Vlad lived from 1431-1476. The Middle Ages. An excellent time for impaling. Before we get into the details of Vlad’s life, let’s talk about his favorite past-time. In the 15th century, impalement was not that unusual. Rulers in Europe inflicted it on their enemies – occasionally. The Ottoman Turkish Empire, however, made a regular practice of it, and Vlad had been their “guest” as a child.

Most often, at least under Vlad, poles were cut to about seven feet tall and three inches around. They were made of sturdy wood so they wouldn't bend or break with the weight of the victim, and one end was somewhat sharp or pointy on one end, though not too sharp, for that would cut short the punishment. The pole was greased or oiled and the victim, whose hands and feet were bound, was lowered, anus first, onto the pole. The victim's weight caused them to slowly, sometimes very slowly, to descend on the pole, driving it through the body.

Some torturers were highly skilled in impalement, and knew that if they pulled and lowered the body a certain way, the stake was likely to follow the length of the spine and not pierce vital organs. This could mean that a victim lasted for hours, if not days. If they major organs were pierced, then death usually came quickly. In some countries, people were impaled sideways, but that meant they would sink to the ground rapidly and not really be visible from a distance.