Gaby
Nothing conjures up images of a “bloodthirsty vampire” quite like the name Dracula. But analysis of historical letters suggests Vlad the Impaler—the man who inspired that myth—may have been a vegan.
Brutal, Yet Not a Carnivore
It’s a widely held belief that the fearsome 15th-century Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s fictional character Dracula. The ruler of Wallachia (who reigned from 1448 to 1477) was notorious for impaling his enemies on wooden stakes.
Recent scholarly analysis of handwritten letters suggests he may have eaten only plant-based foods — an unexpected contrast with his fearsome reputation.
The letters penned by Vlad Dracula himself have allowed researchers to draw some rather astonishing conclusions about the life of this Romanian ruler. From these documents, researchers extracted biomolecules from blood, fingerprints, sweat, and saliva that likely came from Vlad the Impaler. The signatures “Vlad Dracula” and “Prince of Transylvanian Lands” confirm that the letters were indeed written by him.
Vlad Dracula Didn’t Eat Meat, But Wept Blood
Analysis of materials extracted from the letters revealed an absence of animal proteins. Gleb Zilberstein, one of the study’s authors, told the Daily Mail that the team found only plant-based proteins. This unusual finding suggests the historical figure who inspired the vampire may have followed a plant-based diet.
Zilberstein suggests Vlad’s plant-based diet may have been driven by necessity rather than choice. He notes that 15th-century Europe experienced a cold climate and limited food availability. Bioarchaeologists say aristocrats across Europe often had meager diets and sometimes went without meat.
The letters also hint that Vlad may have suffered from hemolacria, a condition that causes tears mixed with blood, at least in his later years.
