Vlad III Dracula
the years after his second rule
The job of Radu the Handsome, the brother of Vlad III Dracula, to convince the boyars to betray their ruler was easy. Supported by the Turks and by most of the boyars, Radu the Handsome passed the Danube and advanced slowly but certainly to Targoviste.
Although Vlad III cousin, Stephen the Great, helped him, still lacking political and especially financial support, Vlad Dracula took the road to Transylvania, crossing the mountains with a big hope in his heart: the support promised by Matthias Corvin against Turks.
But Matthias Corvin had other plans. He received from the Pope a consistent financial support to fight against the Turks. But he spent that money for completely other purposes. So, now that the Ottomans were at his borders, he quickly needed someone to point the finger to. He needed a good reason to face the accusation of abandoning the Christian cause.
When Vlad III Dracula came to him in order to ask for his help, Matthias Corvin arrested him using a false pretext: a letter that appears to have been forged by the rulers of Brasov, in which Vlad the Impaler promised to strike an agreement with the Turks.
Vlad Dracula was taken prisoner at Oratia, a fortress located at Podu Dambovitei Bridge (the name of the contemporary village), close to the Bran Castle. Probably this is why people tell he was imprisoned in Bran. Very possible, but while the name of Oratia appears in a relevant document, Bran doesn't. A long period of imprisonment in Visegrad, near Buda (where the Wallachian ruling prince remained for 10 years) follows, then a forced staying in Buda.
The third reign of Vlad III Dracula
The rising power of the Ottomans was urging upon Christians the need of rebuilding the front to face them. Stephan the Great addressed to Matthias Corvin, asking him to put Vlad the Impaler back on the Wallachian throne. The Wallachian ruling prince Leaota Basarab recognized the Sultan suzerainty.
That practically moved the border between Hungarian Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire on the Carpathian Mountains line and forced Matthias Corvin to see in Vlad Dracula the right answer. He took part at the fight with the Ottomans in Bosnia and came, in November 1476, in Wallachia with the support of the Hungarian army, led by Stephan Bathori, and Stephan the Great.
In 26th November 1476, a great Meeting of the High Council decided to enthrone Vlad III Dracula.
Unfortunately, the Impaler's third reign didn't last more than two months because he was killed on the battlefield. Read more about Vlad's death.
The last fourteen years of Vlad III Dracula life were less fruitful for his country. Imprisoned, then in exile his thoughts were all the time back, in Wallachia. In all this time (and also after his death) Wallachia went back again under the influence of the Ottoman Empire.
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