Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad III or Vlad Dracula, was a medieval ruler of Wallachia, a region in present-day Romania. He gained notoriety for his brutal methods of punishment, including impaling his enemies on stakes. His reign was marked by cruelty and violence, earning him the nickname "Vlad the Impaler." He inspired the fictional character Count Dracula, created by author Bram Stoker.