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Vlad II Dracul received his title "Dracul" from his induction into the Order of the Dragon. In 1431, he was titled into the " Order of the Dragon" by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, a creed designed to gain political favor for the church and to protect the Hungarian-Romanian royal family from the Ottoman EmpireOsmanlı İmparatorluğu Devlet-i Aliye-i Osmaniye The Ottoman Coat of Arms Imperial motto: unknown The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople) Sovereigns Sultans of the Turks. The Order of the Dragon was founded on December 13December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 18 days remaining. Events 1545 Council of Trent begins 1577 Sir Francis Drake sets out from Plymouth, on his round-the-world voyage 1642 Abel Janszoon Tasm, 1408Events December 13 The Order of the Dragon is officially formated under King Sigismund of Hungary. Henry, Prince of Wales (later Henry V of England) retakes Aberystwyth from Owen Glendower. The Yongle Encyclopedia is completed. Births Karl Knutsson Bonde,, with Sigismund (then King of Hungary) as an original founding member.
In 1444Events March 1 Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg proclaimed commander of the Albanian resistance April 16 Truce of Tours. Five Year Truce between England and France August 26 Battle of St. Jakob an der Birs in the Old Zurich War. Charles VII of France, seeking t, the King of Hungary, Ladislaus III of PolandJan Matejko Vladislaus III of Varna ( Polish Wladyslaw Warnenczyk also seen as Wladislaus Ladislaus Ladislas or Vladislav ( October 31, 1424 November 10, 1444). Names in other languages: Polish, Wladyslaw III Warnenczyk Slovak /Bulgarian /Czech: Vladislav, broke the peace with the Ottoman Empire and launched the Varna campaign under the command of John Hunyadi in an effort to drive the Turks out of Europe. Hunyadi demanded that Vlad II fulfill his oath as a member of the Order of the Dragon and a vassal of Hungary. Vlad II was commanded to join the crusade against the Turks, but declined. The Pope absolved Dracul of his Turkish oath but demanded that he send his son Mircea instead. Perhaps he hoped the sultan would spare his younger sons if he himself did not join the crusade.
The results of the Varna Crusade are well known. The Christian army was utterly destroyed in the Battle of Varna. John Hunyadi managed to escape the battle under conditions that add little glory to the White Knight's reputation. Many, apparently including Mircea and his father, blamed Hunyadi for the debacle. From this moment forth John Hunyadi was bitterly hostile toward Vlad Dracul and his eldest son. In 1447 Vlad Dracul was assassinated along with his son Mircea. Mircea was apparently buried alive by the boyars and merchants of Tārgoviste. Hunyadi placed his own candidate, a member of the Danesti clan, on the throne of Wallachia. This member would latter be assassinated, prompting Vlad III to once again begin the battle his father could not win, the battle for the throne of Wallachia.
Although Vlad II was a successful general, accomplished ruler, and ordained medieval royalty, he is best known for the exploits of his son, Vlad III. Vlad III is better known as Dracula or Vlad the Impaler. Vlad II had at least two other sons, Mircea, Dracula's elder brother, and Radu the Handsome, Dracula's younger brother. Little is known of Radu.
Translation Note: "Dracula" loosely translates as "Son of Dracul," although ironically, history will no doubt most remember Vlad II as "Father of Dracula" which literally translates into "Father of the Son of Dracul."
An alternative translation of Dracul is devil, in addition to dragon. During his time Vlad II was also known as the Vlad II, the Devil. This connotation was not meant to be demeaning, but to be similar to the aura of fierceness granted to Edward, son of Edward III of England, by his nickname, "The Black Prince".