Vlad Tepes received a first-class education

It would surprise some people to learn that Vlad Tepes obtained a top-notch education given his posthumous notoriety. Tepes spent his formative years in Sighisoara learning the fundamentals of becoming a voivode, including how to dress appropriately, how to behave in public, and how he stood among his peers. The young Tepes was continuously fussed over and was always the center of attention in Sighisoara, a town dominated by women. Tepes was also expected to spend time outside in storms and ride an unsaddled horse by the age of 5, as part of a quasi-Spartan emphasis on physical training.

In addition to learning how to catch hares, the noble kids of Sighisoara spent the summer months using slingshots to kill eagles. Tepes was nevertheless permitted to play with other kids in addition to the official educational responsibilities of his early years, and skipping class was also acceptable. When Vlad Tepes was about 8 years old in 1436, his father ascended to the throne of Wallachia, and the family relocated to Targoviste Palace. There, Tepes acquired more specialized education and picked up skills in archery, horseback riding, fencing, and courtesanship. He was a good student, by all accounts.