Vlad the Impaler Chapter 26 Finale

 The end of a legend

26.

Dracula stood there in defiant facing an army that was three times his own. His army was smaller compared to the previous one that he led; only five hundred calvary on the mounts with the lances ready, and another two hundred archers to the rear. His foot soldiers the single thousand-odd consists of the veterans of the conflicts, to the sickle armed peasants that he managed to press onto the service.

Dracula rode on a dark mount with the dark armor that he had his lover sewn for him; the chain mail was dipped in tar and the leather there painted dark. He carried his sword that was the only colored item with the dark shield. On his head was his wrapped piece and the bejeweled pearls.

For a long time, he was without his friend at his side; Janus was assigned another task.

“My Lord, we are ready.” The commander of the cavalry rode up to Dracula. The commander’s face was covered in the dark paste and his armored was like that of the Lord.

“Are the lancers ready?” Dracula asked. He looked to the five hundred mounted men of which rode with him in the last war.

“They are, my Lord.” Dracula was told.

“We will ride ----” Dracula stopped then when he saw the rider that arrived from the other side was seen approaching him.

“I am Kolgasi Sajak of the Janissaries. I come with the offerings of the Sultan. We are five thousand strong, and armed with guns and lances. I am to bring the Volvode of Wallachia to the land and have him restored to the rank. I ---”

“I am Vlad III but you may call me Dracula. You ride back to the one you called Volvode with my compliments here.” Dracula produced the container from his mount. “This is fresh blood for him. Tell him I had my drink and now willing to share with him.”

The Kolagasi was stunned and glared at Dracula.

“Are you mad, Dracula? Who in his right mind will drink blood?”

“Many of the warriors drink it. The Arabs drank it from the neck of their mount when there is no water. The Mongols I was told do it too from the herds. Why can’t I do it from my enemy body? I think they taste the same.”

“Here, try it yourself.” Dracula offered to the Kolagasi. The latter turned his mount to ride back to the column of Janissaries. The bulge went out and the Janissaries trod their mounts forward formations.

“Greet our foes now!” Dracula called out. The archers released the arrows with the pierced ears on the stakes. The arrows flew far and landed short of the Janissaries.

“Kolagasi, that looked like ----ears. Could it be----” The Janissaries lost their scouts sent ahead. The sight of the ears riled them up but the discipline of the Janissaries kept them in line. They marched on, followed by the foot soldiers with the guns. The Janissaries stopped and let the foot soldiers step forth. The distance was within the range of the guns.

“Fire at will!” The Kolagasi called out but the enemy had retreated. The range was too far to reach the Wallachians.

“Stop firing! Charge at them!” The Kolagasi called out. The mounted Janissaries galloped into action. The sound of the hoofs thundered in the field as rows of the Janissaries rode in line. On the other side, the calvary split down the middle and rode to the side leaving the exposed foot soldiers including the archers.

“Shoot the arrows!” Dracula was among them. The arrows with the various ranges went out with the veterans' reach further but five hundred archers were not effective. The Janissaries rode on in the line. Then the mounted picked up speed and was approaching the Wallachian.

“Retreat!” Dracula gave the command but it was not needed. The foot soldiers were already fleeing. The Janissaries saw the panic in the foot soldiers broke rank and galloped ahead. Dracula tried to shoal up the courage but the enemies were on them the rear stragglers. He did then call on his surprise.

“Get the stakes! Hold it firm.” Dracula's command went out. The foot soldiers held their ground and picked up the wooden stakes on the ground. It was cut from the trees to impale the enemies but then put for other uses. The foot soldiers spread out and the stake ends went deep into the ground with the sharpened end above.

“Stakes!” The Janissaries warning went out but the forward lines were caught in the trap. The stakes lowered at an angle pierced the mounts or the riders. It was a battle of the lances then with the Janissaries trying to move their mounts around.

Then Dracula called in the mounted cavalry to attack from the sides. It was a pincer move and would have succeeded if he had a true army.

Some of the foot soldiers panicked and flee to the rear. With the broken line, the mounted Janissaries had the space to move. The veterans stood to fight but the mounted Janissaries have guns which they fired with precision. The Janissaries at the side welcomed the mounted calvary and met the other as they did in training.

Lances were lowered and the thrusts made with the mounts and riders screaming then.

“My Lord, we are ---” Dracula heard the commander of the calvary.

“We will fight to the last.” Dracula cut in. “To the death or victory.”

It was then the reinforcement came.

A hundred mercenaries roared from the left led by the one named Janus. The hundred-odd riders armed with lances and swords charged into the Janissaries.

“For Wallachia!” Janus roared out.

“For the sake of my ducats!” Another roared out.

It was a striking moment but the numbers mattered then. Janus found himself surrounded and shot in the face while he was riding. He flipped over and fell to the ground. He was dead not having to reach his Lord.

“Move the Janissaries to the right.” The Kolagasi called out. His trained riders took formation and countered the mercenaries. Without Janus to lead, the mercenaries retreated and the move by Dracula was reversed on him.

“My Lord, we are ---” Dracula had enough of his commander. He stabbed the other in the chest. He then turned to his bulge rider. “Sound the retreat.”

