Vlad the Impaler was not your average guy. He didn’t earn the nickname “The Impaler” by doing good deeds. But new research suggests that this infamous figure, often associated with inspiring Bram Stoker’s Dracula, may have had a surprising dietary preference – he could have been a vegetarian or even a vegan.
Vlad, or Mr Impaler if you prefer, ruled over Wallachia and gained his notorious reputation through his brutal treatment of his enemies. It is estimated that he may have caused the deaths of up to 80,000 people during his lifetime, impaling many of them on spikes and possibly even dining among them as they suffered and died.
However, a chemical analysis of three letters written by Vlad in 1457 and 1475 suggests that animals may not have been harmed during these gruesome banquets. The letters, which discussed matters like tax collection and were addressed to the ruler of the city of Sibiu, Thomas Altemberger, were carefully sampled using a method that does not cause damage or contamination.
“We characterized about 500 peptides, of which about 100 peptides were certainly of human origin,” the authors explained in their study. “Peptides related to blood proteins or coming from proteins involved in the respiratory system were identified in all the documents characterized.”
Upon closer analysis, the researchers found peptides related to proteins associated with ciliopathy, a genetic disorder. They also discovered indications of retinal diseases and inflammatory processes.
“Although proteomics data alone cannot provide a comprehensive understanding, these identifications might suggest that Dracula ‘cried tears of blood’,” the researchers wrote, “indicating that he suffered from the condition of hemolacria, as mentioned in some stories.”
Interestingly, the team did not find any animal food proteins when examining the letters.
“Food proteins are only found in plant-based foods,” explained study co-author Gleb Zilberstein to The Times. “The original vampire may have been a vegan.”
However, this dietary preference was likely not driven by ethical considerations. When you impale as many people as Vlad did, you probably won’t be too concerned about what you eat at KFC. According to the authors, meat was scarce during that time, so it could have been a matter of limited choices or Vlad’s own poor health. Nevertheless, it’s possible that the figure behind the bloodthirsty Dracula had a taste for salads.
