Background
His father Vlad Dracul had previously held the throne, as had his brothers Mircea II and Radu the Handsome, and lastly Vlad III.
His father Vlad Dracul had previously held the throne, as had his brothers Mircea II and Radu the Handsome, and lastly Vlad III.
Vlad the Monk was a contender to his brother"s throne as ruler of the principality of Wallachia for many years, but he took no active part in fighting for the throne until near the end of Vlad III"s lifetime. The 15th century was a very volatile time in Wallachia, with the throne passing first from one then to another of the many princes that desired lieutenant His father had first gained the throne following the death of Vlad the Monk"s uncle.
Following this, Vlad III was placed on the throne by the Ottomans, but was forced off shortly thereafter by forces supported by John Hunyadi.
This would begin a long quest by Vlad III to gain the throne, which he would do two more times. His longest time on the throne would be from 1456 to 1462, this being his reign of terror for which he would become best known, and which would lead to him being the inspiration for the novel Dracula, by Bram Stoker.
Radu died in January, 1475, as the result of a long bout with syphilis, at which time Basarab naturally took the throne yet again, only to be forced off shortly thereafter in 1476 by Vlad III. Vlad III was killed in battle during December, 1476, after which Basarab Laiotă cel Bătrân was restored to the throne, only to be pushed off by Basarab Ţepeluş cel Tânăr in November, 1477. All of this set the stage for Vlad Călugărul to rule.
He first took the throne in 1481, losing it shortly afterward to Basarab Ţepeluş cel Tânăr, with Vlad regaining the throne in 1482, after which he would reign until 1495.
In 1495, he helped build Saint Nicholas Church, in Braşov, Transylvania. There is nothing historically that suggests his death that same year was anything other than natural. His fairly long reign by comparison to those before him was due in part to his having the support of Stephen III of Moldavia.