10 Really Horrible Things Done By Great People

5. Vlad Dracula Killed All The Unemployed Living Under His Rule

Speaking of hard-nosed war heroes, Vlad Dracula III of Wallachia (historical principality of Romania) was another ruler who cared little for tact. His foreign policy amounted to impaling enemies of the state on spikes while sopping his morning's bread in their blood. People might be surprised to learn the historical Dracula is actually modern Romania's national hero. During the 15th century, Romania was divided into several weaker principalities, which were under the Ottoman Empire's thumb. The Sultan would often take their sons for his army and steal food to starve the peasantry. Dracula was the first prince to stand up to the Sultan's huge, gunpowder-wielding army, forcing the Ottomans to pay dearly for their invasion. On The Other Hand... Vlad's reputation for cruelty was well deserved. He knew his small country would never withstand the might of the Sultan while there existed a large surplus population in Wallachia. Instead of feeding the needy he devised a way to eradicate his country's poverty problem in one shrewd act of evil that would turn Machiavelli's ears scarlet. Dracula ordered a feast be held to feed all the beggars in his land. Once all his guests had gotten very drunk, Vlad sealed the doors to the great hall and set it on fire. No one escaped.