Submitted: Apr 22, 2008 - The inspiration for Bram Stoker's Count Dracula came from a 15th-century Romanian prince: Vlad "the Impaler" Tepes. If you thought Dracula was scary, brace yourself for the ultimate gothic tale of revenge, cannibalism, murder and madness.

So who was this man? Was Tepes as bloodthirsty in real life as his fictional counterpart is in movies and books? The short answer is yes -- even more so.…