Divine Heresy
Dracula
We all know that our beloved Mathias IS Dracula. The main enemy of CastleVania
games.
I was intrigued since the beginning about why wasn't Dracula (as usual) the one who kidnapped Sara. Then, listening to the prologue about Mathias's wife, Elisabetha I knew that something weird was happening in thereBram Stoker's
Dracula story?.
And yet, we found that Mathias turned into a vampire and blah blah blah...
And after so many fights between the fans, IGA said that, indeed, Mathias is Dracula. There are still some people who refuses to believe it (face it D: !) but what we can do? lol
For those skepticals who are interested on what IGA said, please proceed to the following link for the full info on this famous interview.
I was intrigued since the beginning about why wasn't Dracula (as usual) the one who kidnapped Sara. Then, listening to the prologue about Mathias's wife, Elisabetha I knew that something weird was happening in there
And yet, we found that Mathias turned into a vampire and blah blah blah...
And after so many fights between the fans, IGA said that, indeed, Mathias is Dracula. There are still some people who refuses to believe it (face it D: !) but what we can do? lol
For those skepticals who are interested on what IGA said, please proceed to the following link for the full info on this famous interview.
[1094] Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
Dracula, originally named Mathias Cronqvist, it was during
this time when he was best of friends with a man known as Leon Belmont.
Together, the two formed an undefeatable company, that fought in the name of
God. Mathias served as the tactical genius, while Leon was a warrior without
peer.
However, shortly after losing his wife, Elisabetha Cronqvist, Mathias would become bedridden and would reveal to Leon that his own girlfriend, Sara Trantoul, had been kidnapped by the vampire, Walter Bernhard, and taken to a castle within the Forest of Eternal Night.
It was a ploy. Mathias had come up with a brilliant plan. Blaming God for taking his wife away from him, he had turned to the dark side and merely used Leon to kill Walter so he could steal the vampire's soul. After Leon defeated Walter, Mathias disappears and becomes Dracula (though not specifically stated in the English translation of Lament of Innocence, Koji Igarashi stated this was true. This is also backed up by the Japanese version, which wasn't as vague on the issue).
At the end of the game, it is revealed that Mathias was in possession of the Crimson Stone, an alchemical artifact that passes the spiritual essence of any slain vampire into whomever wields it. The power of the stone was what transformed Mathias into a vampire (not the traditional blood-gift). Possessing the stone over the course of centuries is what transformed Dracula into the world's strongest vampire and presumably what assures that he is resurrected whenever he is slain. (This strange loop suggests that whenever Dracula is killed, as wielder of the Crimson Stone, his power is transferred directly back to him every time.)
However, although his dark designs went down exactly as he had planned, Mathias had not counted on the grief and rage of his former best friend.
At that moment, Leon swore an oath that he, his children, and all future generations of the Belmont family would "hunt the night" and protect humanity from supernatural evil. The whip that Leon used to destroy Walter, the Vampire Killer, which was created from a power released upon the death of Leon's beloved Sara, would eventually be passed down through generations of Belmonts, to become legendary in its own right.
However, shortly after losing his wife, Elisabetha Cronqvist, Mathias would become bedridden and would reveal to Leon that his own girlfriend, Sara Trantoul, had been kidnapped by the vampire, Walter Bernhard, and taken to a castle within the Forest of Eternal Night.
It was a ploy. Mathias had come up with a brilliant plan. Blaming God for taking his wife away from him, he had turned to the dark side and merely used Leon to kill Walter so he could steal the vampire's soul. After Leon defeated Walter, Mathias disappears and becomes Dracula (though not specifically stated in the English translation of Lament of Innocence, Koji Igarashi stated this was true. This is also backed up by the Japanese version, which wasn't as vague on the issue).
At the end of the game, it is revealed that Mathias was in possession of the Crimson Stone, an alchemical artifact that passes the spiritual essence of any slain vampire into whomever wields it. The power of the stone was what transformed Mathias into a vampire (not the traditional blood-gift). Possessing the stone over the course of centuries is what transformed Dracula into the world's strongest vampire and presumably what assures that he is resurrected whenever he is slain. (This strange loop suggests that whenever Dracula is killed, as wielder of the Crimson Stone, his power is transferred directly back to him every time.)
However, although his dark designs went down exactly as he had planned, Mathias had not counted on the grief and rage of his former best friend.
At that moment, Leon swore an oath that he, his children, and all future generations of the Belmont family would "hunt the night" and protect humanity from supernatural evil. The whip that Leon used to destroy Walter, the Vampire Killer, which was created from a power released upon the death of Leon's beloved Sara, would eventually be passed down through generations of Belmonts, to become legendary in its own right.
