Dracula, all villain, or some hero?

Vlad Tepes the infamous dragon impaler is arguably the most popular villain in history, but do you believe it is all villainy?. Looking at some texts reveals a potentially very different perspective. A story of a man who's small countdom was threatened, subjugated and expected to give up their young children for a life of harsh military service to an unsympathetic emperor.

He decided to fight back, but you can't fight the great Turkish bear when you are but a Romanian wolverine, not fairly anyway.
So you fight them with fear instead. You make them think you are so damn scary that they'll end up losing more by fighting you than they gain. You get the common soldier to shiver at the thought of ever meeting you, when they hear stories around the campfire. You get them to think that you really are some horrifying blood drinking demon waiting to get them all if they get too close. You do it so well that even hundreds of years later, people will know the tale.

Definitely not all hero, but i'd say doing everything you can to defend your homeland deserves some respect. Especially when you end up imprisoned and eventually dying in battle for it.
What do you think?:)

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Axelerator · 31-35, M

@antonijamar Exactly. It’s an interesting concept though. Harnessing fear as a psychological weapon in order to protect one’s homeland.
I feel some admiration towards someone capable of resisting anything as mighty as the Ottomans, even just for a while. And yet feel normal apprehension at the idea of him having to earn the title of impaler. More complex than simply just saying he’s a villain, as most do.

Nomad7 · 22-25, M

They ultimately slaughtered him in battle, but it's... well, admirable *sips blood from glass*

Axelerator · 31-35, M

@Nomad7 Hah i know right. It's good to honor the fallen with an appropriate drink

SW-User

Edward Cullen is way hotter ❤️

Axelerator · 31-35, M

@SW-User Lol perhaps. It does seem that Vlad was going for more of a terryfying vibe, rather than the pale pretty boy look:)

Nomad7 · 22-25, M

@SW-User A Twilight girl, that's a self-burn

Axelerator · 31-35, M

@Nomad7 Lol i remember a long time ago when i got watch Twilight before it even came out and became a big deal. I actually enjoyed it quite a lot, until i grew out of it eventually, even if there are a few interesting characters.

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Axelerator · 31-35, M

@SW-User You could argue that point, and i see your metaphor of course. There is too much to talk about for just a comment conversation though.

This example is predicated on you knowing what's right for the future though. What if that lumber you felled would have one day planted seeds of their own, to help you build cities around your new farmland?. I am not even being overly emotional imo, even from a larger perspective of progress it does not seem the best approach to willingly sacrifice a great many resources you could potentially draw on in the future. I know there is much more to this, it's an interesting subject.

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Axelerator · 31-35, M

@Max13 I like the idea of him still being around, maybe you're right, probably by accident though

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Axelerator · 31-35, M

@Max13 I bet lol

basilfawlty89 · 31-35, M

He had some redeeming qualities. The Ottoman Turks were brutal themselves and treated their minorities like dirt. He launched one of the first successful rebellions against them.

Axelerator · 31-35, M

@basilfawlty89 I agree. The Ottoman empire was not exactly known for it's kindness in most ways, especially not for subjects. It's all a matter a perspective who is right, and who is the villain.

SW-User

No one is all good or bad.

Axelerator · 31-35, M

@SW-User You mean that everyone is neither all of one?

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