hotel, which also contributes to the
creepiness of the place.
At the front desk, which is located on the first
floor, "original documents" of Count Dracula
are offered for sale.
20

MONASTERY COZIA
This monastery was built by Mircea the Old (also Mircea the Great).
Mircea cel Bătrân lived from 1355 until 1418. He was one of the
most important rulers of Wallachia. It was under his leadership that
Wallachia reached its greatest extent.
After his death, the army commander was buried in the monastery.
The voivode was the illegitimate father of Vlad Dracul II, who later became
the father of Vlad III. Dracula.
21

SIGHISOARA
Schäßburg, or Sighişoara, was founded in the second half of the
12th century by the Transylvanian Saxons.
Vlad III. was born in 1431 as the second son of Vlad Dracul II, and
the Moldavian princess Cneajna.
In the year of his birth, his father became a knight of the Order of
Dragons of the Emperor Sigismund in Nuremberg. Only five years
later, Vlad III was also accepted into this Order.
One of the main reasons to come to Sighisoara was that this was
the place where Vlad II Dracul had the right to mint coins.
22

In 1436, Vlad II overthrew his younger halfbrother
Alexandru Aldea. A year later he
formed an alliance with the Turks and together
with Sultan Murad II he conquered
Transylvania.
In the year 1442, he allowed the 20,000 men
of the Turkish army to cross Wallachia on
their way to Transylvania. In Sibiu, the attackers
were pushed back by the Hungarians.
Vlad Dracul wanted to leave the throne to his
son Mircea II for some time. However, Basarab
II immediately recognized this opportunity
to disempower him again. The Turks
helped Vlad Dracul to regain power.
Vlad Dracul II tried alternately to win the favor
of the Hungarians and the Turks. Therefore,
the Sultan demanded his two sons, Vlad III
Dracula and Radu cel Frumos to be sent to
the Ottoman Empire as a "bargaining chip".
The character of the young Vlad III developed
in captivity. His dislike of his half-brother
Radu and later Sultan Mehmed II grew constantly.
23

TARGOVISTE
Targoviste is the county capital of the district Dâmboviţa. Vlad III
Dracula was crowned in the former capital of Wallachia in the year
1456. This was already the second time that Vlad III ruled Wallachia.
In 1447 he was briefly in power, but had to flee to his uncle Bogdan
II in the Principality of Moldavia in the same year.
Overall, Vlad Tepes was in power three times: 1447, 1456 until 1462
and finally 1476.
24

As a ruler, he often stayed at the court of his
capital. Under his reign, the construction of
the Chindia Tower was begun. There is also
evidence that he was staying in Bucharest
now and then.
There are countless legends about Vlad Tepes.
Depending on who is telling the story, he
was either a national hero or a bloodthirsty
despot. Long after his death many pamphlets
were published reporting his deeds.
The city of Targoviste is also the place where,
on December 25, 1989, dictator Nicolae
Ceausescu and his wife Elena were executed
after a military tribunal sentence.
25

BRAN CASTLE
Bran Castle is located in the village of Bran. The fortress was built in
1377 by residents of the nearby town of Brasov.
While there is one source in which is documented that Vlad II spent
one night in this castle, sound evidence is missing. Today, the castle
is a tourist attraction and - as already mentioned - the spirit of the
prince is where we imagine him to be.
26

CASTLE POIENARI
Prince Rudolph Bessaraba the Black, the legendary founder of
Wallachia, is considered to be the builder of Castle Poienari. After
the castle had been of great importance in the 14th century,
it subsequently deteriorated and was finally abandoned. Vlad III
was aware of the strategic importance of the location.
The reconstruction and expansion of the castle was carried out
by forced laborers. For Vlad III the stronghold became his main
fortress.
27

SNAGOV MONASTERY
The Snagov Monastery is located on a lake, about 40 km north of
Bucharest. Previously you could only visit the place by boat, now
there is a bridge.
Vlad Tepes may be buried here. In fact, the remains of the ruler were
never found.
28

How Vlad Tepes actually died is not documented.
Some say he may have fallen in battle
and other sources speak of an assassination.
It is proven, that his head - preserved in honey
- was presented to Sultan Mehmed II. The
head was publicly displayed.
When the grave was opened about 450 years
after his death, it was empty. This fact gave reason
to the speculation that he was "undead", a
vampire.
29

BUCHAREST
Bucharest was first mentioned in documents dating back to
September 20, 1459, which were signed by the voivode !
Vlad III Dracula.
In the years from 1458 to 1459, Vlad III built a stone fortress at
this point. The building was used as a residence during his
stays in Bucharest.
30

