Romania’s bloodthirsty military leader Vlad the Impaler, who historians say inspired the legend of Dracula after killing more than 80,000 people, was likely vegetarian or even vegan, according to a chemical analysis of his letters.
“Dracula may have been a vegetarian or vegan due to poor diet or poor health,” Dr. Gleb Zilberstein, co-author of the study, according to The Independent on Tuesday.
But unlike modern vegetarians, the bloodthirsty Romanian prince Vlad III, who is said to have inspired the legend of the vampire Dracula, probably owed his diet not to ethical choices, but rather to the “really cold climate” that prevailed in Europe at the time. , which limits access to very few foods, the researchers argued.
By analyzing thousands of molecular fragments from the surface of ancient letters, researchers could have tracked down and isolated the 100 oldest. From this they estimated that 16 of them were of human origin and most likely came from the historical figure.
Because although more medieval people may now have touched these documents, the most important ancient proteins “should be associated with Prince Vlad the Impaler, who wrote and signed these letters,” according to the scientists.
However, the British media reported that they were surprised to find no animal dietary protein, indicating a carnivorous diet, but suggesting a plant-based diet.
The study, published recently in the journal Analytical Chemistry, also reportedly found that the Romanian prince may have been suffering from respiratory problems as well as a rare hemolacria condition that would result in tears “mixed with blood,” the researchers wrote.