The call went out but not for Dracula. He rode towards the enemy and slashed at the ones who were in his way. He suffered a few cuts but was able to ride on. He went past the Janissaries and was approaching the foot soldiers. He saw the Wallachian turncoat seated on the mount there.

“Let him through.” The Kolagasi called out to his men.

Dracula reached the one he detested.

“Basarab Elders, you turncoat. Face me like a true man.” Dracula was wounded in him but sat upright in the saddle. Basarab Elders leaned forward and say to Dracula.

“You are a demon. I will battle any demons.”

The swords clashed when both riders met in battle. Dracula was wounded and was never a good fighter. He fought on with his might but the wounds slowed his reflexes. The other took on the offensive and Dracula lost his sword when he was to fall off his mount. He reached for it, but the other had stepped over it. Basarab Elders dismounted and faced Dracula.

“You are no the man who deserved the rank of the Volvode. You are a demon.” Basarab Elders roared to Dracula. “Your army is in disarray. I will have you killed like your father and brother.”

“Let me die with dignity.” Dracula looked at Basarab Elders. “Impale me as I have done the others.”

“I want to but the Sultan wants your head. I will have to deliver it myself.” Basarab Elders looked at Dracula. “Why does he favor you? I knew your brother was his companion.”

“I did, and learned from him that the Turks are cowards.” Dracula roared out. He then looked at the Janissaries. “How many of you are Turks? Serbians? Hungarian perhaps? How can you serve your ---”

Dracula was kicked in the chest by Basarab Elders. He then called on the guards of his to remove the Lord’s amour. They did and sat the Lord on his knees.

“Dracula, I will cut you into pieces and send your head to the Sultan.”

That was how Dracula was slain and his blood flowed into the ground, the very ground that he swore to protect.

“I am foremost Wallachian.” Lord Vlad once declared to his people. “I will die on this land. My blood will feed the soil and the growths will come from it bearing my name.”

Notes to the tale.

When I researched this character, I found little or few references to Vlad III except for his fame as the blood-drinking Lord, and some extract of his life when he was in the Ottoman’s care. There was little to read on but I managed to get more insight as I dug in deeper.

Lord Vlad III was not whom he was described. He was a patriot of the nation he belonged to. He was not given many choices. When he needed assistance, he was denied and when he fought, he did it with valor. He was always at a disadvantage so he created a persona that will strike fear in the enemies.

In the previous ages, there were such leaders; Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, and even Tamerlane. Even in ancient times, the Spartans were as vicious and there were the Romans. It was just Dracula was an exception by the hand-down rumors that he was a blood drinker. The prevalent rumors were by the Saxons he persisted to battle then. (https://historycollection.com/12-unexpected-facts-about-vlad-the-impaler-the-real-dracula/6/)

I created Janus, the companion of Vlad III to give him depth. I did give the impression that Vlad was moved to the bloody act by the fictional character then.

That was not the reference I had to use. They are listed below:

https://www.livescience.com/40843-real-dracula-vlad-the-impaler.html

https://historycollection.com/12-unexpected-facts-about-vlad-the-impaler-the-real-dracula/6/

Vlad II Dracul - Wikipedia

What did Vlad Tepes eat? – The culinary habits of Romanian rulers - RomaniaTourStore

Basarab II of Wallachia - Wikipedia

Mircea II of Wallachia - Wikipedia

Major general - Wikipedia

Radu the Handsome - Wikipedia

Ottoman Empire - WWI, Decline & Definition - HISTORY

János Hunyadi | Hungarian general and governor | Britannica

(PDF) A candidate to the Walachian throne. Vlad Ţepeş and his exile in Moldavia (1449-1452)

Transylvanian Saxons - Wikipedia

Night Attack at Târgoviște - Wikipedia

Konstantin Mihailović - Wikipedia

Tursun Beg - Wikipedia

Giurgiu - Wikipedia

About Radu cel Frumos: Son of Vlad II Dracul | Biography, Facts, Career, Wiki, Life

Stephen the Great - Wikipedia

 

Vlad the Impaler Chapter 25

 The third reign of Vlad III

25.

“My Lord, the Turks are across the Danube.” Lord Vlad III was told and when he approached the King of Hungary, he was told to join Báthory had waged war in Bosnia, where Báthory was sent by Corvinus to free a certain Bosnian king whose name was also Matthias. The new campaign would involve Hungarian, Moldavian, and Wallachian troops, with the assistance of a small Serbian contingent.

Vlad wrote to Stephen of Moldavia to wait for him so that the two could merge their armies, but the merging failed due to delays in the movement of the Hungarian troops, which resulted in Stephen's defeat at the Battle of Valea Albă.

It was then Lord Vlad III then named Dracula, claimed upon the victory at Bosnia he merged his army with Stephen and got rid of the Turks in Moldavia. They captured Srebrenica and other fortresses in February and March 1476.

After a consultation that took place in the city of Braşov, Dracula, Báthory, and Brancovic invaded Wallachia from southern Transylvania with an army of thirty-five thousand, whereas Stephen would aid them by attacking eastern Wallachia with fifteen thousand men.

Dracula's offensive began in early November 1476 and defeated Basarab Elders who was with Dan III, the other pretender to the rank of Volvode of Wallachia.  Their strength was eighteen thousand strong armies at Rucăr, at the Wallachian-Transylvanian border. 