The foundation walls, which were built under
Vlad III, still form the central core of the fortress.
Later the building continued to be rebuilt
or expanded. The walls of the vault to
the east, west and north still correspond to
Vlad's plan today.
The Old Court (Curtea Veche) is located in
the historic center of Bucharest and should
not be missing in any sightseeing.
31

VLAD TEPES CASTLE
On the occasion of the National Exhibition of 1905, a water tower
was built in Carol Park. Visually, the building resembles Vlad Tepes'
Castle Poenari.
Besides the impression left by the tower, there is no historical reference
to the ruler.
32

COMANA MONASTERY
Comana was first mentioned in a document in the year 1461. A certificate
signed by Vlad Tepes lays down the boundaries of the monastery.
According to legend, Vlad Tepes was murdered by order of his opponent
Basarab Laiota in December 1476. This act occurred in the vicinity
of the monastery. His head was transported to the Ottoman rulers
to Istanbul as proof of his death. The body was probably buried at Comana.
Today, the local people still believe in the legend that Prince
Dracula was murdered near the "Walnut source".
33

HUNEDOARA CASTLE
Johann Hunyadi rebuilt the old fortification to the ancestral castle of
the Hunyadi at this location in 1440. From 1458 on, the building
was extended by King Corvinus and further alterations followed in
the 17th century.
When Vlad III returned from a crusade against the Turks in 1462, he
had to flee to Transylvania, where King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
granted him protection for the time being. As he was accused
of being a traitor, Vlad III was imprisoned in Castle Corvin. However
he spent the majority of his detention in castle Visegrád, located
north of Budapest.
34

THE DRACULA BRAND
There are still many places and companies that have recognized
Dracula as business. The vampire is everywhere you can imagine.
Dracula is known either as an elegant Count, or as a bat that is at
home in the dark.
On the next page, I have listed some companies that have a direct
or indirect reference to Dracula.
35

Hunter Prince Castle & Dracula Hotel
4/6 Sterca Sulutiu Street
Turda 421012
Corona de Aur (Die Goldene Krone)
Pia"a Petru Rare! 4
Bistri"a 420036
House of Dracula
Strada Poiana lui Stechil 22
Bra!ov 500001
Pension Dracula
Transf"g"r"!an
C"p"#îneni-Ungureni 114095
36

Vampires in the 21st century
3
SUPERSTITION
Vampires, werewolves and zombies have a fixed place in the
faith of many people. Especially in southeastern Europe this
belief has a long-standing tradition. It is thus not surprising
that many front doors are draped with garlic.

STRIGOI
The vampires in Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia are called
Strigoi. The belief in these creatures is not limited to Eastern Europe.
In parts of Africa there is the "Asanbosam", in the Arab world the
"Ghoul", Assyrians speak of "Ekimmus", Australians "Yara-Ma-Yha-
Who", Brazilians of "Jaracacas" and the Chinese of "Chiang Shi ".
But Strigoi is not just the name of a vampire. It also refers to a state
of mind, which is unconsciously present.
38

There are two days on which Strigois are particularly active: in the
night before the holiday of St. Andreas (November 30) and on St.
George's Day (April 23). In Romania, St. Andrew is called the Lord
of the Wolves.
Strigois leave their abode at midnight on these days and walk to a
road junction. There they meet up with other Strigois and fight until
sunrise.
In 2004, ARTE.TV and the German magazine "Der Spiegel" reported
a sinister vampire case that accidentally was discovered.
When Gheorghe Marinescu's brother in law Toma passed away, the
family was certain that the deceased was a vampire. Since the revenant
feeds on blood, Gheorghe was starting to get weaker and
weaker. The only solution to the problem was to dig up Toma's
corpse, tear out his heart and burn it. The ashes then were mixed
with water to create a drink, which was given to the affected "victims",
the son, his daughter and his granddaughter.
In Gheorghe's eyes, this process was very successful, because his
son felt much better after only a few days.
This recorded incident occurred in the small village Marotinu de Sus,
about 160 kilometers south-west of Bucharest. The full reports (all in
german) can be found here:
VAMPIRE IN RUMÄNIEN?
CHRISTIANE KIRSCH
GRAB-ANALYSEN
ANGELIKA FRANZ
ARTE.TV
SPIEGEL.DE
39

