Nicknames of Historical Personages

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:21:50 +0000

Nicknames come in two types, namely cognomens and sobriquets.

Cognomens are fanciful names, usually given by others, that were affixed before or after a person’s name. For example: Ivan IV of Russia is better remembered as “Ivan the Terrible” and William I of England is better known as “William the Conqueror.”

Sobriquets, on the other hand, are names that have become identified with a specific person. Examples include: “Scourge of God” is identified with Attila the Hun, while “The Little Corporal” with Napoleon I (Bonaparte) of France. But in some cases, a sobriquet can replace an individual’s personal name; and that particular individual is instead referred to by this nickname even in scholarly works. An example would be the Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Germanicus, who is more commonly known by his nickname Caligula.

Many historical personages are given popular nicknames, some of which can be quite interesting and amusing. Let’s look at some of them.

Ivailo (of Bulgaria) “Lakhanas”

Bulgarians slaughters the Byzantines

A swine herder, who led a peasant’s uprising that killed Constantine I in 1277 and ruled as emperor of Bulgaria from 1278 until 1279. Being a peasant, he was nicknamed after vegetables: one of them was “Bărdokva,” which is Bulgarian for “Lettuce” or “Radish.” He was also called “Lakhanas,” which means “Cabbage.”

Constantine V “Kopronymus”

Byzantine emperor from 741 to 755 AD. Though despotic, he was a capable emperor and military leader. He was also an iconoclast, and therefore received from his enemies, principally the iconophiles, a very insulting Greek nickname “Kopronymus,” literally “Dung-named,” due to his alleged repute of having defecated in the waters of regeneration during his baptism.

Catherine de’ Medici, “The Maggot from Italy’s Tomb”

“Catherine de’ Medici” (c1555), painting by François Clouet

Born to a wealthy 16th century Catholic Florentine ruling family, she was once a queen and regent of France. She was chiefly responsible for the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572, in which more than three thousand Huguenot Protestants were slain. Her ruthless character has gained her many unflattering nicknames, one of which was “The Maggot from Italy’s Tomb”, coined by the French historian Jules Michelet.

Raymond A. Spruance, “Electric Brain”

United States Navy admiral under whose command won a crucial victory in the greatest naval battle of World War II, the Battle of Midway, turning the tide of the war against Japan in the Pacific. For having exhibited leadership of exceptional intellectual competence and quick thinking skills, he was given the nickname “Electric Brain.”

Frederick I of Wurttemberg, “The Great Belly-Gerent”

The first king of Wurttemberg (1805-1816), part of modern day Baden-Wurttemberg state in southwestern Germany. He received the nickname “The Great Belly-Gerent” for his extreme obesity, about which Napoleon I (Bonaparte) of France remarked that he was especially created by God to demonstrate how far human skin can stretch without breaking.

John George I of Saxony, “Beer Jug”

“Johann Georg I of Saxony” (1652), Portrait by Franz Luycx.

Succeeded Christian I as elector of Saxony in 1611 and governed for forty five years. He was given the name “Beer Jug” because of his addiction to alcoholic beverages particularly beer, which, in combination with his indecision, would cost his electorate precious opportunities for possible dominance and territorial expansion.

Ragnar “Lodbrok”

One of the more celebrated Vikings in history; he lived his life as a pirate, invading and raiding nation after nation, and came to rule as king of Denmark, Sweden and Finland around the eighth or ninth century. He earned the cognomen “Lodbrok”, which means “Hairy Breeches,” because of his special fondness for wearing trousers sewn out of animal skins.

Malcolm IV, the Maiden

Succeeded his grandfather David I as king of Scotland in 1153 when he was only eleven years old. Later historians would give him the nickname “The Maiden”, not in any way to suggest any lack of strength on his part but because for the vow of chastity he had made, for his profound religious zeal and for having died unmarried at a very young age of twenty three in 1165.

Charles II of Spain (Carlos II el Hechizado)

“King Charles II of Spain“ by Don Carreno de Miranda

The last Habsburg king of Spain (1675-1770). He suffered from frequent bouts of epileptic seizures, mental retardation and severe physical defect, which rendered him unable to govern effectively. He was nicknamed “El Hechizado”, Spanish for “The Bewitched,” in the belief that his disabilities were the result of his being possessed by demons, that priests were often summoned to exorcise him.

Manuel Noriega, “Pineapple Face”

Military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989. Infamous for his cruelty and barbarity, he was eventually sentenced to be jailed at a US federal prison for crimes that include murder, drug trafficking, money-laundering and human rights abuses in 1992. His detractors gave him the contemptuous nickname “Pineapple face” on account of his pockmarked face.

Click on the following for more interesting history articles:

Socyberty » Raymond A. Spruance