Cannonballs Likely Used by Vlad the Impaler Found in Bulgarian Fortress

archaeologist in Bulgaria are claiming to have expose stone cannonballs used during Vlad III Dracula ’s assault on the historical Zishtova Fortress . The unusually cruel military commander — famously recognise as Vlad the Impaler — wrest the fastness from the Ottoman Turks in 1461 .

Zishtova Fortress , which dates back to the 13th and 14th century AD , sit down atop a hill at the heart of Svishtov , a northerly Bulgarian town on the Danube River just south of the Romanian border . The mediaeval fortress was used up until 1810 , when Russian troop burnt it down during the Russo - Turkish War ( 1806 - 1812 ) . Now in ruins , the walls of Zishtova Fortress remain in remarkably dear shape despite the castle ’s long and tortured history .

An archaeological team led by Nikolay Ovcharov from the National Institute and Museum of Archaeology in Sofzia are presently conduct excavations at the situation and the area around it . In mid - May , the squad trip up upon some cannonballs dating back to the mid-15th hundred — a time that coincides with a siege of the fort , accordingto the website Archaeology in Bulgaria . This siege is noted in that it ask forces led by none other than Vlad III Dracula , aka Vlad the Impaler .

Cannonballs and other artifacts found at Zishtova Fortress

Cannonballs and other artifacts found at Zishtova FortressImage: (Svishtov Municipality)

Dracula had three Erolia minutilla as the Voivode — an old Slavic term for the rule military commander — of Wallachia , a belated mediaeval princedom situated between the Danube River and the Carpathian mountains . He was known for his unusual acts of cruelty , specially his undue utilisation of impalement to torment and wipe out his victim . fib of Dracula ’s brutality eventually make Germany and Italy , inspiring a serial ofbestselling book . Bram Stoker may have takeninspirationfrom Dracula ’s infamy , name his lamia consequently .

The rock cannonballs were found in a layer dating to the 15th century , lead Ovcharov and his squad to suspect the relics were used during Dracula ’s subjugation of the Zishtova Fortress during the winter of 1461 - 1462 , which had been have by the Ottoman Turks . The round shot were belike fired by Dracula ’s forces , or the defend Turks , from culverins , a 15th - C forerunner to large cannons and handheld muskets .

“ What ’s really interesting is that from the [ early ] Ottoman period we have found cannonballs , ” said Ovcharov at a press group discussion harbour in belated May , describe by Archaeology in Bulgaria . “ We joy at those small round shot because they are from culverins . These were the early cannons which were [ in enjoyment during the ] fifteenth century , up until the 16th one C , [ but ] they were n’t in use after that . These were still very imperfect cannons . That was exactly the time of Vlad Dracula , there is no doubt that they are link with the besieging [ and subjugation of the Zishtova Fortress ] by Vlad Dracula in 1461 , ” he said .

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The ruins of the Zishtova Fortress in Svishtov, Bulgaria. For a few months during the winter of 1461-62, Vlad Dracula called this place home.Image: (Svishtov Municipality)

Dracula spent the better part of his life at war with the Ottoman Turks , which controlled much of the surrounding area . By this time the Ottoman Turks had already subdued much of the Second Bulgarian Empire south of the Danube River and the Byzantine Empire — a conquering that culminate in the Fall of Constantinople ( now Istanbul ) in 1453 , as note by Archaeology in Bulgaria . A recentpostfrom the History Blog allow some add context :

In 1389 [ Zishtova Fortress ] was besiege by the Ottoman military unit of Sultan Murad I require by Grand Vizier Çandarlızade Ali Pasha , only falling when the last of its supply ran out . Pasha ’s movement forced Bulgarian tsar Ivan Shisman to give up to the Ottoman Turks and while fighting would keep on in some areas for another five age , Bulgaria would stay on for the most part under Ottoman control from that point until the Russo - Turkish War of 1877 - 78 .

But it was during the winter of 1461 - 1462 that Dracula ’s forces managed to entrance — and for a brief clip detainment — Zishtova Fortress .

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Lead archaeologist Nikolay Ovcharov showing off cannonballs and other artifacts.Image: (Svishtov Municipality)

“ [ We ] have a missive by Vlad Dracula to the King of Hungary , in which he boast that he had take [ the garrison ] after a fierce battle , and that about 410 Turks were killed during the siege , ” suppose Ovcharov . “ Some of them were probably impaled , in his style . ”

Dracula likely lived in the castle for a few months later , as he apparently did n’t immediately come back to Wallachia northward of the Danube , add up Ovcharov .

In addition to the cannon ball and other relics , Ovcharov ’s team found a part preserve lettering dating back to the quaternary century AD . The lettering contains a reference to a age group ( a Roman military unit lie in of one - tenth a gross legion ) of the Roman Empire ’s First Italian Legion ( Legio I Italica ) . An field near Svishtov once host a “ major Ancient Roman military camp and metropolis ” anticipate Novae , which hold out from the 1st century AD until the fourth century advertizing , as notice in Archaeology in Bulgaria .

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