RECOGNIZING A VAMPIRE
HORSE'S TEST
A horse is led by a young man on the grave of a recently deceased alleged
undead. If the horse does not cross the tomb or if it shies, then
this is absolute proof that a Moroi was buried.
Unlike a Strigoi, who is still alive, the Moroi has already died and returns.
PHOBIAS
If one or more of the following phobias are true, one should be very vigilant.
ALLIUMPHOBIA
• Fear of garlic
CATOPTROPHOBIA OR EISOPTROPHOBIA
• Fear of mirrors
HELIOPHOBIA
• Fear of the sun
POTAMOPHOBIA
• Fear of rivers / flowing waters
SOCIAL PHOBIA
• Fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations
STAUROPHOBIA
• Fear of crosses and crucifixes
XYLOPHOBIA
• Fear of wood / forests
40

SINCA VECHE
This unique monastery was carved directly into the rock. It is also
known by the name of "Temple of the Chosen". The monastery is
located about 45 km from Brasov. The beginnings of this holy place
date 7,000 years back.
High mystical powers are attributed to this place. One even speaks
of it being a portal into a different world.
41

THE WITCHES' POND
In the vicinity of Bucharest is the small village of Boldesti. The enchanted
Witches' Pond lies in Boldu-Creteasca Forest. As the story
goes, witches gather here in the nights around St. Andrew and St.
George. Rumors say that a door into another world opens. The
pond has a depth of about 1 to 1.5 meters and this depth never
changes. According to stories, this is also the place where Vlad III
was beheaded. There are repeated reports of eerie apparitions and
strange phenomena around the pond. Even animals refuse to drink
water from the Witches' Pond.
42

THE CURSED VILLAGE POENI
The small Village Poeni in the Poiana Rusca Mountains has been associated
with an eerie curse for more than one hundred years:
Wolves come to the village to haunt and attack people. The elders
of the village are convinced that it is undead in wolf form, which
drive their mischief in the village. People who have escaped the attacks
are telling horrible stories about a large black animal with ruffled
fur, which seems to be floating above the ground.
43

BUCEGI
Loosely translated Bucegi means the "Beech Mountains". The massif
is part of the Southern Carpathians, and is located near Brasov.
There is also the mighty Sphinx. Residents tell stories of strange
lights over the peaks and rainbows that last for weeks.
It is here where you can also find the Valley of Treasures and the
source from which gushes the clearest water in the world, containing
no bacteria whatsoever.
The mountains are separated by hundreds of kilometers of caves, of
which only around 20 km are explored.
44

HOIA BACIU FOREST
The forest near the city of Cluj-Napoca, which spans about 620
acres, is also called the "Bermuda Triangle of Romania". Visitors get
a very eerie feeling in the world's most ghostly forest. The reason
may be that the forest is said to be haunted by the troubled souls of
murdered farmers.
UFOs, lights in the sky, poltergeists, and interferences with electronic
equipment are the phenomena that occur at this mysterious
place. When Nicolas Cage made a film in Sibiu in 2012, he wanted
to visit the forest.
45

SKY AT BOZIORU
The sky above Boziouru could be described as bluer than blue.
About 30 km from Buzau and 170 km north of Bucharest you will be
able to see this indescribable color of the sky.
The so-called color temperature is measured in Kelvin. Normal daylight
is equivalent to 5,000 Kelvin; in Bozioru the color temperature
measures 16,000 Kelvin. The higher the color temperature, the
more blue is the image. Accordingly, the sky is "super blue" here.
This intense colour of the sky has led to many mystical tales about
this are. You should see it for yourself.
46

Bloodsuckers and vampires
4
DOCUMENTS
Many believe that bloodsuckers and vampires are just a product
of the imagination of writers. Below you will find a number
of documents that confirm that even public organizations have
been dealing with this topic.

1725
VISUM & REPERTUM
JOHANN ADAM SCHMIDT
DE.WIKISOURCE.ORG
VIENNESE DIARIUM
The Imperial Provisor at the Gradisker District in Hungary wrote this
gruesome report. A copy of the letter was published in the Viennese
Diarium of 21 July 1725.
Here, the bloodsuckers are referred to as "Vampyri".
The "Wiener Zeitung", as the Viennese Diarium was called at its
founding, first appeared on August 8, 1703. This makes it one of the
oldest daily newspapers in the world still in production.
48

