Vlad the Impaler

Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad III or Vlad Dracula, was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia (modern-day Romania. He is famous for his fierce and brutal methods of punishing enemies, especially his use of impalement, where victims were forced onto sharp stakes. His reputation for cruelty was part of his efforts to defend his domain from enemies and internal uprisings. Vlad's legendary cruelty inspired Bram Stoker's fictional character Count Dracula, but historically, Vlad was a complex figure known for both ruthless tactics and efforts to strengthen his realm.