Vlad Tepesh

Vlad Tepes, otherwise known as "Vlad The Impaler", for his penchant of literally impaling the bodies of his enemies on stakes in his so-called "Field of The Impaled", which served as a deterrent to potential invaders, especially the turks. His own people knew him as "Vlad The Just", and is still regarded as a national hero, with various statues, frescoes, and tales of exploits spread throughout the land.

1. Rounding up traitors with the pretext of a drunken celebration, and then when all are pretty well enebriated, lighting the entire edifice aflame, thus ridding himself of possible antagonists to his reign.

2. Dining at The Field of The Impaled, while dipping his bread in a goblet filled with blood and wine. Enemies turning back to their countries fearing the man who is capable of such a fearsome spectacle.

3. The oft-times neglected fact that he also impaled women and children at times, depending upon their offense, in this case, for being "adulterous". In this sense, he was influenced by Judeo-christian moralism, yet his fierce nature belied many of its tenets.

4. Another truism related that one could veritable leave gold on the streets, and it would not be stolen, for fear of the punishment. It was said that a golden goblet was left on the street, yet none would steal it, for knowledge of their fate. Thus was testament to the level of law & order in His province. Criminals were often seen impaled and immolated on the streets, which acted as a perfect deterrent. He actually displayed elements of Lex Talionis - as a result, crime was just about nil.

5. Driving spikes into the skulls of Muslims who refused to remove their turbans. They should "keep their traditions in their own country".

His legend spans the ages in both factual as well as in a mythological regard. His personage became the inspiration for one Bram Stoker, who incorperated many of his qualities into the Dracula model, which survives today as the archetypal vampire.