Dan III and Basarab Elders were defeated but only Dan III was captured in a battle near Rucar. Basarab Elders managed to escape.

“I am the rightful Volvode. I was given the support of the King of Hungary.” Dan III called on his rank with the King before Dracula.

“You did but no more. You authorized the officials of Brașov to confiscate the wealth of the Wallachian merchants who had fled from the town because of the emerging conflict.” Dracula looked to the brother of Vladislav II whom he killed. “After Țara Barsei where I took back what was mine, you accused me of cooperating with the Ottoman Empire.”

“I am not the traitor but yourself.” Vlad Dracula forced Dan to "dig his own grave" before beheading him. Dan's supporters were impaled. After being informed of Dan's death, the burghers of Brașov sent an embassy to Vlad, but he imprisoned their envoys and again plundered the lands near the town. 

“No one shall defy my rule or suffered the same fate.” Dracula sent out the words to the others. That war was to cost both armies lost around ten thousand men. 

On 8 November, Dracula captured the capital of Târgovişte where he met with Stephen.

“Brother in the rule.” Dracula greeted the other. The two swore eternal allegiance to one another and when at the presence of Báthory, the two pledged as well to pursue a great crusade against the Turks. The words reached Sultan Mehmed II then.

“Vlad has done no others could do; unite the lands there to challenge me.” Sultan Mehmed II sighed.

By 11 November, Báthory reported to the town officials of Sibiu that most of Wallachia was in Dracula's hands and added that "all the boyars aside from two are with us" and "even the latter will soon join us."

“Hail Dracula. He united us where others had failed.”

On 16 November, Bucharest fell to Báthory's army and on 26 November, Dracula was re-established as Prince of Wallachia for his third time. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_V_B%C3%A1thory)

At the approach of the new army of Dracula's army, Basarab Elders and his cohorts fled, some to the protection of the Turks, others to the shelter of the Transylvanian Alps.

After placing Vlad Ţepeş or Dracula, as he was named then on the throne, Stephen Báthory with the bulk of Vlad's forces returned to Transylvania leaving Vlad with a small army.

“I must return to Hungary. The King called for us to strengthen Hungary.” Vlad was told.

“I am still with a small army. If the Turks returned, I will be in a weak position.” Vlad pleaded to Stephen Bathory.

“We are under orders and the Turks won’t invade you. You have just sent them with many defeats.” Vlad was told. “More to it, the fame of Dracula is known here.”

With those words, Dracula was left with his small army.

“We will be fine, my Lord.” Janus stood by his Lord and smiled. “I am still here.”

“Janus, I need you for a task. I have a son. To protect him as if he is your own. He is Brasov and may need protection.” Dracula looked at his friend. “Do so and I will be glad.”

Janus acknowledged it and before he took off, he told his Lord that he will be back if the Lord’s life was in any danger.

“I won’t be,” Dracula assured his friend but inside of him, he felt fear. He retreated to his chamber and only appeared to meet the boyars. It was soon or rather too soon when he got the news.

“My Lord, the Turks are across the Danube once again.” Basarab Elders was to return at the head of the Ottoman’s columns to reclaim his rank.

Lord Vlad III had little time to gather support before a large Ottoman army entered Wallachia determined to return Basarab Elders to the throne. He appealed to the boyars but Vlad's cruelties over the years had alienated the boyars who felt they had a better chance of surviving under Prince Basarab Elders.

Even the peasants, tired of the depredations of Vlad and wars also abandoned him to his fate. Vlad was isolated even by the King of Hungary.

“Lord Vlad, I cannot commit to you any army but my blessing.” Corvinus, the King of Hungary dispatched to Vlad. He knew then that he was defending his land. He made the plans to keep his family safe. In Brașov and confirmed the comMirceal, his only son the privileges of the local burghers in Wallachia.

Dracula then looked to the Churches for guidance but none was given. He was furious and denounced his faith.

“Let the devil take. I will march on the Devil’s mark.” Dracula was forced to march to meet the Turks with the small forces at his disposal, somewhat less than four thousand men.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vlad the Impaler Chapter 24

 The imprisonment of Vlad

24.

The death of Vlad’s lover was made known to the ex-Lord by the guards. He was in grief but later elated that his son was spared.

“Your son lives with the King of Hungary.” Vlad was told. He was relieved that his son did join Radu and be converted as well. During his imprisonment, rumors that while in prison Vlad caught rats to cut them up into pieces or stuck them on small pieces of wood because he was unable to "forget his wickedness". Vlad was also described as "a man of unheard cruelty and justice". It was recorded that Vlad's held the "reputation for tyrannical justice". (https://hmong.in.th/wiki/Vlad_III_the_Impaler).

Due to all the misgivings, Vlad was called on by the priests to repent of his sins.

“Are you here to give me my last rites?” Vlad was still faithful to his religion.

“No, my son. We want you to come back to the right path. You have committed many sins that will need God’s mercy to repent.” Vlad was given sessions of prayers and told to read the book. He did as he was told and soon was seen to have repented. He then made his request to write letters to the friends he had. That consent was given and Vlad wrote many letters including to the King of Hungary. He wrote of repentance and forgiveness.

