Episode Details

This episode explores the life of Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula, born in 1431 in Wallachia, present-day Romania. The narration covers his turbulent upbringing, including his captivity under the Ottoman Empire, his brutal reign marked by mass impalements and political terror, and his fierce military resistance against Ottoman expansion. The episode examines the complex political landscape of 15th-century Southeastern Europe and reflects on Vlad's legacy — viewed as both a national hero and ruthless tyrant — and his influence on Bram Stoker's iconic Dracula.