1732
CURIEUSE RELATION
W.S.G.E.
WIKISOURCE.ORG
CURIEUSE RELATION
The year 1732 was the publication year of many titles about these
alleged bloodsuckers. This is one entitled (original title): “Curieuse
und sehr wunderbare Relation, von denen sich neuer Dingen in Servien
erzeigenden Blut-Saugern oder Vampyrs”.
49

1732
MENSCHENSAUGER
E.W.S.G.
WIKISOURCE.ORG
MENSCHENSAUGER
The title of this work (including subtitles) is: "Acten-mäßige und Umständliche
RELATION von denen VAMPIRen oder Menschen-
Saugern, Welche sich in diesem und vorigen Jahren, im Königreich
Servien herfürgethan. Nebst einen Raisonnement darüber und einen
Hand-Schreiben eines Officiers, des Printz-Alexandrischen
Regiments, aus Medvedia in Servien. An einen berühmten Doctorem
der Vniversität LEIPZIG."
50

1732
VISUM & REPERTUM
JOHANN ADAM SCHMIDT
BOOKS.GOOGLE.AT
VISUM & REPERTUM
On January 26, 1732 the Austrian General Physician Johann Flückinger
wrote a report about a vampire in Serbia. The name of the first
officially mentioned Vampire was Arnont Paole.
It is quite possible that both the word Vampire as well as their special
liking to suck blood was used by some authors of later novels.
51

1733
VAMPIR GEDANKEN
J.C. HARENBERG
COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG
VERNÜNFTIGE GEDANKEN
In 1733, Johann Christoph Meissner wrote a memoir entitled “Vernünftige
und Christliche Gedanken über die Vampirs Oder Bluhtssaugende
Todten”.
During this time, the belief in vampires became more and more prominent
and also the so-called vampire disease was diagnosed more
often.
52

1734
TRACTAT
MICHAEL RANFTS
DE.WIKISOURCE.ORG
TRACTAT
In 1734, M. Michael Ranfts published the "Treatise of the chewing
and smacking of the dead in graves." The title alone is already
creepy. Again, the terms "vampire" and "bloodsuckers" were used.
A "TRACTAT" (treaty) is a short written essay.
53

2010
VAMPIRES
WEREWOLVES - ZOMBIES
WWW.PETERPAUPER.COM
COMPENDIUM MONSTRUM
The theme of vampires, werewolves and zombies is discussed in
depth in this publication. It includes some foldout maps and a separate
section dealing with Transylvania.
Publisher of the book is Peter Rauper Press. It is published in English.
The authors are Dr. Max Sturm and Baron Ludwig Von Drang.
54

Tracks of Vlad Tepes
5
PAINTINGS
There are many stories about Vlad Tepes. Most discuss his
bloodthirsty excesses. I have deliberately omitted stories and
rumours in this e-book and strived to report the facts.

If you want to judge for yourself as to what
Vlad Tepes III actually looked like, you will
find most paintings of the prince in Austria.
A life-sized painting of the prince can be
found in the ancestral gallery of Castle Forchenstein
in the Austrian province Burgenland.
Further portraits are displayed in Vienna
and Innsbruck. There is a painting in Slovenia,
which depicts the ruler as Pontius Pilate.
Furthermore, there are some drawings and
not precisely definable paintings, which were
produced around the time of the invention of
the printing press. I have confined myself to
the most common representations, without
knowingly excluding anyone.
Above: Belvedere, Vienna
Bottom left: Castle Forchtenstein
Bottom right: Palace Ambras, Innsbruck
56

Palace Ambras, Innsbruck
Second half of the 16th century
German master
Oil on canvas, 60 x 50 cm.
It is one of the first objects collected in the
cabinet of art and curiosities of Archduke
Ferdinand II. The painting is the work of a German
master and was created about 100
years after the death of the prince. The probability
that it is an authentic representation is
supported by a description of Nicholas
Modrussa, the ambassador of the Pope at
the Hungarian court:
"He was not very tall, but stocky and muscular.
His appearance seemed cold and had
something frightening. He had an aquiline
nose, distended nostrils, a reddish, thin face,
with very long lashes shadowing his large,
wide-open, green eyes; black bushy eyebrows
gave them a threatening expression.
He wore a mustache. Squarrose temples let
his head look even bulkier. A bull neck joined
his head, covered with black curly hair, with
his broad-shouldered body. "
57

