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The Good, the Bad, and the Unready: The Remarkable Truth Behind History's Strangest Nicknames

Page 24

by Robert Easton


  [ I ]

  Isabella, queen of Castile and Aragon, 1451–1504

  The CATHOLIC

  Isabella, queen consort of Charles VI of France, 1371–1435

  The GREAT SOW

  Isabella, wife of King Edward II of England, 1292–1358

  The SHE-WOLF OF FRANCE

  Ivan IV, tsar of Russia, 1530–84

  The TERRIBLE

  The Awesome

  Ivar, king of Dublin and York, c.794–872

  The BONELESS

  Iyasu I, emperor of Ethiopia, d.1706

  The GREAT

  [ J ]

  James I, king of England, and VI, king of Scotland, 1566–1625

  The WISEST FOOL IN CHRISTENDOM

  The Wisest Fool in Europe

  James II, king of England and Ireland, and VII, king of Scotland, 1633–1701

  The POPISH DUKE

  James II, king of Scotland, 1430–60

  The FIERY FACE

  James IV, king of Scotland, 1473–1513

  The THISTLE

  James V, king of Scotland, 1512–42

  The ILL-BELOVED

  The King of the Commons

  James Douglas, Scottish nobleman, 1286–1330

  The BLACK DOUGLAS

  The Good Sir James

  James Douglas, second earl of Douglas, c.1358–88

  The DEAD MAN WHO WON A FIGHT

  James Douglas, seventh earl of Douglas, c.1371–1443

  The GROSS

  James Scott, first duke of Monmouth, 1649–85

  The PROTESTANT DUKE

  James Stewart, first earl of Moray, c.1531–70

  The GOOD REGENT

  James Stewart, second earl of Moray, d.1592

  The BONNY EARL

  James Stuart, pretender to the English throne, 1688–1766

  The WARMING-PAN BABY

  Le Chevalier de St George

  The Old Pretender

  Jamshid, king of Persia, fl. eighth century BC

  The ILLUSTRIOUS

  Jane Grey, queen of England, 1537–54

  The NINE DAYS’ QUEEN

  Joan, countess of Kent, 1328–85

  The FAIR MAID OF KENT

  Joan, queen of Castile and Aragon, 1479–1555

  The MAD

  Joan, queen of Scotland, 1321–62

  Joan MAKEPEACE

  John, duke of Bedford, 1389–1435

  John with the LEADEN SWORD

  John, duke of Burgundy, 1371–1419

  The FEARLESS

  John, duke of Lancaster, 1340–99

  John of GAUNT

  John, Irish nobleman, fl. ninth century

  The SCOT

  John, king of England, 1167–1216

  John Lackland

  Dollheart Softsword

  John I, king of France, 1316

  The POSTHUMOUS

  John II, king of France, 1319–64

  The GOOD

  John II, king of Portugal, 1455–95

  The PERFECT

  The Tyrant

  John III, king of Poland, 1629–96

  The WIZARD

  John Balliol, king of Scotland, 1249–1315

  TOOM TABARD

  John Churchill, first duke of Marlborough, 1650–1722

  The SILLY DUKE

  The Handsome Englishman

  John Zisca, Bohemian reformer, 1360–1424

  The ONE-EYED

  [ K ]

  Kamehameha I, king of Hawaii, 1758–1819

  The GREAT

  The Napoleon of the Pacific

  [ L ]