“I am a servant of God, and with God’s help, I sought your forgiveness.”

Vlad won over many hearts and the words of his so-named recovery were to spread despite the news of his previous actions.

“Vlad III was a murderer of the worst kind.” Some had spoken of his past. “He impaled them and drink their blood.”

“He hacked their bodies and cooked them to be served on his plate.”

His accusers were countered by the ones who said he did it for the land.

“He did it to scare the Turks. I was there at Giurgiu. We are smaller in size compared to the Turks, but he held fear onto them.”

It was said by the Turks that Vlad III would often cut off the noses of Turkish soldiers, sending them to Hungary to boast of how many of the enemy he had killed. A Janissary commander in his memoirs, Mihailović also documents that the Ottomans were fearful of Wallachian attacks at night. He does allude to the famed "forest of the impaled," where Vlad III was alleged to have lined the roadways with thousands of impaled Turkish soldiers. 

“Vlad III had repented.” That was the view of the boyars. “He wrote to me on his misdeeds. I forgive him as many had forgiven me for my past.”

His adversaries were not convinced. It was said that when a group of soldiers broke into the house while pursuing a thief who had tried to hide there, Vlad had their commander executed because they had not asked his permission before entering his home. Vlad III during his imprisonment married his new lover. She was a noble’s daughter and was offered a new prison; a home instead of a dungeon. He stayed there with his surviving son. (https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Vlad_III_the_Impaler#Main_reign_.281456.E2.80.9362.29)

“Vlad III had all of them killed. There was no mercy shown.” The critics spread the news. The ones who supported the ex-Lord saw it differently.

“Vlad III has the right to defend his family. They may be there to harm him and his family. Vlad III had faced such threats and deserved the right to defend.”

It was all a mixed reaction.

It was said that Radu had also pleaded for his release too.

During his captivity, Vlad also adopted Catholicism. That gave him the support of the churches. There was a favorable view then of Vlad by the King of Hungary. Matthias Corvinus recognized Vlad as the lawful prince of Wallachia, but he did not provide him military assistance to regain his principality.

Radu had then passed away and Wallachia was in chaos. Sultan Mehmed II acknowledged Basarab Elder, a member of the Dăneşti clan as the lawful ruler of Wallachia.

Unknown to many, Vlad was also making preparations for the reconquest of Wallachia.

Around 1475 Vlad the Impaler was again ready to make another bid for power. Vlad and Volvode Stefan Báthory of Transylvania invaded Wallachia with a mixed force of Transylvanians, a few dissatisfied Wallachian boyars, and a contingent of Moldavians sent by Vlad's cousin, Prince Stephen III of Moldavia.

John Pongrác of Dengeleg, then the Voivode of Transylvania, urged the people of Brașov to send to Vlad all those of his supporters who had settled in the town because Corvinus and Basarab Elder had concluded a treaty.

“Basarab Elder is not your Volvode. He was placed there by the Turks.” The people of Wallachia were told. “Bring him down and put the rightful Volvode back.”

“Vlad III is a murderer.” One among the gathered called out.

“He was not. He was the protector of the land. He so named ‘murder’ the Turks with his method scared them off. He did it to protect all of you. Did Basarab Elder do that? No, he is the servant of them.”

“What of the Saxons?” A supporter of the Saxons called out.

“What of the Wallachians who died in the hands of the Turks? What of the ones whose son was taken hostage and returned a convert?” The Volvode moved the sentiment of the call. “Did you hear of the Saxons in my land? They despise Basarab Elder as I do yet I am not Saxon.”

The relationship between the Transylvanian Saxons and Basarab Elder remained tense, and the Saxons gave shelter to Basarab's opponents during the following months.

“We are united as one with you Wallachian.”

Sultan Mehmed II invaded Moldavia and defeated Stephen III in the Battle of Valea Albă on 26 July 1476. It was between the Moldavian army of Ștefan cel Mare and an invading Ottoman army which was commanded personally by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. It was a follow-up to the Battle of Vaslui, when an army of Rumelian local levies, ended disastrously with a defeat then.

During the proper military campaign season, the Ottomans assembled a large army under the command of Sultan Mehmed II and entered Moldavia in June 1476. Meanwhile, groups of Tartars from the Crimean Khanate, the Ottomans' ally then were sent to attack Moldavia.

The joint Ottoman and Crimean Tatar forces occupied Bessarabia and took Akkerman, gaining control of the southern mouth of the Danube. Stephan of Moldavia tried to avoid an open battle with the Ottomans by following a scorched-earth policy as done by Lord Vlad III.

In the process the Moldavians forces ended up being dispersed throughout the country, leaving only a small force led by by Ștefan cel Mare himself, to face the main Ottoman attack.

“My Lord, the Turks are many.” One of the boyars raised the concern. “We can’t face them in open battle.”

“We will trap them in the forest,” Stephen told his army. “We will set fire to the forest and attack when it's in our favor.”

The battle began with the Moldavians luring the main Ottoman forces into a forest that was set on fire, causing some casualties to the attacking Ottoman army in the forest.

“My Sultan, fire rage in the forest. We cannot proceed.” The Sultan was told. “We are repelled with the firepower of the Moldavians.”

