Brown Castle's most important function before the 19th century was a highway toll station. Because the castle was located at a transportation hub, the castle's owner's most significant task during those 300 years was to levy a 3% customs tax on goods entering and leaving Transylvania.
This was a considerable sum. It was not until 1836 that Transylvania and Warrakee redrew their borders, and Brown Castle gradually lost its importance.
The castle's vampire legends, besides being associated with the Piercing Duke, have a close connection to its history as a tax station during those long years.
At that time, people carrying goods could only walk along the main road beneath the castle and would then be stopped and taxed. Tax evaders who were caught by soldiers were severely punished, and this situation became, in legend, the story of vampires capturing people for their blood inside the castle.
