Vlad the Impaler-Dracula video research project.

[Manofevil]

In the face of COVID, I, like many others have found myself pursuing things I otherwise wouldn't bother with or wouldn't have time for. This thread will showcase such an impromptu project. While otherwise working, I often have the TV or youtube videos playing in the background. One night, a biographical video of Vlad Dracula came up that caught my eye and I watched it through. The next day, of course, I had a whole bunch more of them suggested in my youtube feed, and I was still interested enough to watch them through and it became research. Since Ravenloft has a major player in the form of Vlad Drakov based on this individual, I decide to share what I have come to believe are the most factual of the videos of the ones I saw.

These videos have sourced material and credentialed commentators. As such, if anybody else wants to post counterarguments, I must insist on SOURCES AND CREDENTIALS for them. Theorizing is counterproductive and this topic doesn't need any more of it.

I will post one video a day assuming anybody who wants to see it should have plenty of time to do it. None of these videos are exceptionally long. If you have a video to post, please wait until I have posted all six of my videos so you may be certain I wasn't going to post it myself. Anything else, essays, articles, etc., feel free to post earlier.

Here's the first video- an episode of 'In Search of" hosted by Leonard Nimoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLw10HJFvSk

[Five]

If somebody is looking for a scholarly approach in dividing Vlad from Dracula, or into delving into Dracula in general, then here (through link below) can be a good start.

Elizabeth Miller is one such scholar:

http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~emiller/elizabeth_miller.html

[Manofevil]

Now this one is fascinating. It delves directly into Dracula's family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOj4PNcD_M4

[Manofevil]

This is also really good. We see many of the actual buildings of the time recreated with computers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MH69FjA6OI

[Mephisto of the FoS]

There is this Romanian propaganda movie from the late 70's, as Vlad Tepes Dracula is a national hero in Romania.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqbagKqtbAQ

[Manofevil]

Yeah, I've yet to sit through that one. Here's a piece by Biographics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YhD3mpDIZQ

[Manofevil]

Mere's another one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ei6mFSqqjg

[Mephisto of the FoS]

And this is a performance to summon Count Dracula

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFqS8DY36s4

[Manofevil]

Interesting stuff there.
This following docudrama, however, is the impression I have always had of the Impaler. This man who stalks the countryside hunting for new people to murder. Any disproof of this I've always found countered by more proof. Anyone who wants to do Vlad Drakov should watch this. Drakov may well have his tall stakes in his castle dungeon but this video shows the procedure his army would use in the field. It doesn't surprise me that TSR and the later developers of Ravenloft decided to gloss over this aspect of the Impaler for their product. There are far too many sexual implications. Still accuracy is accuracy and anyone who does or wants to do Drakov should be aware of this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Mya_pMwwE&t=1s

EDIT: I forgot to mention that that was the last one. If anybody has more videos, share.