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Note that there is controversy about whether Stoker modelled the character on Vlad the Impaler:
Some historians are convinced that a historic figure, Vlad III Dracula, often called Vlad the Impaler, was the model for Stoker's Count although there is no supporting evidence.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula
I suspect it would have been more of a case of nicking the name, which is definitely one of the reasons why the myth has taken hold in this way.
Apparently, Romanians were bemused when Western tourists started to turn up looking for Dracula's castle, but they have gamely accommodated it as a largely invented tourist industry.
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Indeed, Stoker never went to Romania but apparently saw an engraving of Bran castle and used it as inspiration for the castle, and pinched the name for the character.
The history of Vlad and surrounding areas are well worth a bit of wikipedia-ing while waiting for some dots to update.
@Señor_Bear : I'm not sure, I thought they only get you if you invite them into your house/humble abode/bivvy bag. Bears on the other hand...
Sighisoara was the home town of Vlad Dracul (Vlad the Impaler), inspiration for the character Dracula. Bran castle near Brasov is famous as Dracula's castle, but has little connection with the real Vlad.
I guess a bivvy bag is too small for inviting anybody in...