14. Vlad the Impaler
Vlad III, known as Vlad the Impaler, was born between 1428 and 1431 in Sighișoara, Transylvania. He was the second son of Vlad II Dracul, a member of the Order of the Dragon, and his wife, Princess Cneajna of Moldavia (britannica.com). In 1442, Vlad and his younger brother, Radu, were sent as hostages to the Ottoman Empire to secure their father’s loyalty. This experience profoundly influenced Vlad’s later reign, during which he became notorious for his brutal methods of punishing his enemies, including impalement.