“Let the fire rage down and then we proceed. Meanwhile, we will take defensive action and return fire with our guns. Let no one escape.” The attacking Ottoman Janissaries were forced to crouch on their stomachs instead of charging headlong into the defenders' positions.

It was not working for the Janissaries could not see their enemies.

“We must take the fight to them.” Sultan Mehmed was charged with his guard against the Moldavians.

“Protect the Sultan!” The call went out when the Ottoman saw the Sultan was leading the Janissaries. That move rallied the Janissaries and turned the tide of the battle. The concern for the Sultan overrode their fear of fire. The Ottoman Janissaries penetrated inside the forest and engaged the defenders in man-to-man fighting. It was a close fight and the overwhelming Ottomans won the battle.

The Moldavian army was utterly defeated, casualties were very high on both sides with the forest razed to the ground and charred bodies were seen aplenty.

Ștefan cel Mare retreated into the north-western part of Moldavia or even into the Polish Kingdom and began forming another army. Meanwhile, anti-Ottoman forces were being assembled in Transylvania under Stephen V Báthory's command. Confronted with this army and with Ștefan's counterattack, the Ottomans retreated from major parts of Moldavia.

 

 

Vlad the Impaler Chapter 23

 The Fall and Rise of Radu

23.

“Lord Vlad III, I come in to respond to your letters.” The King of Hungary met the Lord in the manor of a boyar. “Let us rejoice and discuss the issue of Wallachia.”

The discussion with the King was to take several weeks, with the King attending to other matters there. The King did not agree or disagree with any matters but kept the discussion going then. Vlad was becoming impatient and desired action. His patience was seen than in the later weeks but the King was ignoring the tantrums.

“I don’t want wine and food. I want blood.” Vlad was reported to have said that and it reached the King’s ears. Unknown to Lord Vlad, the King had planned the arrest of the Lord. He offered Vlad a retreat to Rucar.

“I hear the scenery is nice.” The King told Lord Vlad. “Go there and I will see you in a few days. Meanwhile, your army can rest here. Food is aplenty.”

Vlad did as per the request of the King, and rode to Rucar with his guards and Janus.

“I don’t trust the King. He may be sending you to a trap.” Janus cautioned the Lord.

“I know. If death was to come to me, then let it be.” Vlad told his friend. He was intercepted on the road by the Czech mercenary; John Jiskra of Brandy’s. The Czech condottiere entered the service of Ladislaus and fought against the marauding Czech Hussite bandits in Upper Hungary with little success.

In 1457 he assisted in the arresting and execution of Ladislaus Hunyadi and helped to fight the ensuing rebellion after the execution. When the younger Hunyadi brother Matthias Corvinus proclaimed king after the death of Ladislaus the Posthumous, Jiskra first supported him thanks to the mediation of George of Poděbrady

“John Jiskra, are you to offer me an escort?” Janus was the one who greeted the other. He noticed the men brought by the other outnumbered his own. He knew the mercenary as untrustworthy and was swayed by the ducats in offer.

“I came to do better. If Lord Vlad III was to follow me peacefully, all will be resolved.” John Jiskra did not mince his words. “Resist and ----”

Vlad was not to be taken captive had turned his mount. Janus saw the action and called for the others to assist the Lord.

“Protect the Lord.” Janus drew out his sword and charged at the mercenary. John Jiskra rushed to meet the other. The swords clashed against the shields when both men met in the middle. Janus saw two riders have passed him to pursue his Lord.

“Protect the Lord!” Janus called out. “Let ---”

His roar was silenced when he saw the salvo of arrows sail past him. Half of his riders had turned to assist Vlad leaving their back exposed to the archers. The arrow brought them down but the Lord was away.

“Regroup and support the Lord,” Janus called out while he deflected the attack by the mercenary leader. He saw his riders were confused then and more went down by the arrows. Vlad’s escape was cut short by the group of mercenaries affiliated with John Jiskra. Vlad once again turned his mount but all his avenue of escape was blocked.

“Flee, my Lord.” Janus rode up to Vlad after he ignored the mercenary leader. It was then he caught the arrow in the back of his right shoulder. He was wounded in the defense of the Lord but the army of mercenaries deployed archers and the lancers took to the attack. His remaining riders were cut down by the mercenaries and both Janus and Vlad were cornered.

“Ride, my Lord.” Janus’s call was ignored by the Lord. “I will cover you.”

“We surrender, Janus,” Vlad told his companion. “If the King wants my head, he will have it.”

“Do you yield, Lord Vlad?” John Jiskra looked to the deposed Lord.

“Will my Lord be killed?” Janus held captive asked of his Lord.

“Lord Vlad was to be taken to Bucharest.

The news of his capture infuriated the Pope then who entrusted the crusade to the Wallachian. The King fearing the Pope who could excommunicate him offered evidence of Vlad’s treachery.

“Lord Vlad III was in a conspiracy to topple the King of Hungary and the Church. He offered to take up the alliance with the Ottoman once more.” The Pope was told. “He conspired with the Vizier to allow the army to ride through Wallachia. And of Moldavia.”

“Lord Vlad III battled the Turks of recent.” The Pope was not convinced and sought clarification.

