Dracula, also known as Vlad Tepes in the Castlevania series, is the central antagonist and one of the most important characters in the franchise. He is a powerful vampire lord who rules from his castle and wages war against humanity after the death of his human wife, Lisa. In the animated Castlevania series, his grief and rage drive much of the story, making him a tragic villain rather than a simple monster. He serves as the main force behind the conflict and a symbol of vengeance, loss, and destruction.