Castle Forchtenstein, Forchtenstein
Approximately 1622
unknown master
Oil on canvas, 218 x 130 cm.
The lord of Castle Forchtenstein, Palatine Nikolaus
Esterházy, set up a family gallery around
the 17th century. Even distant relatives, such
as Vlad Tepes III, were included.
The inscription on the top left reads: "Dracula
Waida Princeps et Waivoda Walachiae Trans
Alpinae hostis Turcarum infensissimus 1466"
(Dracula Prince of Walachia, most bitter enemy
of the Turks in 1466)
Taking a closer look at the painting, one can
see that the irises and pupils of both eyes
were scratched out. There are no notes available
as to who may have performed this corruption,
but it is quite possible that the superstitious
staff of the castle wanted to get rid of
the evil eye of the prince.
In Castle Forchtenstein there are also regular
tours about Dracula.
58

Church of Mary am Gestade, Vienna
Approximately 1460
Altar wing image - Crucifixion of Christ
Master of Mary am Gestade
Oil on wood, 202 x 161 cm.
The figure of Vlad Tepes measures about 110 cm.
The painting shows clear influences of the great
Dutch painters and was probably painted by an
Austrian master.
The time of creation of this altarpiece dates back
to the years 1460-1462. At this time the first incunabula
of the "wild Raver Dracole-Weyde" were
produced.
59

Austrian Galerie Belvedere, Vienna
Approximately 1470-1480
Altar wing image - Martyrdom of St. Andrew
unknown Styrian painter
Oil on spruce wood, 81.5 x 71.5 cm.
The oriental-style shape on the left behind the
executioner obviously represents Prince Vald
Tepes; the picture is originally from the Diocese
Lilienfeld in Lower Austria. In 1953 it
was handed over to the Austrian Gallery in Vienna.
The image is no longer part of the permanent
exhibition of the Austrian Gallery Belvedere.
60

Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Approximately 1575-1595
unknown artist
Oil on paper on wood laminated 13.5 x 10.5 cm.
The painting, which was made on behalf of
Archduke Ferdinand II for his portrait collection,
shows at the top right: AVEIDA DVX
WALA (Voivode and Prince of Wallachia).
The portrait was copied from a painting located
at Ambras Castle. It is part of a comprehensive
collection of about 1000 images of
famous people.
The image is on display on the panel 3 "Balkan
and Orient" in the coin cabinet of the Museum
of Art History in Vienna.
61

Slovenian National Gallery, Ljubljana
Approximately 1463
unknown artist
Tempera on wood 83.5 x 51.5 cm.
The painting is part of the altar painting and is
part of the collection of paintings from the
15th century.
62

6
HE IS STILL ALIVE
The topic Dracula is more alive than ever. Two current projects
are supposed to show that the legendary ruler is still going
strong. One project is a comic book and the second project is
a movie.

DRACULA: SON OF THE DRAGON
The artist Mark Sable and Salgood Sam tell the story of Vlad Tepes
in the form of an exciting comic. Historical data are mixed with legends,
rumors and fairy tales.
The work of both artists and authors describes the ruler in an exciting
story. If you want to learn more about the project, you should
visit the website of the artist at: www.salgoodsam.com
64

Today, the castle in which the ruler resided is
nothing more than a ruin. In the comic, the fortress
is drawn the way it may very well have
looked like ages ago.
The dark time of the reign of Vlad Tepes is being
depicted masterfully in this comic book.
The publication is in English.
65

DRACULA UNTOLD
The protagonist of this movie, which was created with an immense technical
effort, is played by Luke Evans. In contrast to conventional Dracula films, the
ruler of Transylvania is actually the hero of the movie. Release date was October
2, 2014. Official website: po.st/DraculaWebsite
66

Information
7
INFORMATION
Up to this point, this e-book was about vampires, bloodsuckers,
princes and rulers, fiction, superstition, and reality. At
the end you will find some useful details which will come handy
on your trip to Transylvania on the trails of Dracula.

TOURISM OFFICES
The list of Romanian tourism offices worldwide. If you are planning a
trip to Romania, please contact these offices.
You will receive valuable tips for your trip and maybe also learn
some secret tips.
69

