They said the data they found suggests Vlad could have suffered from respiratory issues, and perhaps even a condition called hemolacria, which would have caused him to shed tears of blood. Other proteins found indicate he could have been exposed to certain plague-related bacteria or fruit flies.

New research shows that Vlad the Impaler may have cried tears of blood. This condition, known as hemolacria, adds another bloody footnote to the legend of the famously brutal monarch. Vlad the Impaler is believed by many to be the inspiration for the character of Count Dracula.

Scientists have analyzed letters written by Vlad the Impaler in the 15th century. Traces of protein on the letters suggest he suffered from hemolacria, which causes blood to be present in tears. The condition would likely have added to the ruler's fearsome reputation.

Though Dracula may seem like a singular creation, Stoker in fact drew inspiration from a real-life man with an even more grotesque taste for blood: Vlad III, Prince of Wallachia or — as he is better known — Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Tepes), a name he earned for his favorite way of dispensing with his enemies.