photo #9081087

A Christian warrior.Vlad the Impaler, historically known as Vlad III of Wallachia (1431–1476), was a devout Eastern Orthodox Christian who defended his homeland against the Ottoman Empire’s expansion.  Though he was born into a family with strong ties to both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, he was raised in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, which was the dominant faith in Wallachia.  His father, Vlad II Dracul, was a member of the Order of the Dragon, a Catholic chivalric order dedicated to fighting the Ottoman threat, which is where the name "Dracula" (meaning "Son of the Dragon") originated. Despite being associated with brutal tactics—especially impalement—historical accounts portray him as a Christian warrior who saw himself as a defender of Christendom.  He fought alongside Christian forces, including under Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus, and was praised by Pope Pius II as a "Catholic Warrior" for his resistance to Muslim invasions.  He founded churches and monasteries, visited monastic communities, and was deeply involved in religious life.