Robert Pattinson has become famous in the last few years for playing Edward Cullen, a vampire in the Twilight series of movies. Perhaps he was destined the play the role, as genealogists announced on Thursday June 22, 2010 that he is actually a relative of Vlad the Impaler, the real life man who became the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.
Robert Pattinson is Nephew of Real Life Dracula
According to Ancestry.com, Vlad the Impaler is Pattinson's distant uncle. The two are related through a connection to the British royal family, which would mean Princes William and Harry are also distant cousins. Still, it is the connection with Vlad the Impaler which proves the most interesting, especially given the success of the films and Pattinson's portrayal of the romantic vampire who fights for the hand of Bella.
The real Dracula was a prince and part of the Romanian Court. People called him Dracula, which meant "son of the dragon" because of his evil ways. He ruled the kingdom of Wallachia and felt it was his job to drive the Ottoman Turks out of Romania.
Vlad the Impaler Was Violent Crusader
He received the name Impaler because he would place those he thought were enemies on spikes in front of his castle in full view for everyone to see. They would die out there, if they weren't dead already, and serve as a warning for anyone who wished to make trouble with Vlad.
Another story that speaks to his personality is that of feeding beggars at his court. He gave them free food and then burned them for not being able to pay for it. He died in 1476, but achieved a new degree of popularity when Bram Stoker published Dracula in 1897. Stoker drew several parallels between the real life Vlad the Impaler and the fictional Count Dracula.
Fans Love to Hate the Vampire Archetype
Despite the violent nature of Vlad the Impaler, many Romanians feel he is a hero for fighting to keep the Turks out of their country. It has been suggested that part of the interest in Vlad the Impaler is that he was hated and feared by some, and thought a hero by others. This dichotomy is one reason the Twilight books and movies have become so popular as well.
Pattinson was chosen for the Twilight role based in part on his unique look. He beat out 3,000 other young actors for his part in first Twilight movie in 2008. At just 24 years of age, Pattinson has already established himself as a serious actor, but his creative pursuits also include music. He is accomplished in playing both the guitar and piano, and his original music was featured in the 2008 Twilight Saga film.
Twilight fans are anxiously awaiting the Los Angeles premiere Thursday night of Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Sources: WISN, USA Today, Imdb
Cherie Burbach - Cherie Burbach writes about dating, relationships, health, sports, and lifestyle. She's the author of eleven books and ebooks.
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