A recent discovery may bring us closer to solving the mystery surrounding the burial of Prince Vlad Tepes of Wallachia, widely known as Count Dracula. According to the online edition of the Italian newspaper Il Mattino, researchers have deciphered an inscription on a tombstone in the historic center of Naples. This inscription seems to confirm that the remains of the notorious "impaler" are located in the monastery complex of Santa Maria la Nova, one of the churches in the ancient heart of the city.
The hypothesis that Dracula is buried in Naples was first proposed in 2014 by Italian researchers, with support from academics in Tallinn, Estonia. They based their theory on decorative elements of a tomb in the Turbolo chapel within the Santa Maria la Nova complex, including the depiction of a dragon and symbols of Egyptian origin.
Professor Giuseppe Reale, the director of the Santa Maria la Nova monumental complex, revealed new insights into the theory. "From Romania, where I was informed about the first results of the research, it emerges that the mysterious inscription is an epitaph in praise of Vlad III of Wallachia, widely known as Count Dracula," Reale said, according to Proto Thema.
The legend suggests that Vlad III was not killed in battle, as commonly believed. Instead, he was captured by the Ottomans and later freed by his daughter, Maria Balsa. Balsa had been adopted by a noble family in Naples to escape persecution. After Vlad III's death, she is said to have buried him in the tomb of her father-in-law, Matteo Ferrillo, inside the Turbolo chapel.
The mysterious inscription, estimated to date back to the 16th century, was found in the chapel where the tomb believed to be the secret grave of the Voivode of Wallachia was originally placed. The deciphering of this inscription seems to strengthen the theory that Count Dracula was buried in Naples.
"It took just over ten years to reach a turning point on one of the historical mysteries that, starting from Naples, have recently stirred discussion and passion among scholars and experts at an international level," reported Leggo.
If confirmed, this would be a historical discovery that would partially rewrite the biography of Vlad III of Wallachia.
The legend of Dracula became globally known through the novel by Irish author Bram Stoker in 1897. This tale was later adapted into the 1992 film "Dracula," starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, and Keanu Reeves.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.