The "True Death" is a term that refers to the ultimate destruction of an otherwise immortal being, such as a vampire or a Maenad.

In vampire politics, only certain vampires have the authority to command the True Death on other vampires. So far we have seen this power from the Magister, Nan Flanagan, and Roman Zimojic. The Chancellors of the Authority are allowed input into whether a vampire should receive the True Death or not, especially with regards to smaller kingdoms and states, however, should an enemy of The Authority be captured, only The Guardian appears to posses the ability to ultimately pronounce a sentence which would result in the True Death for the vampire.

Vampire monarchs also have a certain amount of persuasion over the matter, as seen in Season 4 when Bill Compton persuaded Nan to allow him to execute Eric. In cases involving less important Vampires however, it does not appear that the Monarch must receive any form of permission from the Authority. As seen in the case of the YouTube Vampire; whom Bill Compton was able to execute without even having to bring the case before the Authority.

Known Causes of the True Death

Sunlight/Ultraviolet Light - When exposed to sunlight vampires will begin to burn in a manner consistent with their age. Younger Vampires can endure prolonged exposure and still have a good chance to heal. They will however endure a significant amount of pain and their skin will get charred. Older Vampires are much more sensitive to sunlight, as seen with Godric who incinerated within a few seconds of exposure.

Fire - Vampires can heal from pretty serious burns, but if they are exposed for too long, they will eventually die.

Exsanguination - When a Vampire is drained completely of their blood.

Decapitation - Vampires are unable to heal if their head is completely severed, as seen with The Magister. ("Hitting the Ground")

Staking

When a vampire's heart is completely penetrated with a type of wooden object (Wooden bullets & stakes, pencils, etc.) the vampire is completely destroyed, and meets the True Death. There are two ways in which vampires die when exposed to this method. If a vampire is struck quickly and directly through their heart (as with wooden bullets), they will explode on impact like a balloon, spraying blood everywhere. When a vampire is pierced through the heart in a slower method, usually by staking, they dissolve and "implode." The manner of how quickly the vampire dissolves after staking seems to be related to how slowly the stake is inserted into the heart. When a vampire is staked slowly, red cracks will appear on their skin and grow deeper while their eyes turn blue.

Staking appears to be the preferred method of execution for forms of Vampire Government, namely The Authority. A quick "ceremonial" type of performance is even used of presenting the ancient silver tipped wooden stake to The Guardian, which is used to carry out the execution.

Vampires & Maenad(s) who have met the True Death

Before season 1:

• Lilith - (Met the Sun)
• Roman master - (Decapitated by Godric)
• Don Santiago - (Met the sun while under Antonia's curse/ in retrospection in season 4)
• Vampires Priests and Nuns - (Met the sun while under Antonia's curse/in retrospection in season 4)
• Lola Farechild - (Decapitated by anti-vampire protestor)

Season 1:

• Diane Hardwicke - (House fire; Burned by Royce Williams)
• Liam McKnight - (House fire; Burned by Royce Williams)
• Malcolm Beaumarchais - (House fire: Burned by Royce Williams)
• Longshadow - (Staked by Bill Compton)
• Eddie Fournier - (Staked by Amy Burley)

Season 2:

• Stan Baker - (Luke McDonald/Bomb)
• Paolo - (Luke McDonald/Bomb)
• Catharine - (Luke McDonald/Bomb)
• Godric - (Self-inflicted/Met the sun)
• Maryann Forrester - (Maenad/Heart willingly torn out by Sam Merlotte)

Season 3:

• Russell's Guard - (Staked by Bill Compton)
• Lorena Krasiki - (Staked by Sookie Stackhouse)
• Jorje Alonso de San Diego - (Decapitated by Russell Edgington)
• Talbot Angelis - (Staked by Eric Northman)
• Franklin Mott - (Shot by Jason Stackhouse)

Season 4:

• Sophie-Anne Leclerq - (Snipers on the command of Bill Compton/in retrospection)
• YouTube Vampire - (Staked by Bucky under orders from Bill Compton)
• Luis Patiño - (Staked himself while under Antonia's control)
• Beulah Carter - (Met the sun while under Antonia's curse)
• Vampire on cemetery - (Shot by Tara Thornton during Battle of the Bon Temps Graveyard)
• Blackburn - (Staked by Nan Flanagan while under Antonia's control)
• Duprez - (Killed while fighting Bill Compton)
• Kirsch - (Thrown into Marnie's forcefield by Bill Compton while under Antonia's control)
• Nan Flanagan - (Staked by Bill Compton)

Season 5:

• Hayes - (Staked by Nora Gainsborough)
• Cat Ingerslev - (Shot by V-Feds)
• Cat Ingerslev's clan - (Shot by V-Feds)
• Alexander Drew - (Staked by Roman Zimojic)
• Unsavory Vampire - (Shot by a group of Obamas)
• Roman Zimojic - (Staked by Russell Edgington)
• Dieter Braun - (Decapitated by Russell Edgington)
• Mike Spencer - (Staked by Sookie Stackhouse)
• Molly - (Staked via iStake by Bill Compton)
• Elijah Stormer - (Decapitated by Tara Thornton)
• Gondry - (Shot by Jason Stackhouse)
• Lambert - (Shot by Jason Stackhouse)
• Two Eric and Nora's Guards - (Decapitated by Eric Northman)
• Unnamed male vampire - (Shot by Alcide Herveaux)
• Unnamed male vampire - (Shot by Jackson Herveaux)
• Kibwe Akinjide - (Decapitated by Bill Compton)
• Russell Edgington - (Staked by Eric Northman)
• Rosalyn Harris - (Decapitated by Sam Merlotte)
• Chelsea - (Shot by Jason Stackhouse)
• Soldiers of Authority - (Destroyed by Jason, Eric, Nora and Tara)
• Salome Agrippa - (Staked by Bill Compton)
• Bill Compton - (Ingested Lilith's blood and restored as "Bilith")