Vladimir Putin has something in common with his namesake, Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes:
Vlad the Impaler is famously associated with a legendary golden cup placed in the central square of Târgoviște, the capital of Wallachia during his reign. According to multiple historical accounts and legends, Vlad ordered the golden cup to be left unguarded at a public fountain so that travelers and locals could drink from it. The cup remained untouched throughout his rule, symbolizing the extreme fear and respect his subjects held for his harsh justice.
This story underscores his reputation for enforcing strict order: thieves, liars, and corrupt officials were routinely impaled, and the threat of such punishment ensured that even a valuable object like a golden cup was left in plain sight without theft. The legend persists that the cup was stolen only on the day of his death, marking the end of his rule and the collapse of the order he imposed.
Or NYC, Philadelphia, or Charlotte...
Demographics matter.
Russians are Christians
I remember a quarter that remained on a college desk for decades.
Vladimir Putin has something in common with his namesake, Vlad "The Impaler" Tepes:
Vlad the Impaler is famously associated with a legendary golden cup placed in the central square of Târgoviște, the capital of Wallachia during his reign. According to multiple historical accounts and legends, Vlad ordered the golden cup to be left unguarded at a public fountain so that travelers and locals could drink from it. The cup remained untouched throughout his rule, symbolizing the extreme fear and respect his subjects held for his harsh justice.
This story underscores his reputation for enforcing strict order: thieves, liars, and corrupt officials were routinely impaled, and the threat of such punishment ensured that even a valuable object like a golden cup was left in plain sight without theft. The legend persists that the cup was stolen only on the day of his death, marking the end of his rule and the collapse of the order he imposed.