Vlad The Impaler, Inspiration For Dracula, May Have Cried Tears of Blood: Study
NDTV
It is widely believed that the character of Count Dracula draws inspiration from the Romanian prince known as Vlad the Impaler.
The bloodthirsty fictional vampire Count Dracula may have a more literal connection to blood than previously thought. A new study suggests Vlad the Impaler, the real-life Romanian prince who inspired Dracula, might have suffered from a rare condition that caused him to cry tears of blood.
Researchers at the University of Catania analysed "historical biomolecules" from letters written by Vlad the Impaler. This included proteins left behind by blood, sweat, fingerprints, and saliva. Notably, the analysis was conducted on a letter dated 1475, exactly 125 years after the publication of Bram Stoker's famous Dracula novel.
The analysis revealed the presence of proteins potentially linked to a condition called hemolacria. This rare condition causes tears to be mixed with blood, giving them a red tinge or making them appear entirely bloody.
