Was Vlad the Impaler really crying tears of blood?

Without him, the story of the vampire Dracula might never have been written. The legends associated with Vlad III Basarab, known as Vlad the Impaler, also fascinate the scientific community. Through the analysis of three letters written by the ruler of Wallachia – an independent principality located in the territory of present-day Romania – researchers have been able to learn more about the environment and, above all, the state of health at the time. His famous author. In their study, they reported two findings in particular: the first is that the prince was suffering from a respiratory tract infection, without determining whether it was a chronic illness or a simple cold. The second – and this is the most interesting – is contained in a letter written in 1475: the tears of the crucified Vlad will contain blood!

Blood tears were identified because of peptides!

To reach such conclusions, the researchers looked at more than 500 proteins and peptides (chains).amino acidsamino acids) present on the letters. 100 of them were of human origin, and three peptidespeptides came from the retina and liquidliquid tears. Scientists have determined that these peptides are more likely to come from Vlad the Impaler than from others who may have manipulated the documents. They concluded based on the unusual properties of these peptides that the famous dictator may have suffered from hemolacrimia, a disease that is responsible for the presence of varying amounts of blood in the tears. A very rare condition whose causes are unknown in the case of our great patient, but which may partly explain the bloodthirsty image of the tyrant who is notorious for crucifying his opponents and enemies by the thousands.