The character of Count Dracula from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel “Dracula” is a work of fiction. However, it is believed that Stoker based the character of Dracula on the real historical figure Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula, who was the ruler of Wallachia (part of modern-day Romania) in the 15th century.
Vlad III was known for his brutal and tyrannical rule, and he earned the nickname “the Impaler” due to his preferred method of executing his enemies by impaling them on long, sharp stakes. However, he was not a vampire, and there is no evidence to suggest that he engaged in any of the vampire-like behaviors attributed to the fictional Count Dracula.
It’s also worth noting that Stoker’s Dracula character incorporated many elements of vampire folklore that had been circulating in Europe for centuries, so while Vlad III may have been an inspiration for the character, Count Dracula as we know him is very much a product of fiction.