Transylvanus

Transylvanus is a Latinized given name, meaning "from beyond the forest." It is most famously associated with Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century Wallachian voivode. Vlad III's father, Vlad II, was inducted into the Order of the Dragon, a chivalric order founded to defend Christianity against the Ottoman Empire. As a result, Vlad II was given the moniker Dracul, meaning "dragon," and his sons, including Vlad III, were given the moniker Drăculea, meaning "son of Dracul." Vlad III, as a member of the House of Drăculești, was also known as Vlad Țepeș, which translates to Vlad the Impaler, a reference to his brutal method of punishment. The association with the name Transylvanus likely stems from Vlad III's birth in Sighișoara, a city in Transylvania. While often linked to the Dracula legend, it is important to distinguish the historical figure from Bram Stoker's fictional character, who drew inspiration from Vlad III but created a distinct mythical entity. The name Transylvanus itself is not a character but rather a descriptor indicating origin.