Throughout the centuries there have been numerous accounts of alleged encounters with vampires. Though the majority are the stuff legends are made of, there are a few documented incidents that have become renowned for their intrigue and the hysteria they caused among populations whose religious beliefs, superstitions, or just plain fear contributed to the tales gaining a distinct measure of immortality. In this section, we examine a few of the more well-known vampires and the chain of events surrounding their untimely deaths — and rebirth into the world of the undead.