Strahd does not have a good relationship with the people of Barovia. Initially, this was because he was a conquering lord from outside the valley. Later, the populace felt considerable fear and animosity towards their lord because of his status as a vampire. Over the centuries, adventurers would attempt to invade the castle to kill him, succeeding only in adding to the number of vampire spawns populating Barovia. Much more distressing to him were the repeated attacks by the people of Barovia on those he loved "in order to save their souls from his evil". The current year is 735 by the Barovian calendar. This is a rough estimate of important dates/people who have moved through Strahd's life over the centuries.
Although he is a prince, and presumably named king after the death of his father, Strahd only retained the title of "Count" after arriving in Barovia. While Strahd is frequently referred to as a tyrannical autocrat, having some amount of Peerage simply helps things run more smoothly and efficiently. Without additional lords under his rule, Strahd would have been forced to take care of every niggling matter brought to his doorstep by needy landholders and peasants alike. The following outlines the basic provincial regions and peerage of Barovia.
Over the centuries, Strahd has come to expect little from the natives of Barovia. They are, in his opinion, largely an uneducated, cowering mass that provides little in the way of entertainment and even less in the way of a challenge from those daring enough to oppose his right to rule. Those few who have caught his eye, he has made one of his consorts living in Castle Ravenloft, although he remains ever vigilant for another reincarnation of Tatyana's soul. He is determined to eventually win her heart and protect her from the evils that pervade the land. In the interim, however, his primary source of entertainment comes from outsiders: those brought into Barovia by the Mists. They are always a wildcard, often with talents and abilities not shared by the native Barovians. None have yet proved to be either a true ally, a worthy heir to his throne, or a challenge in need of fearing, but a Darklord can hope... Should an adventuring party ever arrive and decide to challenge Strahd's authority, he will prove he is a power to be feared.