Still, Vlad III’s exposure to the cruel truths of war multiplied that year when his father was summoned to a diplomatic meeting by Sultan Murad II. Vlad II opted to bring his sons, Vlad III and Radu, with him– which ended up being a terrible mistake.
The supposed “diplomatic meeting” was really a trap that ended in Vlad II, Vlad III, and Radu being arrested and held hostage. Then, Vlad II was only released if he agreed to leave his sons behind– which sealed Vlad II’s fate.
There, he and his younger brother were reportedly imprisoned and tortured for some time– where Vlad II also saw enemies of the Ottoman Empire get impaled.
However, Vlad II was not just sequestered in captivity. He also got tutored in philosophy, sciences, and the arts and became a skilled warrior.
And shockingly, the rest of Vlad II’s family succumbed to much worse fates than the one imposed on Vlad II by the Ottomans.
His father actually ended up being ousted as Wallachia’s ruler by some local warlords before being killed in 1447. Additionally, his older brother, Mircea, was also blinded, tortured, and buried alive.
Whether or not these cruel losses ultimately pushed Vlad III to become a sinister murderer cannot be confirmed.
The only thing historians are sure of, though, is that as soon as Vlad III was released by the Ottomans, he began his vicious reign.
Vlad III Becomes Ruler
In 1453, the Ottomans had overtaken Constantinople– a feat that seriously threatened all of Europe. So, Vlad III was tasked with overseeing a defensive force to prevent Wallachia from being invaded.
And by 1456, he was victorious. That year, he allegedly battled one-on-one against Vladislav II and beheaded his opponent.