[1094 - 1450] After Lament of Innocence
Through various actions, Dracula had gained immortality. Not only would he
live forever, if his physical body was destroyed his spirit would live on and
resurrect in physical form periodically as long as human wickedness existed
to fuel him (the general timetable for his resurrection is every 100 years,
but premature resurrections are not uncommon). Not much is known about what
Dracula did during the time following the events of Castlevania: Lament of Innocence.
It is known that he would have a relationship with a human woman by the name
of Lisa. The time frame of this union is still unknown.
This woman looked exactly like his deceased wife, Elisabetha. The union would bear Dracula a son, who was named Adrian Farenheights Tepes, but would be later known as Alucard.
Lisa was later taken from her home and executed as her expertise in medicine was mistaken as "witchcraft". This heinous act enraged Dracula beyond belief. Hurt deeply, he vowed to make humanity pay once he mastered the use of the unlimited power he now had.
This woman looked exactly like his deceased wife, Elisabetha. The union would bear Dracula a son, who was named Adrian Farenheights Tepes, but would be later known as Alucard.
Lisa was later taken from her home and executed as her expertise in medicine was mistaken as "witchcraft". This heinous act enraged Dracula beyond belief. Hurt deeply, he vowed to make humanity pay once he mastered the use of the unlimited power he now had.
[1450 - 1691] Castlevania
Dracula had vowed revenge against mankind for the death of Lisa. However, during
his rule over Wallachia, he would meet up with many members of the Belmont
Clan whose cursed blood and enchanted whip(s) allowed them to defeat Dracula.
According to the official Castlevania timeline, the first known Belmont to defeat Dracula was Trevor Belmont. Trevor was also aided by Alucard who fought alongside him, a pirate named Grant Danasty and a sorcerer named Sypha Belnades (who was revealed to be a woman after Dracula's defeat). Trevor was most likely the one to land the final blow, due to Dracula's weakness being the Vampire Killer, and all games in the future reference Dracula as being defeated by Trevor.
Some Castlevania fans have argued that the original Belmont to slay Dracula was Sonia Belmont from Castlevania Legends. This is because the game story takes place prior to Trevor's game. However, Konami retconned Castlevania Legends from the official Castlevania timeline because the game plot was inconsistent with the plot of SoTN and CV 3 which says Dracula only became evil after his wife was killed by humans shortly before the events of CV 3.
Additionally, it proposed the idea that Alucard had betrayed his father prior to the events of CV 3 where his mother was killed, which is also inconsistent with the plotline of CV 3 and SoTN.
This explains why Legends was retconned. Also of note, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness verifies that prior to the events of CV 3, Dracula had not held a grudge against humans, as explained during Hector's confrontation with Dracula at the end of the game. Since Dracula's grudge against humans began after his wife was killed, this pinpoints the death of Lisa as taking place shortly before CV 3.
Christopher Belmont, a descendant of Trevor and Sypha, would become the second Belmont to defeat Dracula. First, Christopher slayed the vampire lord in one adventure, then prevented Dracula from being reborn in the body of Christopher's son Soleiyu in another adventure.
The most famous of all the Belmonts who would defeat Dracula is Simon Belmont. Before Simon, the Belmonts were feared for their supernatural physical prowess. But Simon, who came in a time of need, saved the land and made the Belmont name famous for killing Dracula and his minions once again.
According to the official Castlevania timeline, the first known Belmont to defeat Dracula was Trevor Belmont. Trevor was also aided by Alucard who fought alongside him, a pirate named Grant Danasty and a sorcerer named Sypha Belnades (who was revealed to be a woman after Dracula's defeat). Trevor was most likely the one to land the final blow, due to Dracula's weakness being the Vampire Killer, and all games in the future reference Dracula as being defeated by Trevor.
Some Castlevania fans have argued that the original Belmont to slay Dracula was Sonia Belmont from Castlevania Legends. This is because the game story takes place prior to Trevor's game. However, Konami retconned Castlevania Legends from the official Castlevania timeline because the game plot was inconsistent with the plot of SoTN and CV 3 which says Dracula only became evil after his wife was killed by humans shortly before the events of CV 3.
Additionally, it proposed the idea that Alucard had betrayed his father prior to the events of CV 3 where his mother was killed, which is also inconsistent with the plotline of CV 3 and SoTN.
