all of Europe, most of them princes of larger, wealthier lands. Vlad was included largely because of his (and his father’s) success in ruling a tumultuous country. Their land was geographically pivotal, lying at the crossroads of Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, but also, as would soon prove crucial, in the path of the advancing Ottoman Turks.
“Though Imperial Rome did not esteem Vlad or his people very highly, nonetheless, they realized Wallachia was a critical outpost, both geographically and politically, and a decisive point of defense against the surging Turkish forces. If Wallachia were ever to fall, war would come to the rest of Europe, and all of the Holy Roman Empire would be in grave danger.”
Constantine pauses to switch back to Romanian, and I jot down hasty notes, well aware that nothing he’s said so far is new information. I probably could have given the same summary from the rest of my research, though not in such a chilling accent or rumbling voice.
After reading a Romanian passage, Constantine continues in English, “As part of his induction into the Order of the Dragon, and to bind himself irrevocably to the Empire, Vlad took a new bride from the Imperial royal family. Thus was born to him on December 13, 1431, a son, Vlad. The elder Vlad, in keeping with his membership in the Order, was known among his people as Vlad Dracul. His son, then, was referred to as Vlad Dracula, or Vlad, the Son of the Dragon.”
Some of this stuff I knew, but elements of it are new information. I’m jotting furiously, but I drop my pen as Constantine takes a deep breath, about to continue in Romanian.
“Wait. Vlad Dracul already had one son at that point. He took a new bride? I—I was aware from my research that he had a number of wives and mistresses over the course of his lifetime. It was common practice then, death rates and life expectancies being what they were, and heirs being so important. But I’d never heard who…”
“Her name is not recorded. She did not last long. None of them ever lasted long.”
“None of them?” I cringe. Sure, because of my research, I’m fully aware that females were poorly treated in medieval society. But still, the way Constantine dismisses these women as though they didn’t matter…as though they were disposable…not even worthy of being named…
“I tried to learn their names.” Constantine’s eyes hold something that looks like regret or apology—or maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see. “There has been scholarly speculation into the identities of Vlad Dracul’s wives, but the sad truth is, the women who lived long enough to bear him children, often died in childbirth. None of them ever lasted long.”
I flip open another notebook to a page where I’ve copied the family tree. “He had three sons born to him in his youth, in addition to those born in his later years. Mircea, born in 1428, named after Mircea the Great, Vlad’s father. Vlad Dracula, born 1431. And Radu the Handsome, born 1435.”
“They were born of three different mothers,” Constantine clarifies. “And his later children, different mothers still. So you see, though Vlad Dracula had many brothers, none of them were full brothers. But your research paper is about Vlad, not his father or brothers.”
“His family of origin is important. It helps us to understand who he was.”
Constantine frowns. He’s silent a moment, then offers in a still, almost foreboding tone, “We understand who Vlad Dracula was through his actions. His actions were shaped in part by the values of the cultures in which he was raised, as well as by his early life experiences, which were, as I’m sure you are well aware, quite trying. But do not confuse him with his brothers. Ever. Mircea, Vlad, and Radu were all very different people. Very different.” Constantine’s words snap with an energy like anger, which he seems to be struggling to restrain. “They carried their father’s name and blood. That
“Though Imperial Rome did not esteem Vlad or his people very highly, nonetheless, they realized Wallachia was a critical outpost, both geographically and politically, and a decisive point of defense against the surging Turkish forces. If Wallachia were ever to fall, war would come to the rest of Europe, and all of the Holy Roman Empire would be in grave danger.”
Constantine pauses to switch back to Romanian, and I jot down hasty notes, well aware that nothing he’s said so far is new information. I probably could have given the same summary from the rest of my research, though not in such a chilling accent or rumbling voice.
After reading a Romanian passage, Constantine continues in English, “As part of his induction into the Order of the Dragon, and to bind himself irrevocably to the Empire, Vlad took a new bride from the Imperial royal family. Thus was born to him on December 13, 1431, a son, Vlad. The elder Vlad, in keeping with his membership in the Order, was known among his people as Vlad Dracul. His son, then, was referred to as Vlad Dracula, or Vlad, the Son of the Dragon.”
Some of this stuff I knew, but elements of it are new information. I’m jotting furiously, but I drop my pen as Constantine takes a deep breath, about to continue in Romanian.
“Wait. Vlad Dracul already had one son at that point. He took a new bride? I—I was aware from my research that he had a number of wives and mistresses over the course of his lifetime. It was common practice then, death rates and life expectancies being what they were, and heirs being so important. But I’d never heard who…”
“Her name is not recorded. She did not last long. None of them ever lasted long.”
“None of them?” I cringe. Sure, because of my research, I’m fully aware that females were poorly treated in medieval society. But still, the way Constantine dismisses these women as though they didn’t matter…as though they were disposable…not even worthy of being named…
“I tried to learn their names.” Constantine’s eyes hold something that looks like regret or apology—or maybe I’m just seeing what I want to see. “There has been scholarly speculation into the identities of Vlad Dracul’s wives, but the sad truth is, the women who lived long enough to bear him children, often died in childbirth. None of them ever lasted long.”
I flip open another notebook to a page where I’ve copied the family tree. “He had three sons born to him in his youth, in addition to those born in his later years. Mircea, born in 1428, named after Mircea the Great, Vlad’s father. Vlad Dracula, born 1431. And Radu the Handsome, born 1435.”
“They were born of three different mothers,” Constantine clarifies. “And his later children, different mothers still. So you see, though Vlad Dracula had many brothers, none of them were full brothers. But your research paper is about Vlad, not his father or brothers.”
“His family of origin is important. It helps us to understand who he was.”
Constantine frowns. He’s silent a moment, then offers in a still, almost foreboding tone, “We understand who Vlad Dracula was through his actions. His actions were shaped in part by the values of the cultures in which he was raised, as well as by his early life experiences, which were, as I’m sure you are well aware, quite trying. But do not confuse him with his brothers. Ever. Mircea, Vlad, and Radu were all very different people. Very different.” Constantine’s words snap with an energy like anger, which he seems to be struggling to restrain. “They carried their father’s name and blood. That
Similar Books
