Vlad, the Impaler

Vlad the Impaler, prince of Walachia, fought bitterly against the Turks and, because of his sadistic cruelty toward subjects and Turkish prisoners alike, became the source of the "Dracula" legend. Deposed in 1462, he was later reinstated, in 1476, but soon was caught and beheaded by the Turks. His father was known as Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Devil)--hence the son's name Dracula (or son of the Devil).