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One of the greatest characters in all of horror fiction is Count Dracula. The character is very well-known around the globe and has appeared in countless books, movies, and even video games. Dracula first appeared in an epistolary novel, written by the Irish author Brahm Stoker in the late nineteenth century. The success of the novel and subsequent adaptations ensured that Count Dracula has stayed in the popular imagination ever since.  There has been much speculation as to whether or not the fictional character was based on a real-life historical figure. This article examines those historical figures which may have inspired the Irishman to create his immortal Count Dracula. It also discusses the possibility that the development of the character was inspired by Irish mythological figures.