The most commonly seen painting of Vlad the Impaler is a copy that hangs in the gallery of horrors at Innsbruck's Ambras Castle. The original has been lost to time. In this painting, the anonymous artist gave Vlad the Habsburg lip. Also known as prognathism, the Habsburg lip is a condition whereby the jaw protrudes beyond an imaginary line in the frontal plane of the skull. This can result in malocclusion, in which the top and bottom teeth do not line up accordingly. Prognathism has been recorded in some historical families, particularly the Habsburgs, thus lending the family name to the colloquialism that refers to the condition. A long-standing family trait, the Habsburg lip was of significant concern to Charles II of Spain who could not chew or speak properly due to his severe prognathism. The condition is thought to have been popular among the Habsburg family because of politically motivated inbreeding. Royal intermarriage was not uncommon in Europe in order to forge alliances and protect interests of the state. Plus, when you're busy slaughtering servant girls, only your family is going to love you.
