Hans Edelmaier

This is the author's M.A. thesis about Vlad Tepes augmented by copious illustrations and photographs from Vlad Tepes' life and the locations he visited. The author firmly situates Vlad in the greater power struggle between Hungarians and the Ottoman Turks. While Vlad's family continued to have a strong hold on ruling Wallachia, the individual family members managed to stay in power for only short periods of time. Vlad, too, tried to stay in power three times. The first short episode, he was placed in charge by the Turks, the second and third time, he was promoted by the Hungarians. He could hold on only for a short time as he had to contend both with his bigger and smaller neighbors as well as the powerful local Boyars unwilling to tolerate a strong ruler. Vlad's response was a very Machiavellian rule by conspicuous brutality.

Like Richard III blackened by Shakespeare, Vlad's reputation has both suffered by Bram Stoker's efforts and made his name a household name. The author, like many of Richard III's defenders, tries to much to redeem the reputation of Vlad Tepes. While it is true that medieval accounts exaggerate the numbers of casualties and atrocities, the very fragile position pushed Vlad to use shocking terror to keep his opponents in check. The bad press was certainly excessive but not unmerited. The author's fine demonstration about Vlad's use of less cruel methods of staking were of little comfort to his victims who were nevertheless killed. The chapter discussing and illustrating different staking techniques is not for the squeamish and far more drastic than the usual vampire story presentations that are offered in most Dracula biographies. Recommended especially for the support material.… (mer)