Vlad Dracula, often referred to as Vlad the Impaler, was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia, known for his brutal methods of punishing enemies. His reign from 1448 to 1476 is marked by tales of cruelty, including impalement, which earned him a fearsome reputation. Vlad's life inspired the fictional character Count Dracula created by Bram Stoker in his 1897 novel. The association of Vlad with vampires stems from his notorious reputation and the folklore surrounding him. While he was not a vampire himself, his name and legacy contributed to the myth of the vampire in popular culture. Today, Vlad Dracula is often depicted as a historical figure intertwined with the supernatural.