Wallachia — a historical region located in the southern part of present-day Romania. It is an area rich in history and culture that played an important role in shaping modern Romania.
Wallachia has been inhabited since ancient times, and this territory was often a battleground for various empires and states. In the Middle Ages, these lands were controlled by the Hungarians and later by the Ottoman Empire. In the 18th century, Wallachia became an area of interest for the Russian Empire and Austro-Hungary.
Wallachia lies in the southern part of Romania and features a diverse landscape. The region includes the Southern Carpathians to the west and borders the Black Sea to the east. In Wallachia’s landscape, you can find mountains, valleys, forests, and rivers.
Wallachia is an important economic region of Romania. It has a developed industry, and its major cities, such as Bucharest and Constanța, are key commercial and cultural centers.
The most important subregion of Wallachia is Muntenia, located in its southeastern part. This area includes Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Muntenia is also known for cities like Ploiești and Târgoviște.
The Vampire Dynasty – Vlad Dracul and Vlad Țepeș
Vlad Dracul and his son Vlad Țepeș, also known as Vlad the Impaler, were rulers of Wallachia, a historical principality located south of the Carpathians—not Transylvania.
So why do we associate Dracula with Transylvania?
- The author of the novel Dracula, Bram Stoker, chose Transylvania as the setting because it was more exotic and mysterious to Western European readers than Wallachia. Transylvania was a wild, mountainous region inhabited by a mixed population, including the Transylvanian Saxons (German settlers), Hungarians, and Romanians.
- Stoker was not a historian—he created a fictional story inspired by the legend of Vlad Țepeș but moved it to a more atmospheric location like Transylvania.
Historical facts:
- Vlad Dracul was the ruler (voivode) of Wallachia from 1436 to 1447. His nickname “Dracul” came from his membership in the Order of the Dragon (Draco in Latin).
- Vlad Țepeș ruled Wallachia mainly from 1456 to 1462, with short interruptions, and briefly in 1476. His nickname “Țepeș” means “the Impaler,” referring to his brutal method of enforcing law.
- Vlad Țepeș was also a prisoner of King Matthias Corvinus in Transylvania but never ruled there.
- In the 15th century, Transylvania was an autonomous principality within the Kingdom of Hungary, with its own administration and rulers, separate from the Wallachian hospodars.
This literary and popular culture mix-up has led many people today to think of Dracula as the “Prince of Transylvania,” although historically his legacy is strictly tied to Wallachia.