“He did and lost the war. To save himself, he allied once more to the Ottoman. He betrayed his own to save his own. He will be beheaded for his treason.” The King’s emissary produced the letter which was purported written by Lord Vlad III. The view of the Pope was swayed then and allowed for the beheading. The Saxons in the court applauded the beheading of Vlad III but there were appeals from others like the boyars.

In his change of mind, the Pope interceded and asked the King to imprison the Lord instead.

Lord Vlad was imprisoned in Belgrade instead and later to Visegrad for fourteen years.

During then, Wallachia was ruled by Radu. The younger brother of Vlad held his court well with the proper tributes to the Ottoman while he dined with the boyars on his land. Radu played his position well and kept both sides at a distance to avoid bloodshed. He also made peace with the Saxons and trade resumed.

It was not a period of peace for the influence Vlad was there. Radu had to attack the bastion of Vlad at the stronghold on the Arges River.

The Poenari Castle was the home of Vlad, and could only be accessed by climbing over a thousand concrete stairs. The castle is located on the plateau of Mount Cetatea, facing the west side of the Transfăgărășan, on a canyon formed on the Argeș River valley, close to the Făgăraș Mountains. The size and location of the castle made it difficult to conquer.

Radu besieged the castle and forced the loyalist there to surrender.

Vlad’s wife was there during the siege of his castle in 1462. The Turkish army surrounded Poienari Castle, led by Radu the Handsome.

“Send them a warning that I will invade the castle if they don’t surrender,” Radu told his archers. An archer shot an arrow through a window into Vlad's main quarters, with a message warning him that Radu's army was approaching.

The archer was a former servant of Vlad who sent the warning out of loyalty despite having converted to Islam to get out of enslavement by the Turks. Upon reading the message, Vlad's wife was upset that even at the last bastion, her lover’s brother will threaten them. She flung herself off the tower into a tributary of the Argeş River flowing below the castle. According to legend, she remarked that she "would rather have her body rot and be eaten by the fish of the Argeş than be led into captivity by the Turks."

Today, the tributary is called Râul Doamnei (the Lady's River). (https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Vlad_III_the_Impaler#Main_reign_.281456.E2.80.9362.29)

That did not stop the Ottoman invasion. Ottoman Sipahi gained ground in the south of the Danube.

Radu fought the Battle of Soci against Stephen III, his future son-in-law, for possession of Chilia in Ukraine, an important port on the Danube, which brought him into conflict with Hungary and Wallachia. He besieged the town during the Ottoman invasion of Wallachia in 1462 but was seriously wounded during the siege. Two years later, he captured the town.

In 1473, Stephen stopped paying tribute (haraç) to the Ottoman sultan and launched a series of campaigns against Wallachia to replace its rulers – who had accepted Ottoman suzerainty – with his protégés. However, each prince who seized the throne with Stephen's support was soon forced to pay homage to the Sultan, and Radu was made the vassal there. Radu being the weaker foe was forced to return each time with the Ottoman army.

The battle expanded to Vaslui. It was fought between Stephen III of Moldavia and the Ottoman governor of Rumelia, Hadım Suleiman Pasha, where the Ottomans were defeated. The Moldavia Lord invaded Wallachia and Radu was forced to engage the invaders. Radu being the weaker foe was forced to abdicate four times in his reign but returned each time with the Ottoman army.

“The Wallachian is an extension of the Turks.” Stephen III wanted to topple Radu then.

The constant upheaval of the land forced the King of Hungary to look at Lord Vlad III once more.

 

Vlad the Impaler Chapter 22

 The Ottoman Vengeance

22.

‘During the entire night he sped like lightning in every direction and caused great slaughter, so much so that, had the other commander to whom he had entrusted his remaining forces been equally brave, or had the Turks not fully obeyed the repeated orders from the Sultan not to abandon their garrisons, the Wallachian undoubtedly would have gained the greatest and most brilliant victory. Vlad carried out an incredible massacre without losing many men in such a major encounter, though many were wounded. He abandoned the enemy camp before daybreak and returned to the same mountain from which he had come. No one dared pursue him since he had caused such terror and turmoil.’

The boyar reported back to the King of Hungary on the battle. He was impressed but still will not assist in the war.

“I cannot bring the war here. I am impressed by the Lord’s move. He is as described --- a demon with the bloody intent.” Michael smiled.

“Perhaps he has fangs to sink to the flesh and draw blood.” A Saxon leader voiced out and gave the impression of a blood-sucking demon. That description was repeated in the court and outside that it was to describe Vlad.

Meanwhile, the janissaries, under the command of Mihaloğlu Ali Bey pursued the Wallachians and killed more of them. 

“The might of the Ottoman will once again be feared, even by the demon who sucks the blood of the flesh.”

The Sultan then was with his reinforced columns, marched to the city of Targoviste, and besieged it but found it abandoned. It was deserted with its gates wide open. The Turkish army entered the city and for half an hour, the army marched on the road and reached the area of the impalements, which was seventeen stades long and seven stades wide. There were large stakes thereon which, as it was said, about twenty thousand men, women, and children had been spitted, quite a sight for the Turks and the sultan himself.  And among the dead was the decayed body of Hamza Bey.

“Bring that man down.” Sultan Mehmed told his Kaymakams. “It was not possible to deprive of his country a man who had done such great deeds. His body will be buried with honor here.”

