The real-life Dracula was VEGAN: Experts claim Vlad the Impaler – the inspiration for the fictional vampire – followed a plant-based diet

Nothing screams “bloodthirsty vampire” quite like the name Dracula.

But the man who inspired the world’s most insatiable count may well have been a vegan, according to expert analysis.

It is widely believed that Bram Stoker’s fictional character was inspired by a formidable 15th century Romanian governor named Vlad the Impaler.

The medieval prince had a penchant for impaling enemies on wooden stakes and was three-time ruler of Wallachia between 1448 and his death around 1477.

Now, 500 years later, scientific analysis of some of his handwritten letters suggests that Vlad may have eaten only plant-based meals.

From Christopher Lee (pictured) to Nicolas Cage, several actors have taken on the role of Count Dracula over the years

Vlad, also known as Vlad Dracula, was the three-time ruler of Wallachia between 1448 and his death around 1477.

He was later the inspiration for Irish author Bram Stoker’s famous vampire count in his 1897 novel Dracula.

Now, more than 500 years after his death, scientists have taken “historical biomolecules” from the infamous warlord’s missions.

The team extracted blood, sweat, fingerprints and saliva from a letter sent in May this year, exactly 125 years since Stoker’s Dracula was published.

The letter is dated August 4, 1475 and was written to the citizens of Sibiu by a man who describes himself in the text as the ‘prince of the Transalpine regions’.

He informed the inhabitants of the town that he would soon be living in their village.

At the bottom he signed his dreaded name: Vlad Dracula.

Experts from the University of Catania extracted blood, sweat and saliva from the letters.

They found that there was a lack of animal food protein – an unusual finding.

“Food proteins (in the letters) are only found in plant foods,” study co-author Gleb Zilberstein told The Times.

Now, 500 years later, scientific analysis of some of his handwritten letters suggests that Vlad may have eaten only plant-based meals

“The prototype vampire may have been vegan.”

He said the decision to go plant-based may have been a need rather than a desire.

“In the 15th century, Europe had a very cold climate… and there was very little food,” he said.

“According to bioarchaeologists, aristocrats throughout Europe had a very meager diet and often did not eat meat.”

The team also found that the letters contained clues indicating that the dreaded ruler suffered from hemolacria, a condition that causes patients to cry tears of blood.

Professor Vincenzo Cunsolo, who led the study, said: “He probably suffered, at least in the last years of his life, from a pathological condition called hemolacria, that is, he could shed tears mixed with blood.”

The findings are published in the journal Analytical Chemistry.