The real Count Dracula? Genuine ‘tears of blood’ found in testing of Vlad the Impaler’s letters

A recent chemical analysis of Vlad III, the 15th-century prince famously known as Vlad the Impaler, has provided insight into his health conditions that may have inspired the creation of the iconic vampire character Count Dracula.

Published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, the study reveals that Vlad likely suffered from skin and respiratory conditions, and there is even a possibility that he shed tears of blood.

Vlad III, officially known as Vlad III, Voivode of Wallachia, was a ruthless military leader who resided in southern Romania during the mid-1400s. Historians estimate that he was responsible for the deaths of over 80,000 people, often through impalement, earning him his notorious nickname.

He was also referred to as Vlad Drăculea, meaning “the son of the dragon,” which is believed to have inspired the character Dracula in the popular novel.

In this study, led by Vincenzo Cunsolo from the University of Catania in Italy, researchers examined letters written by Vlad for insights into his health and living conditions over 500 years ago.

Using a special plastic film called ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), the scientists extracted proteins and small molecules from the paper without causing any damage.

Mass spectrometry, a common technique in chemical analysis, was employed to identify thousands of different small peptide molecules present in the letters.

Out of these molecules, the researchers focused on the most degraded proteins, which were likely the oldest and most likely to have originated from Vlad himself, rather than from more recent handling by others.

A total of 16 human-origin proteins related to skin, breathing, and blood were identified in the analysis.

These findings suggest that Vlad likely suffered from respiratory issues and may have experienced a condition known as hemolacria, characterized by tears mixed with blood, fitting for the legendary character he inspired.

The study also proposes that Vlad could have been exposed to plague-related bacteria or fruit flies.

This research not only provides insights into Vlad’s health but also demonstrates the potential of similar techniques for analyzing and understanding historical documents.

“While it is possible that more people from the medieval period may have handled these documents, it is reasonable to assume that the most significant ancient proteins would be attributed to Prince Vlad the Impaler, who wrote and signed these letters,” the researchers noted.

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