Sultan Mehmed occupied the city before leaving it abruptly. His heartfelt sad but the sight of his people impaled was too much for him to stay there. It was then he got the news that another was waging war on him.

“Stephen III of Moldavia wanted to retake Akkerman and Chilia, decided to launch an attack on the latter. The Wallachians rushed to the scene with seven thousand men and will defend the town.”

“Impudent fool. I will not tolerate all these miscreants.” Sultan Mehmed gave the order. The Ottomans defeated the Wallachians. Stephen of Moldavia was wounded during the siege of Chilia and returned to Moldavia before Vlad came to the fortress.

“Stephen has returned to Moldavia.” Vlad was told and he was upset.

“Why did the fool attack here? He should have consulted and I would offer him a better city to capture.” Vlad called on his army to withdraw. “We need to regroup again.”

“Where to, my Lord?”

“Baragan Plain. Call on the others to mee there.” Vlad told the scouts. “Radu is there. I want to defeat the insolent brother who turned his back on the family.”

The main Ottoman army had left Wallachia then, leaving Vlad's brother Radu and his Ottoman troops stayed behind in the Bărăgan Plain. Sultan Mehmed was tired of the war and decided to return to his land. The Turks had enslaved many of the local inhabitants, which they marched on their way south together with two hundred thousand cattle and horses 

Radu who had remained in Wallachia with his Janissary battalions were given the responsibility of repelling his brother's deadly raids after the Sipahis failed to subdue Vlad.

“Radu, you will hold our interest here. I want you to the task of leading the Ottoman Empire to victory.” Sultan Mehmed looked to his adopted brother.

Radu had then marched to Baragan Plain where he met Vlad’s army. It was a battle that Vlad had not fought then and withdrawn. He was not keen to do a frontal attack and chose to do minor skirmishes to taunt Radu. The ensuing battles were to be called Blood Brother fights.

“My Lord, we are losing men, with some deserting to join Radu. He is the favorite of the people here.” Vlad heard the call but he maintained his harassment of Radu. Fortunately, Radu was with the backing of the Sultan was able to pay for more mercenaries and thus his army remained strong. He moved his base to the north of the Danube after most of the demoralized Ottoman Turks withdrew.

Radu and his Janissary of mixed nationalities also blended into the hinterlands well supplied with gunpowder and a continuous flow of dinars retained his mercenaries.

Radu soon gained control of much of the countryside. He sent messengers to the Wallachians, reminding them that the sultan could again invade their country.

“I am Radu, the son of Vlad II. I come in peace and secured the promise of the Ottoman that they will leave us alone if we do not venture into their lands. It’s a fair arrangement. Rally to my banner and dispose of your Volvode. My brother Vlad III does not want peace but to be the conqueror. He is the tyrant here.”

The message was well received and more Wallachian’s came to his banner. It was the beginning of a new civil war. Radu battled Vlad to his castle north of Curtea de Argeș and, finally, out of Romania itself, which was incorporated under Ottoman control. Taking advantage of their fortune the Ottomans strengthened their commercial presence in the Danube against any Hungarian influence and intervention in the region. (Extract from https://peoplepill.com/people/radu-cel-frumos).

After the victorious campaign north of the Danube, the Ottomans placed the young Radu (then 26 years of age) as the pasha of Wallachia. Soon after, the Janissary under his command began attacks and raids on Vlad III's mountain stronghold on the Argeș River, Poenari Castle.

It was the Ottoman Sipahi's gained a strong foothold in the south of the land. 

“My Lord, we are low on food.” Vlad was told by the leaders. His army was weary and was losing many of his men to desertion. He was not fondly received by the villages and towns, for his fame was overtaken by the foul deeds of his ‘bloody’ works.

“We move to the mountains to get more food. The Janissaries are warriors of the plain and not of the high terrain.” Vlad made his call. “Ragu’s calvary is no use fighting uphill.”

Vlad then withdrew to the Carpathian Mountains while sending messages to the King of Hungary.

“My King, I need your assistance.” The King’s letter from Vlad read like that.

“My King, the Lord is a fugitive. If we assist him, the Ottoman will have an excuse to invade us.” The King of Hungary was given the advice. He desired no war than with the Ottoman.

“The peasants now called him the blood drinker Lord.”

Meanwhile, Vlad was hoping that Matthias Corvinus would help him regain his throne. He saw no assistance and sighed. He recalled John Hunyadi refusing to help him then but on the second call was willing to do so. He consulted Janus.

“I fought under John Hunyadi before. His strategy was to win, however, he lost at some battles. Nevertheless, he was back again to battle when the opportunity came around.” Janus looked to his Lord. “Maybe the King is weighing his options.”

It was fair to advise by the commander and Vlad decided to leave to see the King. He was to leave for Hungary when he got news of Radu at Wallachia,

“Albert of Istenmező, the deputy of the Count of the Székelys, had recommended in mid-August that the Saxons recognize Radu. Radu also made an offer to the burghers of Brașov to confirm their comMirceal privileges and pay them a compensation of fifteen thousand ducats.”

When Vlad heard that, he knew his war was over, and he lost it. He thought of leaving for other lands when he got the news that the King of Hungary was to visit him in Transylvania.

