Historical Figures Who Lived Up To Their Nicknames
Historical Figures Who Lived Up To Their Nicknames
Some historical figures are given particularly gruesome nicknames, either whilst alive or after their death, that shine a (rather dim) light on who they were as a person.
Let's go over some historical figures who really lived up to their nicknames—whether they painted them as a hero or villain.
The Grandmother Of Europe
Did you know that of the world's 28 remaining monarchies, five are directly descended from Queen Victoria? The Queen of England from 1837 to 1901 had nine children and 42 grandchildren, who all married into royal families in Europe, making Queen Victoria the "Grandmother of Europe".
Richard The Lionheart
Richard The Lionheart, otherwise known as Richard I of England, was King of England from 1189 to 1199. After winning favor with the previous monarch, Henry II, he earned his nickname "The Lionheart" for his courage and powerful leadership during a two-month siege of the Castillon-sur-Argen, a French castle. The first recorded use of the name was in 1191.
Edward Longshanks
Edward I of England was also called the "Hammer of the Scots", due to his invasion and domination of Scotland. That begat William "Braveheart" Wallace, who showed Longshanks that he couldn't bully the Scots for eternity. But "Longshanks" actually got his name from being six feet tall. Simply meaning "Long legs", he was a tall man for the medieval period.
Eirik Ale Lover
According to the Norwegian Landnámabók, or "Book Of Settlements", Vikings were commonly known by their nicknames, including one in particular, "Eirik Ale Lover". No prizes why he was known as an ale lover.