  Ladislaus I, king of Poland, c.1260–1333

  The ELBOW-HIGH

  Leo II, Roman emperor of the East, c.401–74

  The BUTCHER

  Llewellyn, king of Gwynedd, c.1173–1240

  The GREAT

  Louis, margrave of Thuringia, 1042–1128

  The SPRINGER

  Louis I, king of France and Holy Roman Emperor, 778–840

  The PIOUS

  Louis IV, king of the east Franks, 893–911

  The CHILD

  Louis IV, king of France, 921–54

  The FOREIGNER

  Louis V, king of France, 967–87

  The INDOLENT

  The Sluggard

  Louis VI, king of France, 1081–1137

  The FAT

  Louis VIII, king of France, 1187–1226

  The LION

  A Reborn Alexander

  Louis IX, king of France, 1214–70

  The SAINT

  The Solomon of France

  Louis X, king of France, 1289–1316

  The QUARRELLER

  The Stubborn

  Louis XI, king of France, 1423–83

  The UNIVERSAL SPIDER

  Louis XII, king of France, 1462–1515

  The FATHER OF THE PEOPLE

  Louis XIII, king of France, 1601–43

  The JUST

  Louis XIV, king of France, 1638–1715

  The SUN KING

  Louis XV, king of France, 1710–74

  The WELL-BELOVED

  Louis XVI, king of France, 1754–93

  The BAKER

  The Locksmith King

  Monsieur Veto

  Louis XVIII, king of France, 1755–1824

  The KING OF SLOPS

  The Bread-Soup King

  Bungy Louis

  The Desired

  Louis Philip I, king of France, 1773–1850

  The CITIZEN KING

  The King of the Barricades

  Lulach, king of Scotland, c.1031–58

  The FOOL

  The Simpleton

  [M]

  Magnus I, king of Norway and Denmark, 1024–47

  The GOOD

  Magnus III, king of Norway, c.1073–1103

  Magnus BARELEGS

  Magnus VI, king of Norway, 1238–80

  The LAW-MENDER

  Malcolm III, king of Scotland, c.1031–93

  Malcolm BIGHEAD

  Malcolm IV, king of Scotland, 1141–65

  The MAIDEN

  Manuel I, king of Portugal, 1469–1521

  The FORTUNATE

  The Grocer King

  Margaret of Valois, queen of France, 1553–1615

  QUEEN VENUS

  Margaret, queen-elect of Scotland, 1283–90

  The MAID OF NORWAY

  Maria Louisa, queen of Spain, 1751–1819

  DONA JUANA

  Maria Theresa, archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia, 1717–80

  The MOTHER OF HER COUNTRY

  Marie Antoinette, queen consort of France, 1755–93

  The BAKER’S WIFE

  The Austrian Wench

  Madame Deficit

  Madame Veto

  Mary, queen of Scotland, 1542–87

  The MERMAID

  The White Queen

  Mary, second wife of King James II of England, 1658–1718

  The QUEEN OF TEARS

  Mary I, queen of England, 1516–58

  BLOODY MARY

  Mehmed II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1432–81

  The CONQUEROR

  Merfyn, king of Gwynedd, c.780–844

  The FRECKLED

  Michael III, Byzantine emperor, 838–67

  The DRUNKARD

  Michael V, Byzantine emperor, d.c.1042

  The CAULKER

  [N]

  Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of the French, 1769–1821

  The LITTLE CORPORAL

  Boney

  The Corsican General

  The Eagle

  The Nightmare of Europe

  Tiddy-Doll

  The Violet Corporal

  Napoleon Francois Bonaparte, titular king of Rome, 1811–32

  The EAGLET

  Nicholas I, tsar of Russia, 1796–1855

  The IRON TSAR

  The Gendarme of Europe

  [ O ]

  Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, 1599–1658


  NOSE ALMIGHTY

  Copper Nose

  Crum-Hell

  King Oliver

  Nosey

  Old Ironsides

  Old Noll

  Ruby Nose

  Omar I, second caliph, c.581–644

  The COMMANDER OF THE FAITHFUL

  Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire, 1259–1326

  The VICTORIOUS

  Otto, duke of Austria, d.1339

  The JOLLY

  Otto, king of Bavaria, 1848–1916

  The MAD

  Otto II, king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, 955–83

  The BLOODY

  The Red

  Rufus

  [ P ]

