Do vampires truly exist?

In the heart of Wallachia, present-day Romania, a man named Vlad Dracula ruled with an iron fist during the 15th century. Known for his harsh security measures, Vlad ensured trade and culture flourished in his realm, earning him reverence from his people.

However, Vlad's life was far from smooth sailing. Captured by the Turks as a young boy, he endured years of torture. Later, he was overthrown from the throne due to treachery and slander by his brother Radu.

A turning point in Vlad's life came when he was captured by the Hungarian ruler Matthias Corvinus. Through a new marriage, Vlad was able to buy his freedom and briefly regain his rule. But his reign was short-lived, as he died on the battlefield in 1476.

Vlad's wife, in a tragic turn of events, threw herself from the castle tower to her death. The weakened Turkish army, upon reaching the capital, found hundreds of Turkish prisoners impaled in front of the city gates, a chilling reminder of Vlad's reign of terror.

Fear of the resurrection of the dead is reflected in burial rituals, and this fear is evident in the practices of the Strigoi, a type of undead in Southeast European folk belief. Strigoi are believed to rise from their graves to seek revenge on their fellow humans. To prevent this, some deceased were buried with vessels of grain or seeds. If other methods failed, driving a stake through their heart, decapitating them, or using silver bullets were considered means to ward off vampires.

The bat became the symbol of modern vampires due to Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula." Before this, hyenas, black cats, wolves, and bats have been considered models for vampire myths in various cultures. Holy water, crucifixes, and garlic were also believed to protect against vampires.

It's important to note that Vlad Dracula was not a vampire but was named after the Order of the Dragon. The scientifically proven vampire belief is mainly understood as a socio-anthropological phenomenon where someone is sought to blame for crop failures, diseases, etc.

The vampire myth spread from the Balkans to Central and Eastern Europe in the 18th century, causing a true vampire hysteria. However, the origins of the vampire myth can be traced back to ancient folklore, with bloodthirsty monsters possessing vampiric traits.

One intriguing theory suggests that the outbreak of vampire legends in the Balkan lands in the 18th century was triggered by a rabies epidemic proposed by neuroscientist Juan Gomez-Alonso. The exact location and time of his hypothesis are not specified in the available search results.

In conclusion, the myth of Vlad Dracula, the historical figure, and the modern vampire legend are two distinct entities. While Vlad Dracula was a real ruler of Wallachia, the vampire myth has evolved over centuries, influenced by various cultural beliefs and literary works.