CRIMINAL MASTERMINDS (True Crime) by Anne Williams, Vivian Head, Sebastian Prooth Read Free Book Online
few guards and his infant son, and fled across the mountains. Not wishing to leave anything for the sultan and his army, he ordered for his kingdom to be completely destroyed. Village after village was razed to the ground and the wells were poisoned.
When the Turks arrived at Targoviste they were shocked to find thousands of dead Turkish prisoners impaled on stakes outside the ruined city’s walls. The stench of the decomposing bodies filled the air, which nauseated the sultan’s army.
As Vlad and his party escaped through the forest on horseback, he was hit by tragedy for the second time. The servant who was carrying his young son dropped him by mistake, but the Turks were too hot on their heels for them to stop and pick him up. They were forced to leave him behind which meant that Vlad had lost two members of his family in one day. Seeking refuge, Vlad turned to King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary for help. King Matthias was fully aware of Vlad’s evil reputation and as soon as he arrived he was thrown into prison in Visegrad, the Hungarian capital.
YEARS OF CONFINEMENT
Although it is uncertain exactly how long Vlad III was held in confinement, it has been indicated that he was a prisoner from 1462 until 1474. It is rumoured that Vlad continued his lust for blood during his years of internment, finding small animals such as rats, cats, birds and insects to impale on sticks just for the fun of it.
Over time Vlad was gradually able to win back favour with King Matthias. He also caught the eye of the king’s sister, Ilona, who used her influence on her brother to allow Vlad to have his freedom. Although the king allowed them to marry, he told Vlad he had to remain within the constraints of the city. He was given his own rooms within the palace, which was a far cry from the musty dungeon he was used to. Vlad’s new wife bore him a son and slowly, he managed to gain the confidence of the king until he was eventually granted full freedom.
RETURN TO THE THRONE
During his years of confinement, Vlad’s brother Radu had occupied the throne of Wallachia. Radu was not very popular with the people of Wallachia and had made an enemy of King Matthias through his treachery to the Order of the Dragons. Surprisingly, Vlad still had supporters among some of his former subjects because, despite his cruelty, he had managed to create an orderly society that was totally free of crime. Vlad decided it was time to reclaim the throne and joined forces with King Matthias and Prince Stefan Bathory of Transylvania.
Vlad and his 5,000-strong Christian army were successful in defeating the sultan, but he never had the satisfaction of dethroning his brother, who had died of syphilis two years earlier. Radu had been succeeded by Prince Basarab the Old, a member of the Danesti clan. When Basarab heard of Vlad’s approaching army, he fled along with his cohorts, leaving Vlad to take the throne of Wallachia for the third and final time. Although Vlad was back in power, things would never be the same again. Shortly after taking the throne, Prince Bathory and the majority of Vlad’s forces returned to Transylvania, which left Vlad in a vulnerable position. Before he was able to build up a new army, a large Turkish army marched its way into Wallachia. Vlad, who had less than 4,000 men, was forced to march and meet the Turks.
Vlad, the ever fearless warrior, fought against all odds, refusing to accept defeat. Vlad died in this final battle against the Turks, although there is much speculation as to how he lost his life. Some reports say that he was assassinated by disloyal Wallachian boyars, while others have him falling in defeat. Another report claims that he was killed by one of his own men in error, as he was mistaken for a Turk while disguised in one of their uniforms. The one undisputed fact is that his body was ultimately decapitated by the Turks and his head sent to Constantinople. The sultan had it displayed on the top of a
When the Turks arrived at Targoviste they were shocked to find thousands of dead Turkish prisoners impaled on stakes outside the ruined city’s walls. The stench of the decomposing bodies filled the air, which nauseated the sultan’s army.
As Vlad and his party escaped through the forest on horseback, he was hit by tragedy for the second time. The servant who was carrying his young son dropped him by mistake, but the Turks were too hot on their heels for them to stop and pick him up. They were forced to leave him behind which meant that Vlad had lost two members of his family in one day. Seeking refuge, Vlad turned to King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary for help. King Matthias was fully aware of Vlad’s evil reputation and as soon as he arrived he was thrown into prison in Visegrad, the Hungarian capital.
YEARS OF CONFINEMENT
Although it is uncertain exactly how long Vlad III was held in confinement, it has been indicated that he was a prisoner from 1462 until 1474. It is rumoured that Vlad continued his lust for blood during his years of internment, finding small animals such as rats, cats, birds and insects to impale on sticks just for the fun of it.
Over time Vlad was gradually able to win back favour with King Matthias. He also caught the eye of the king’s sister, Ilona, who used her influence on her brother to allow Vlad to have his freedom. Although the king allowed them to marry, he told Vlad he had to remain within the constraints of the city. He was given his own rooms within the palace, which was a far cry from the musty dungeon he was used to. Vlad’s new wife bore him a son and slowly, he managed to gain the confidence of the king until he was eventually granted full freedom.
RETURN TO THE THRONE
During his years of confinement, Vlad’s brother Radu had occupied the throne of Wallachia. Radu was not very popular with the people of Wallachia and had made an enemy of King Matthias through his treachery to the Order of the Dragons. Surprisingly, Vlad still had supporters among some of his former subjects because, despite his cruelty, he had managed to create an orderly society that was totally free of crime. Vlad decided it was time to reclaim the throne and joined forces with King Matthias and Prince Stefan Bathory of Transylvania.
Vlad and his 5,000-strong Christian army were successful in defeating the sultan, but he never had the satisfaction of dethroning his brother, who had died of syphilis two years earlier. Radu had been succeeded by Prince Basarab the Old, a member of the Danesti clan. When Basarab heard of Vlad’s approaching army, he fled along with his cohorts, leaving Vlad to take the throne of Wallachia for the third and final time. Although Vlad was back in power, things would never be the same again. Shortly after taking the throne, Prince Bathory and the majority of Vlad’s forces returned to Transylvania, which left Vlad in a vulnerable position. Before he was able to build up a new army, a large Turkish army marched its way into Wallachia. Vlad, who had less than 4,000 men, was forced to march and meet the Turks.
Vlad, the ever fearless warrior, fought against all odds, refusing to accept defeat. Vlad died in this final battle against the Turks, although there is much speculation as to how he lost his life. Some reports say that he was assassinated by disloyal Wallachian boyars, while others have him falling in defeat. Another report claims that he was killed by one of his own men in error, as he was mistaken for a Turk while disguised in one of their uniforms. The one undisputed fact is that his body was ultimately decapitated by the Turks and his head sent to Constantinople. The sultan had it displayed on the top of a
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