 

 

 

Dante Book IV Canto V Scene I

 Canto V

Died Repentant too late

Scene I

“Look how the ray seems not to shine on the left hand of that one, and he seems to bear himself as if alive.” It was the call that Dante heard from his rear when he was walking away. He stopped and turned to look behind. It was one of the indolent souls there, and with that call, more of them looked over.

“Why is thy mind so caught,” Virgil said to Dante. ‘That thou slackenest thy going? What matters to thee that which is whispered here? Come on after me and let the people talk.”

“Stand like a firm tower that never wags in who the thought wells up remove himself his mark, because one weakens the force of the other,” Cato added on.

Dante stood there unsure of his next move, and then he said.

“I come.” His mind of his overtook his heart to move on and ignore the call. It was the ego in him that made him move on.

Virgil smiled at the Poet who had taken that action, and one worth of pardon to ignore the indolent. When they moved on, Virgil looked back and saw the euphoria of the ‘alive’ in Dante had lapsed in those souls there. They have resumed their previous attitude and to bask took back precedent before the sunsets.

Just when the walk to take on the mundane routine, Dante in the fore heard the singing voices of the song, ‘Miserere’.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy.
According to unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies removes my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquities, and cleanse me from my sin.
I knowingly confess my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against Thee only have I sinned, and done evil before Thee: that they may be justified in Thy sayings, and might they overcome when I am judged.

(https://www.liveabout.com/miserere-mei-deus-lyrics-and-english-translation-723977).

Dante hummed to the lyrics that he heard of in the House many times.

“It’s the Miserere. It was sacred once before and only sung at the Sistine Chapel for it was forbidden to be sung elsewhere by Pope Urban VIII. It was the genius, Mozart who was able to transcribe the work after hearing it, and from his memory, he did it and with some corrections to the lyrics.  It was lifted soon after the papacy’s order that the song was allowed to be sung outside of it.” Dante explained the origin of the song.

“I am not programmed with it.” Cato looked at Dante. “It does sound very meaningful.”

“It’s for it acknowledged that it's only through God, we are to be delivered from evil and cleanse our souls,” Dante spoke to Cato.

It was then they saw the new group of souls appear there and they flaunt not their appearance but the melodic sound from their voices was different. They were clothed in the same orange overall and manacles to complete the attire. The ‘choir’ group would have moved on past Dante without care but the sight of the shadow prelude their curiosity.

“That one held a shadow.” One among the marching choir group called out. The rest paused in their singing and raised the chord of ‘Oh’ to replace their singing.

Virgil took to look upon himself as though he may have unknowingly taken up into an indolent behavior.

“Don’t be alarmed, Virgil. I doubt you have much to flaunt.” It was Cato who spoke to the other.

“I beg your pardon.” Virgil was annoyed at the line uttered by Cato but his attention was soon diverted towards Dante. Two among the choir group broke ranks and approached Dante.

“Is that a shadow? Make us acquainted with your condition.” One of the duos that approached Dante asked.

“Ye can go back, and report to those among you, that the body of this one is true flesh. If, as I suppose, they stopped because of seeing his shadow enough is answered them; let them do him honor and it may profit them.”

Rarely had Dante seen in his lifetime, the duo soon returned with the others so swiftly that only a shooting star on an August night could it resemble then. They congregated before Dante and voiced their needs.

“O soul”, they came out crying. “That with those limbs with which thou wast born art on thy way to be glad, a little stay thy step. Look if thou hast ever seen any of us so that thou mayst carry news of him to earth.”

“Pray, why dost thou go on? Pray, why dost thou not stop? We all of old were slain by violence, and sinners up to the last hour; then light from Heaven made us mindful so that both penitent and pardoning we issued forth from life at peace with God, who fills our hearts with the desire of seeing Him.”

“Dante, they think of you as the Messiah.” Virgil offered his comment. “Ignore them all for what you are to offer may not be may they want.”

Dante was ashamed of his inability to assist. He knew at that moment those souls were deceived that they were to go to Heaven when it was their mind that beholds them to it.

How could he speak of the horror of the torture which he was taken to go through Hell, and yet he questioned himself still was he in a dream within a nightmare. Maybe even Cato and Virgil were his feed imagination to give him false hopes. Dante was in doubt himself.

“Am I dead or in limbo?” Dante asked himself with self-doubts in him. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood because of the life that makes atonement.” (Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/leviticus-17-11).

Dante recited those lines then. He had understood it to be that Life was given by God and all life belongs to Him, and any sacrificial offering not in line with His instruction was a serious offense. So serious that if not followed the Lord's detailed instructions demanded the culprit be cut off from his people. Any deviation from His plan not only robbed the Lord of what was rightfully His but became a satanic sacrifice and an abomination in the sight of God. (Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/leviticus-17-11).

Dante looked to those there. Unlike the Indolent, they had thrown themselves to God, but at the last hours of their life. They seek redemption before their death. What was that enough to forgive them? Life and death were the next stage to Hell or Heave but was God to judge them even at the last moment to keep them in vain from reaching Heaven.

Wait, Dante said to himself. They are not dead. I am not. We are in a tortured realm and made to appear us all dead, and in need to serve our penance. He was to tell them that when what he heard from them were the tales of their moments before they presumably died.

Just then, they flocked towards Dante.