AboutMax Kimball Expertise I'm comfortable with each period of European history. I will be glad to respond to any question, and promise a clear, accurate, and simple reply. My personal interests include Medieval Europe, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and Nazi Germany.
Experience I've studied history for nealy 20 years. I'm currently volunteering in the US and European history categories.
Expert: Max Kimball Date: 6/27/2008 Subject: Vlad the Impaler
Question Hi! Thanks for taking my question. I would love your input. I am curious about Prince Vlad and his unusual tortures to women. We all know he was an "equal opportunity torturer" but I have read a few times that he was espeically cruel to women. I have read that this may be an account of his being impotent or perhaps he was unable to satisfy the women. Any take on this?
Answer Hi Kevin,
I'll be glad to offer my thoughts.
While I'm not aware that Vlad was especially cruel toward women, I wouldn't be surprised if that notion existed, and if the reasons you related were offered as explanations.
It's a pretty common theme in human nature that people direct their anger at things or other people whom they have disappointed, or that they cannot have, or that they cannot satisfy. Some people tend to try to destroy what they cannot have, or cannot control, or that make them feel inferior. We can see people behaving negatively for those causes on a daily basis, though without engaging in torture.
So, while I don't know whether he was indeed especially cruel toward women, or truly why that would be, the causes you suggest are certainly not beyond possibility.
