Vampires are creatures that are a graphic illustration of the attraction of mankind to "eros and toatos" (directly according to Freud): sexually attractive creatures that bring pleasure and death. The desire for sexuality and death has always interested man and found a way out in the rites of secret meetings. So the creator of the first world-famous vampire, Bram Stoker, was a member of the secret organization of the Golden Dawn. Nothing special for that time: magic, secret knowledge, alchemy, philosophical stones and other near-scientific mysticism, including the study of vampires. In the XXI century interest in sexual bloodsucking also does not disappear. Proof is an endless stream of tourists to the castle of Dracula.
A bloodsucker is a vampire or a victim of universal error?
Where is the castle of Count Dracula, even the youngest children know. Of course, in Transylvania. In theory, it is in this area of Romania that we should look for meetings with legendary vampires.
The castle of Count Dracula in Romania is called Bran. By the way, Dracula is not a name invented by Bram, but a historical nickname by Vlad Tepes, who is considered the prototype of the protagonist (from Bram himself). Only to vampirism this nickname has nothing to do with it. In the translation, the word "dracula" means "son of the dragon". Vlad's father was in the elite Order of the Dragon, wore the order's badge with the image of a mythical creature, printed coins with his image and even depicted a dragon on the walls of churches. It was for his special love for the dragon family that Vlad's father received the nickname "Dragon". Since at that historical time no one bore names, belonging to the genus was indicated by the mention of the father's name or the name of the homeland: Don Quixote from La Mancha, d'Artagnan (from the estate of Artagnan), Vlad Dracula-Vlad, son of the Dragon.
Although in the literal sense of the word Vlad was not a vampire, but, according to some historical data, his craving for bloodletting could even hit Dracula. His second nickname - Tsepesh, - the prince received for a special love for execution through the landing on the stake. According to numerous legends, the house of Tepes was surrounded by a palisade, on which every day the new unhappy writhed.
Historians consider it necessary to question the scale of these stories. The only historical document of 1463, to which the later documents refer, was most likely a falsification. First, too many stories about the bloodthirsty Tsepesh were beneficial. The King of Hungary was interested in the news, which would attract the attention of the members of the papal throne and for a long time distract them from other concerns (Hungary was given a considerable sum for the organization of the Crusades, the sum was safely wasted past the main goal and the king was afraid of the Pope's just anger). Turkey two years before the appearance of an anonymous dispatch Vlad refused to pay tribute. With the boyars, he led a constant struggle for the centralization of power. In general, during his reign, Vlad proved to be a real reformer, which always provokes a storm of indignation: he armed the peasants against the Turkish invaders, very cruelly dealt with any criminals, even small thieves. They say that during the reign of Tepes, you could safely put money on the road, and a week later find them in the same place.
Secondly, the doubtfulness of the information is also in the fact that Vlad's earlier documents on cruelty were not found. All historical records of his bloodlust in his sources were based on that single anonymous denunciation, replicated in 63 in Germany.
Castle killer or defensive fortress?
An excursion to the Castle of Count Dracula threatens for tourists another disappointment. Tourists will not spare the aspirations of tourists to join the mystical, and they will tell you that the castle does not have anything to do with Vlad Dracula Tzepes. The prince here never lived. They say that, it seems, once stopped here. Or it was here in the dungeon held by the Turks. In general, assumptions vary, and the facts persistently remain silent. Nevertheless, the flow of tourists is not weakening.
Whatever facts you learn, the atmosphere of the chambers of the Dracula Castle in Romania will always be associated with vampires. Neither the castle's belonging to respectable Hungarian saeries, nor even to the queen of Romania (no one will consider it a vampire, right?) Will not be able to shake the interest of tourists. It seems that the Romanian Bran Castle in Transylvania has forever become Dracula's Castle. However, the atmosphere of the rooms contributes to this: a dark furniture tree, twisted elegant legs which can not help relieve the sensation of Gothic solemnity; lack of decor on almost white walls; dark wood floors and skins of wild animals. Especially impressive rooms look in the evening. "I'm not looking for fun and entertainment, I'm not attracted to the brightly sunlit lawn, where young people like to party. I am no longer young, and my heart, after long years of sadness, disappointments and memories of the dead, can not rejoice. I like silence, darkness and calmness, I need to sometimes remain alone with my thoughts "(Dracula, Bram Stoker).
Nevertheless, all these associations will be exclusively fantasies: Prince Dracula really never lived in Bran. The castle was built by local residents and originally served as a strategic defense fortress.
Why did Bran become known as the Castle of Dracula?
In his book, Bram Stoker, through the lips of Professor Van Helsing, points to the famous commander Vlad III Tepes of Transylvania. Naturally, special lovers of mysticism immediately found it necessary to visit Transylvania. According to legend, several tourists who visited Bran "in the footsteps of the novel" saw the castle and exclaimed: "Yes this is the same castle Dracula from the novel!". No historical facts have helped to convince tourists of the opposite. Since then, Bran Castle has become known exclusively as the Castle of Dracula. Transylvania in Romania has been associated with the rather bloody rule of Vlad Tepes, and after the publication of the novel, Bram Stoker became known as the dwelling place of the vampire Dracula.