This explains why Legends was retconned. Also of note, Castlevania: Curse of Darkness verifies that prior to the events of CV 3, Dracula had not held a grudge against humans, as explained during Hector's confrontation with Dracula at the end of the game. Since Dracula's grudge against humans began after his wife was killed, this pinpoints the death of Lisa as taking place shortly before CV 3.
Christopher Belmont, a descendant of Trevor and Sypha, would become the second Belmont to defeat Dracula. First, Christopher slayed the vampire lord in one adventure, then prevented Dracula from being reborn in the body of Christopher's son Soleiyu in another adventure.
The most famous of all the Belmonts who would defeat Dracula is Simon Belmont. Before Simon, the Belmonts were feared for their supernatural physical prowess. But Simon, who came in a time of need, saved the land and made the Belmont name famous for killing Dracula and his minions once again.
[1692 - 1698] Simon's Quest
During his defeat at the hands of Simon Belmont, Dracula played a trump card
and placed a curse on Simon and the land of Wallachia. This curse would kill
the land and Simon if not broken in time and would thus kill off the Belmont
bloodline.
Simon had thought his job was done, but he would learn of this curse and once again set out with all the strength he had left. He had to collect the body parts of the deceased Dracula which were scattered all over the land by Dracula's minions and followers. Simon was successful in collecting the body parts and reassembling them at the ruins of Castlevania in order to defeat Dracula once more in his resurrected form, thus lifting the curse.
Simon had thought his job was done, but he would learn of this curse and once again set out with all the strength he had left. He had to collect the body parts of the deceased Dracula which were scattered all over the land by Dracula's minions and followers. Simon was successful in collecting the body parts and reassembling them at the ruins of Castlevania in order to defeat Dracula once more in his resurrected form, thus lifting the curse.
The son of Dracula
Through his union with the human Lisa, Dracula had a son. His son would be
born Adrian Farenheits Tepes, but would be later known as Alucard. Despite emulating
his father early in his life, Alucard decided that he did not want to follow
in his father's evil footsteps and battled with him many times. It is said he
chose the anagram "Alucard" ("Dracula" spelled backwards)
for his new name as a symbolic gesture, meaning he would go against his father's
doings from that point on, like a kind of "anti-Dracula".
The reincarnation
In the Game Boy Advance installment of the series, Castlevania: Aria
of Sorrow, it is revealed the main character Soma Cruz
is in fact something of a reincarnation of Dracula.
Apparently in the year 1999, Julius Belmont, the modern day member of the Belmont clan was finally able to defeat Dracula for good and seal away his Castle. These events have yet to be elaborated on other than brief mention in Aria of Sorrow. This was not the end of Dracula however, as it seems that after death his soul had been reincarnated into the soul of an innocent young man named Soma Cruz.
As well as having many of his tremendous powers (which Soma unlocks through the course of the game), Soma bears a striking resemblance to Mathias Cronqvist, the original human form of Dracula which started it all.
However, as evidenced by his polar opposite color motif (Mathias was predominantly dressed in black with red trim and aura, while Soma is dressed in a white coat with blue trim and aura), Soma may be something of a second chance for Mathias in a new life, by choosing to go down a different path when the truth is revealed. His journey continues in the series' latest installment, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for the Nintendo DS.
While Soma is his own entity, he is also technically a continuation of Dracula, albeit in reincarnated form and as a protagonist. Although, it is argued by fans whether he is truly the same character in a new life or a different character altogether who just happens to have inherited Dracula's power.
Apparently in the year 1999, Julius Belmont, the modern day member of the Belmont clan was finally able to defeat Dracula for good and seal away his Castle. These events have yet to be elaborated on other than brief mention in Aria of Sorrow. This was not the end of Dracula however, as it seems that after death his soul had been reincarnated into the soul of an innocent young man named Soma Cruz.
As well as having many of his tremendous powers (which Soma unlocks through the course of the game), Soma bears a striking resemblance to Mathias Cronqvist, the original human form of Dracula which started it all.
However, as evidenced by his polar opposite color motif (Mathias was predominantly dressed in black with red trim and aura, while Soma is dressed in a white coat with blue trim and aura), Soma may be something of a second chance for Mathias in a new life, by choosing to go down a different path when the truth is revealed. His journey continues in the series' latest installment, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow for the Nintendo DS.
While Soma is his own entity, he is also technically a continuation of Dracula, albeit in reincarnated form and as a protagonist. Although, it is argued by fans whether he is truly the same character in a new life or a different character altogether who just happens to have inherited Dracula's power.
~ Source: Wikipedia
