Count Dracula was a vegetarian. Here is the evidence

Count Dracula was a vegetarian. An article published in the scientific journal Analytical Chemistry presented a previously unpublished version of the famous Vlad III of Wallachia, better known as Vlad Tepes or Dracula, speculating that he did not eat meat and suffered from haemolacria, i.e. he produced blood in his tears. The study was conducted by analysing biochemical traces found on three letters written by Vlad III in the 15th century. According to the authors, the examination revealed interesting details about the Count's life. In particular, attention was focused on around one hundred human peptides and two thousand peptides of environmental origin that were identified and isolated.

Vegetarian Dracula, here is the evidence

But the most surprising aspect that emerged from the study, as mentioned, is the hypothesis that Vlad III might have been a vegetarian. The absence of traces of animal protein in the letters suggested the conclusion that Vlad III's diet was based on ripe fruit and vegetables, with some traces of mushrooms and insects. According to the authors of the study, although the analysis opened up new perspectives on his possible diet, further research and validation remains necessary to confirm these hypotheses and reveal more details about the life of one of history's most enigmatic characters.

The technique used

Palaeoproteomics is gaining popularity as a method of analysis for palaeontological materials and cultural heritage. Scientists can obtain valuable information on the diet, environmental conditions and even the health of historical individuals through the study of proteins preserved in the remains. The study also raised the hypothesis that Vlad III might have suffered from haemolacria, a rare clinical condition that leads to the production of blood in the tears. The human peptides found in the letters showed signs of degradation consistent with an age of over 500 years, suggesting the possibility that Vlad III may have faced health problems such as inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract and the skin.