Ever since One Piece first hit the scene back in 1997, it’s been a huge deal in the Shonen manga and anime. The epic adventure series has spawned countless adaptations and spin-offs, cementing itself as the best-selling manga series of all time.
The story’s main character, Monkey D. Luffy, is basically a household name for anime fans across the globe.
But one character who often steals the spotlight is Dracule Mihawk, widely regarded as the greatest swordsman in the entire One Piece universe. This ultra-powerful figure commands deep respect and admiration from swordsmen everywhere.
There’s a fascinating fan theory that links Mihawk to the historical figure of Vlad the Impaler, otherwise infamously known as Dracula.
Is Dracule Mihawk Based on Dracula In One Piece?
This whole Dracula theory surrounding One Piece stems from where the manga’s creator, Eiichiro Oda, drew inspiration for the kingdom of Lulusia.
Lulusia’s castle bears an uncanny resemblance to Bran Castle, which is famously linked to the legendary Dracula story.
#ONEPIECE1109
THREAD:
Thanks to this sbs, I started to do some diggin regarding Mihawk
So we know his name Is Dracule Mihawk
His first name Dracule is based on the name Dracula and as we know Dracula is the strongest vampire. Name Dracula is translated into The son of the Dragon— Stitch (@YourStitch2) February 29, 2024
The revolution that went down in Lulusia also seems to take cues from the peasant revolts that happened in Romania back in the day, when certain communities like the Székely ended up siding with the ruling nobles and elite class during those chaotic times.
The name “Székely” is written as “Sekei” in Japanese, strikingly similar to the name of Lulusia’s king, King Seki.
According to historical records, Vlad the Impaler (the real-life Dracula) gave up the throne of Wallachia at one point and sought refuge in Transylvania.
The daughter of King Seki is shown using impalement as a brutal method of execution in One Piece – which just so happens to be the same tactic that Vlad the Impaler was infamously known for.
Physical Resemblance Between One Piece‘s Dracule Mihawk And Dracula
There are some striking physical similarities between Vlad and the character Dracule Mihawk.
They both have this intense, piercing gaze and a tendency to have red eyes. In fact, Eiichiro Oda actually colored Mihawk’s eyes red on a cover page, which some fans think could be a nod to the rare medical condition known as Hemolacria, where people quite literally shed bloody tears.
A fan on Reddit pointed out that the island Mihawk calls home, Kuraigana Island, is portrayed as a war-torn land – bizarrely reminiscent of the kind of environment Vlad the Impaler lived in.
Mihawk’s clothing and his cross symbolism also evoke classic Dracula imagery from popular media.
You can watch One Piece on Crunchyroll.
