Thoughts on Vlad Țepeș/Vlad the Impaler? Do you think his actions were justified, and why?
Posted by KingHershberg@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 7 comments
PerspectiveSouth4124@reddit
His methods—marked by extreme brutality, including the impalement of thousands—were undeniably horrifying.
However, they were also calculated. Vlad sought to maintain control over his fragmented kingdom and send a clear message to both his enemies and subjects: defiance would come at an unthinkable cost.
Whether his actions were justified depends on perspective. From a modern moral standpoint, his methods are indefensible. Yet, in the context of his time—a period of constant warfare, betrayal, and existential threats to Christian Europe—many argue his ruthlessness was a necessary evil.
Vlad’s tactics, though gruesome, temporarily secured his throne and slowed Ottoman advances. Still, the fear he instilled likely bred as much resentment as it did obedience, raising questions about the long-term effectiveness of his reign.
You may find this mini-biography on Vlad interesting.
Able-Commission1276@reddit
"They had it coming."
- Dracula Dead and Loving It
His sadism and ruthlessness were... effective. But not justified. Even his contemporaries found him extreme, so a modern conscience definitely shouldn't think it's acceptable.
mudvalve@reddit
If he hadn't have stopped the turkish from moving westward europe could be a whole different animal these days
UserMuch@reddit
You can't really judge if his actions were justified or not since we can't compare those times with today's ones.
Everyone killed each other in different horrible ways back then for different reasons, mostly religious and because wealth/power, so it was a norm.
He indeed had a cruel side more than others, but it's not as dramatic and outrageous like people nowadays make it to be, there were many lies and straight up propaganda invented around him at the time which gave him a more terrible and bloody reputation.
Despite all that, he was a capable ruler who brought stability in the country through his actions and improved the economic situation since the country needed a firm hand who could keep everything together.
For a small time ruler of a small country, it was impressive which it's admired, even though it was meant not to last enough since he angered too many powerful people at the same time.
In the end he remains remembered in the country as a pivotal figure against Ottomans domination, along with the others before and after him.
escapedfugitive@reddit
Yeah like bringing stability to Wallachia by eradicating poverty by burning poor people lol
nikdeezie@reddit
He’s said to be considered a bit of a folk hero in Romania (Romanians? Any insights?) I just did a lot of research on him for an animated video and it sounds like some of his stuff MAY HAVE been exaggerated but the horrific stuff he DID do may have been on par with other leaders of the time and region. Vlad Dracula
thissun8@reddit
Glorified loser, I don't admire anything about him