Vlad Vorbarra was the Emperor of Barrayar and Count Vorbarra during the Time of Isolation, about two hundred years before the reign of Ezar Vorbarra. He was nicknamed "le Savante". He married Lady Vorlightly while Emperor, during the gaudiest time of the Time of Isolation, and was thus the most recent example for Gregor Vorbarra to copy from in deciding what the custom for Emperors' marriages should be. Gunpowder had been re-discovered by the time of his reign.