Petar Plogojowitz, Vampiric Legend
- C. L. Nichols
- 18 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Inspiring fear in the hearts of those who lived through a dark legacy.
Count Dracula was created by Bram Stoker in his 1897 novel, Dracula. The inspiration for Dracula’s name and some parts of his story were derived from the 15th-century Wallachian prince, Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler.
The legend of vampires in Austria-Hungary and other parts of Eastern Europe involves tales of undead beings that feed on the blood of the living, usually at night, who can be repelled or killed by various means, such as sunlight, garlic, or a stake through the heart.
A real-life vampire legend from the Austria-Hungary area is the story of Petar Plogojowitz, a Serbian peasant who lived in the village of Kisiljevo in the 1720s. Plogojowitz was believed to have become a vampire after his death, as he reportedly returned from the grave to attack and drain the blood of family members and neighbors.
Petar Plogojowitz was born into a humble family in a time when the world was shrouded in superstition and fear. He lived a simple life, tending to his fields and livestock. It was after his death that the true horror of his story began to unfold.
Plogojowitz was believed to have become a vampire. This was not an unfamiliar concept in the Austria-Hungary region, as tales of these bloodthirsty creatures had long been whispered in the shadows.
The villagers of Kisiljevo were no strangers to the dread that came with such stories. When reports began to surface of Plogojowitz’s return from the grave, they knew that they were facing a terror beyond their wildest nightmares.
The villagers lived in constant fear, their homes no longer a sanctuary from the horrors that lurked outside their doors. Desperate to put an end to the nightmare, they begged for help.
The local authorities ordered the exhumation of Plogojowitz’s body, hoping to find evidence to confirm or refute the terrifying rumors. When they opened his grave, the body of Peter Plogojowitz appeared to be undecomposed, a chilling sight that fuelled the belief that he had indeed become a vampire.
Further examination of the body revealed even more disturbing signs of vampirism. Blood was found in the mouth of the corpse, and the shroud in which he had been buried was inexplicably absent. The villagers and authorities, now thoroughly convinced of Plogojowitz’s vampiric nature, decided to put an end to his reign of terror once and for all.
In a desperate attempt to prevent further attacks, the villagers impaled the corpse of Petar Plogojowitz and burned it, hoping this would finally release their community from the grip of fear. Their actions, while gruesome, were driven by the desperate need to protect themselves and their loved ones from the horrors that they believed Plogojowitz had unleashed upon them.
This chilling incident, which took place in the heart of the Austria-Hungary region, contributed to the widespread vampire hysteria that swept through Eastern Europe during the 18th century. Tales of the undead continued to haunt the dreams of many, and the legend of Petar Plogojowitz became a tale passed down through generations.
The legend’s influence was not limited to folklore and superstition. It also had an impact on the world of literature, inspiring authors to explore the dark and mysterious depths of the human psyche.
