This is the tamest image I could find that explains the question.
(Feel free to pass.)
In 1400's Romania Vlad and his brother, sons of the ruler were kidnapped by forces of the Ottoman Empire (Turks) and raised to be soldiers. Vlad escaped and returned to become leader of his country but his brother remained loyal to the Turks.
With the Ottomans advancing and unable to get help from the rest of Europe, Vlad began a scorched earth, terror defense which included impaled prisoners, lepers etc. to impress and demoralize the invaders.