  Paul II, earl of Orkney, d.c.1138

  The SILENT

  Pepin, Frankish prince, d.811

  The HUNCHBACK

  Pepin III, king of the Franks, c.714–68

  The SHORT

  Peter I, king of Portugal, 1320–67

  The CRUEL

  The Just

  Peter I, tsar of Russia, 1672–1725

  The GREAT

  Peter IV, king of Aragon, 1319–87

  The CEREMONIOUS

  Peter of the Dagger

  Philaretos, Byzantine nobleman, 702–92

  The MERCIFUL

  Philip I, duke of Orleans, 1747–93

  CITIZEN EQUITY

  Philip I, king of Castile, 1478–1506

  The HANDSOME

  Philip I, king of France, 1052–1108

  The AMOROUS

  Philip II, duke of Burgundy, 1342–1404

  The BOLD

  Philip II, duke of Orleans, 1674–1723

  The GODLESS REGENT

  Philip II, king of France, 1165–1223

  The MAGNANIMOUS

  Philip Augustus

  Philip II, king of Spain, 1527–98

  The PRUDENT

  Philip III, duke of Burgundy, 1396–1467

  The GOOD

  Philip III, king of France, 1245–85

  The BOLD

  The Daring

  Philip IV, king of France, 1268–1314

  The FAIR

  Philip VI, king of France, 1293–1350

  The LUCKY

  Ptolemy I, king of Egypt, c.367–c.283 BC

  The SAVIOUR

  Ptolemy II, king of Egypt, 308–246 BC

  The BROTHER-LOVING

  Ptolemy III, king of Egypt, 282–211 BC

  The BENEFACTOR

  Ptolemy IV, king of Egypt, c.238–205 BC

  The LOVER OF HIS FATHER

  Ptolemy V, king of Egypt, c.210–180 BC

  The ILLUSTRIOUS

  Ptolemy VI, king of Egypt, c.180–145 BC

  The LOVER OF HIS MOTHER

  Ptolemy VII, king of Egypt, d.144 BC

  The NEW LOVER OF HIS FATHER

  Ptolemy VIII, king of Egypt, d.116 BC

  The POT-BELLIED

  The Benefactor

  Fatso

  The Malefactor

  Ptolemy IX, king of Egypt, d.81 BC

  The CHICKPEA

  Fatso

  Ptolemy X, king of Egypt, d.88 BC

  The SON OF A BITCH

  Ptolemy XI, king of Egypt, d.80 BC

  ALEXANDER II

  Ptolemy XII, king of Egypt, c.112–51 BC

  The FLUTE PLAYER

  [ R ]

  Ramiro II, king of Aragon, d.1154

  The MONK

  René I, duke of Anjou and king of Sicily, 1409–80

  GOOD KING RENÉ

  Richard, son of Gilbert de Clare, second earl of Pembroke, d.1176

  STRONGBOW

  Richard I, king of England, 1157–99

  The LIONHEART

  Richard II, king of England, 1367–1400

  The COXCOMB

  Richard III, king of England, 1452–85

  Richard CROOKBACK

  Richard Cromwell, English statesman, 1626–1712

  QUEEN DICK

  Richard Neville, sixteenth earl of Warwick, 1428–71

  The KINGMAKER

  Robert, duke of Apulia, c.1015–85

  The CUNNING

  The Weasel

  Robert I, king of Scotland, 1274–1329

  The BRUCE

  Robert II, duke of Normandy, c.1054–1134

  Robert CURTHOSE

  Gambaron

  Robert II, king of France, c.970–1031

  The PIOUS

  Robert II, king of Scotland, 1316–90

  The STEWARD

  Auld Blearie

  Robert III, king of Scotland, c.1337–1406

  JOHN OF YESTERYEAR

  Robert Devereux, second earl of Essex, 1567–1601

  The ENGLISH ACHILLES

  Roger I, count of Sicily, 1031–1101

  The GREAT COUNT

  The Terror of the Faithless

  Rosamund Clifford, mistress of King Henry II of England, c.1140–c.1176

  FAIR ROSAMUND

  Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor, 1552–1612

  The PRINCE OF ALCHEMY

  Rupert, prince of the Palatinate, 1619–82

  The MAD CAVALIER

  [ S ]

  Saladin, Saracen leader, c.1138–93

  The CHIVALROUS SARACEN

  Sancho I, king of Castile and Léon, d. 967

  The FAT

  Sancho I, king of Portugal, 1154–1211

  The SETTLER

  Sarah Jennings, first duchess of Marlborough, 1660–1744

  QUEEN SARAH

  Mrs Freeman

  Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, 1368–1437

  The LIGHT OF THE WORLD

  The Red Demon

  Sigurd I, earl of Orkney, d.892

  The MIGHTY

  Sigurd I, king of Norway, c.1089–1130

  The CRUSADER

  Sigurd II, earl of Orkney, d.1014

  The STOUT

  Sitric, king of Dublin and York, d.927

  The SQUINT-EYED

  Sophia Charlotte, mistress of King George I of England, 1675–1725

  The ELEPHANT

  Suleiman I, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1495–1566

  The MAGNIFICENT

  The Lawgiver

  Sven I, king of Denmark and England, c.960–1014

  Sven FORKBEARD

  [ T ]