AUSTRIA
Romanian Tourist Office
Opera Ring 1, R Staircase,
Floor 4, Door 404
1010 Vienna
Tel: +43 (1) 317-31-57
Fax: +43 (1) 317-31-574
E-mail: Rumaenien@aon.at
www.rumaenien-info.at
FRANCE
Office de Tourisme de Roumanie
7, Rue Gaillon
75002 Paris
Tel: +33 (1) 40-20-99-33
Fax: +33 (1) 40-20 99-43
E-mail: info@GuideRoumanie.com
www.GuideRoumanie.com
GERMANY
Romanian Tourist Office
Reinhardtstraße 47
10117 Berlin
Tel: +49 (30) 400-55-904
Fax: +49 (30) 400-55-906
E-mail: info@rumaenien-tourismus.de
www.rumaenien-tourismus.de
GREAT BRITAIN
Romanian Tourist Office
12 Harley Street
London
W1G 9PG
Tel: +44 (207) 224-36-92
E-mail: romaniatravel@btconnect.com
www.RomaniaTourism.com
ITALY
Turismo della Romania
Via Torino 95, Galleria Esedra
00184 Rome
Tel: +39 (6) 488-02-67
Fax: +39 (6) 4898-62-81
E-mail: office@romania.it
www.Romania.it
POLAND
Ośrodek informacji Turystycznej Rumunii
Krakowskie Przedmieście 47/51
00-071 Warszawa
Tel / fax: +48 (22) 826-40-10
E-mail: info.rumunia@wp.pl
RUSSIA
Romanian Tourist Office
Masfilmovskaya Street 35,
Office 313
119330, Moscow
Tel: +7 (499) 143-87-65
Fax: +7 (499) 143-86-72
E-mail: info@romaniatravel.ru
www.RomaniaTravel.ru
SPAIN
Romanian Tourist Office
Calle Alcántara 49-51
28006 Madrid
Tel: +34 (91) 401-42-68
Fax: +34 (91) 402-71-83
E-mail: oficina@RumaniaTour.com
marina@rumaniatour.com
www.RumaniaTour.com
USA
Romanian Tourist Office
355 Lexington Avenue, 8th Floor
New York
NY 10017
Tel / Fax: +1 (212) 545-8484
E-mail: Info@RomaniaTourism.com
www.RomaniaTourism.com
70

THE END
This book was produced with the kind help of the Romanian Tourism
Office in Vienna.
71

Rudolf J. Strutz
Author & Photographer
Writing a book about Dracula is a daunting challenge.
One of the reasons for this is definitely
that there are many diverse characters united in
the figure Dracula.
One of the people who are known by the name
"Dracula" is the historically documented figure of
the Prince of Wallachia. He ruled his country
with an iron fist. During these times, a change of
power was almost always carried out by murder.
One may assume that the way he led his
country was according to the rules of the time. It
was a time of great unrest and power struggles
between Christians and Ottomans. According to
the respective winners of the battles, Vlad Tepes
was either hero or enemy.
However, the name Dracula in the sense of a
bloodthirsty vampire is attributed to the fictional
character of Bram Stoker. The Irish writer, who
never visited Transylvania, created Count
Dracula, who lived in a fictitious castle near the
Borgo Pass and subsequently went to England
to feed on the blood of young and pretty ladies.
The third area is the superstition that surrounds
vampires and prevails throughout Eastern
Europe. Even Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
tried to end the superstition.
To this day, many people believe in vampires
and stick to the traditional narratives. This sometimes
goes as far as one case in February 2004,
where a wooden stake was rammed into the
chest of an "undead", lying in his grave. Afterwards
his heart was cut out. In the seclusion of
Transylvania you may even find yourself believing
in the existence of supernatural beings.
Dracula is everywhere and nowhere at the same
time. It is the combination of mysticism, good
and evil, and the temptation to believe these
tales of days long passed, that make people
hold on to the belief. Walking in the footsteps of
Dracula in Transylvania is highly recommended.
And if you do like eating garlic, it won't hurt.
72

Many organisations and institutions helped me to collect the
data for this e-book. Here is the list of sources for the historical
pictures and documents that were used in this e-book.
ROSENBACH MUSEUM & LIBRARY, PHILADEPHIA
DR. ELIZABETH MILLER
PETER PAUPER PRESS, NEW YORK
ESTERHÁZY PRIVATSTIFTUNG, EISENSTADT
BURG FORCHTENSTEIN, FORCHTENSTEIN
SCHLOSS AMBRAS, INNSBRUCK
SLOWENISCHE NATIONALGALERIE, LAIBACH
KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM, WIEN
UNIVERSAL DRACULA UNTOLD
DRACULA SOHN DES DRACHEN
73

COPYRIGHT
© Auvi - Rudolf J. Strutz - 2015
The book was licensed under the Creative Commons
License CC 3.0: attribution - non-commercial
- non-derivative - share alike.
All logos and company names have been used exclusively
for information purposes. A usage besides
this e-book has to be discussed with the owners.
This e-book is available free of charge.
74