The incredible revelation that the legendary Prince Vlad the Impaler – the fictional Count Dracula – probably shed tears of blood scientists recently did and the news was republished in all international media.

Researchers, including Vincenzo Cunsolo from the University of Catania in Italy, collected and analyzed for the first time letters written by Vlad to learn more about the health of the bloodthirsty prince of Wallachia as well as the environment in which he lived more than 500 years ago.

What the study showed

Molecules and proteins gathered from his manuscripts were analyzed and the results of the research published in Analytical Chemistry.

According to the Independent, of these molecules, scientists particularly focused their attention on the most degraded proteins, as these were the oldest. They found total 16 proteins of human originrelated to skin, breath and blood and which are likely and therefore more likely to come from Vlad Tepes.

From their analysis, the scientists concluded that Count Dracula likely suffered from respiratory and skin problems.

Most interestingly, Vlad the Impaler probably suffered from hemolacria, a condition that may have caused him to actually cry tears of blood – as depicted in the film.

“He could also suffer from a pathological condition called hemolacria, that is, he could shed tears mixed with blood”the scientists wrote in the study.

Also, 15th-century Prince Vlad III could have been exposed to bacteria associated with the plague.