  Theobald, king of Navarre, 1201–53

  The TROUBADOUR

  Theodosius I, Roman emperor of the East and West, 347–95

  The GREAT

  Thomas Cromwell, first earl of Essex, c.1485–1540

  The HAMMER OF THE MONKS

  Thorstein, Norse king of Scotland, d.900

  The RED

  [ V ]

  Victor Emmanuel II, king of Italy, 1820–78

  The GALLANT KING

  Guaff

  Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom, 1819–1901

  The WIDOW OF WINDSOR

  The Grandmother of Europe

  Mrs Brown

  Vlad Tepes, prince of Wallachia, c.1431–76

  The IMPALER

  Dracula

  [ W ]

  Waldemar II, king of Denmark, 1170–1241

  The VICTORIOUS

  Wenceslas, king of Germany and Bohemia, 1361–1419

  The WORTHLESS

  The Drunkard

  Wilfrid, founding father of Catalan political independence, d.897

  The SHAGGY

  The Hairy

  William, count of Apulia, d.1046

  The IRON ARM

  William I, king of England, c.1028–87

  The CONQUEROR

  The Bastard

  William I, king of Scotland, 1143–1214

  The LION

  William I, king of Sicily, 1120–66

  The BAD

  William I, prince of Orange, 1533–84

  The SILENT

  The Father of the Fatherland

  William II, king of England, c.1056–1100

  William RUFUS

  William IV, king o
f England, 1765–1837

  The SAILOR KING

  Silly Billy

  William Douglas, fourth duke of Queensbury, 1724–1810

  The RAKE OF PICCADILLY

  Old Q

  Wu Hou, empress of China, 625–705

  Lady Wu the POISONER

  Divine Sovereign

  Holy Mother

  [ Y ]

  Yung-cheng, emperor of China, 1678–1735

  The IMMORTAL

  [ Z ]

  Zenobia, queen of Palmyra, fl. third century

  The QUEEN OF THE EAST

  Bibliography

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  R. Andrews, The Columbia Dictionary of Quotations (New York: Columbia University Press, 1993).

  M. Ashley, The Life and Times of William I (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1973).

  —, The Mammoth Book of British Kings and Queens (London: Constable & Robinson, 1998).

  R. Barber, Edward, Prince of Wales and Aquitaine: A Biography of the Black Prince (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press, 2003).

  F. Barlow, William Rufus (London: Methuen, 1983).

  C. Barnett, Bonaparte (Ware, Hertfordshire: Wordsworth, 1997).

  C. L. Barnhart (ed.), The New Century Cyclopedia of Names (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1954).

  R. Bartlett, The Making of Europe: Conquest, Colonization and Cultural Change 950–1350 (London: Penguin, 1994).

  —, England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings, 1075 –1225 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000).

  H. Belloc, Characters of the Reformation: Historical Portraits of 23 Men and Women and Their Place in the Great Religious Revolution of the 16th Century (Rockford, IL: TAN Books and Publishers, 1992).

  G. Benecke, Maximilian I (1459–1519): An Analytical Biography (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1982).

  V. L. Benes and N. G. J. Pounds, Poland (London: Ernest Benn, 1970).

  L. E. Berry and R. O. Crumney (eds.), Rude & Barbarous Kingdom: Russia in the Accounts of Sixteenth-Century English Voyagers (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1968).

  M. R. Best and F. H. Brightman (eds.), The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1973).

  B. Bevan, Henry IV (London: The Rubicon Press, 1994).

  —, King William III: Prince of Orange, the First European (London: The Rubicon Press, 1997).

  C. Bingham, James V: King of Scots, 1512–1542 (London: Collins, 1971).

  —, The Stewart Kingdom of Scotland 1371–1603 (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1974).

  —, James VI of Scotland (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1979).

  T. N. Bisson, The Medieval Crown of Aragon: A Short History (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986).

  H. Bolitho, Albert: Prince Consort (London: David Bruce & Watson, 1970).

  S. Bradford, King George VI (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1989).

  E. C. Brewer, Historic Note-Book with an Appendix of Battles (London: Smith, Elder, 1891).

  R. Briggs, Early Modern France: 1560 –1715, 2nd edn (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998).

  P. H. Brown, A Short History of Scotland, new edn ed. H. W. Meikle (Edinburgh: Oliver & Boyd, 1951).

 

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