• He routinely drank to excess, earning himself the additional nickname ‘the Drunkard’.
• He murdered his wife by setting a dog on her.
• He allegedly roasted his cook alive for serving up a ragout that Wenceslas deemed second-rate.
Europe became a slightly brighter place when, eventually deposed by his half-brother Sigismund the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, Wenceslas died, mercifully without any heirs.
[Y]
Charles the Young Pretender see BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE
[Z]
Zeus-Ammon see Alexander the GREAT
List of Entries by First Name
[ A ]
Abdul Hamid II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1842–1918
The DAMNED
Bloody Abdul
Abu Bakr, Muslim caliph, c.573–634
The UPRIGHT
The Father of the Maiden
The Truthful
Agnes, countess of Dunbar and March, c.1312–69
BLACK AGNES
Akbar, emperor of India, 1542–1605
The GREAT
The Guardian of Mankind
Albert, prince consort of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, 1819–61
The GOOD
Albert II, duke of Austria, 1289–1358
The LAME
The Wise
Albert III, duke of Austria, 1349–95
The ASTROLOGER
Albert with the Tress
The Braided
Albertus Magnus, German nobleman, c.1200–1280
The GREAT
Le Petit Albert
Alexander II, emperor of Russia, 1818–81
The EMANCIPATOR
Little Father
Alexander III, king of Macedonia, 356–323 BC
The GREAT
Macedonia’s Madman
The Two-Horned
Zeus-Ammon
Alexander III, king of Scotland, 1241–86
The GLORIOUS
Alexander Stewart, lord of Badenoch, 1343–c.1405
The WOLF OF BADENOCH
Big Alexander
Alfonso I, king of Portugal, c.1109–85
The CONQUEROR
Alfonso II, king of Asturias, 759–842
The CHASTE
Alfonso IV, king of Asturias and León, d.933
The MONK
Alfonso IV, king of Portugal, 1291–1357
The FIERCE
Alfonso X, king of Castile and Leon, 1221–84
The ASTRONOMER
The Learned
The Philosopher
The Wise
Alfred, king of Wessex, 849–99
The GREAT
Alfred d’Orsay, French nobleman, 1801–52
The LAST OF THE DANDIES
Amadeus VI, count of Savoy, 1334–83
The GREEN
Amadeus VII, count of Savoy, 1360–91
The RED
Amadeus VIII, duke of Savoy, 1383–1451
The PACIFIC
The Hermit of La Ripaille
Anne, duke of Joyeuse, 1561–87
The KING’S KING
Anne Boleyn, queen of England, c.1507–36
The GREAT WHORE
Anne of a Thousand Days
Anne, queen of England, 1515–57
The MARE OF FLANDERS
Anne, queen of England, 1665–1714
BRANDY NAN
Mrs Morley
Anthony, Burgundian nobleman, 1421–1504
The GREAT BASTARD
The Great
Antigonus I, king of Macedonia, 382–301 BC
The ONE-EYED
Archibald Douglas, third earl of Douglas, c.1328–1400
The GRIM
Archibald Douglas, fourth earl of Douglas, c.1369–1424
The LOSER
Archibald Douglas, fifth earl of Angus, c.1449–c.1513
BELL THE CAT
Archibald Douglas, sixth earl of Angus, c.1489–1557
Archibald GREYSTEEL
Aristides, Athenian statesman, c.530–468 BC
The JUST
Arnulf III, count of Flanders, 1055–71
The UNFORTUNATE
Arthgal, first earl of Warwick, fl. fifth century
The BEAR
Arthur Wellesley, duke of Wellington, 1769–1852
The IRON DUKE
Beaky
Conky
The Great Duke
Old Nosey
The Saviour of the Nations
Athelfleda, queen of England, d.c.964
The WHITE DUCK
The Little White Duck
Athelstan, king of the English, 895–939
The GLORIOUS
Attila, king of the Huns, 406–53
The SCOURGE OF GOD
The Terror of the World
Aud, Norse queen, fl. 850s
The DEEP-MINDED
Augustus II, king of Poland, 1670–1733
The STRONG
Aurelian, Roman emperor, 214–75
The RESTORER OF THE WORLD
The Greatest Goth
The Restorer of the Orient
[ B ]
Baldwin IV, king of Jerusalem, 1161–85
The LEPER
Basil II, Byzantine emperor, c.957–1025
The SLAYER OF THE BULGARS
Bejazet I, sultan of the Turks, 1347–1403
The THUNDERBOLT
Lightning
Bertrada, queen of the Franks, c.720–83
Bertha BIGFOOT
Queen Goosefoot
Boleslav III, prince of Poland, 1085–1138
The CROOKED-MOUTHED
Boleslav IV, prince of Poland, c.1120–73
The CURLY
Boleslav V, prince of Poland, 1226–79
The BASHFUL
The Chaste
[ C ]
Casimir III, king of Poland, 1310–70
The GREAT
The Peasants’ King
Catherine II, empress of Russia, 1729–96
The GREAT
The Little Mother of All the Russians
The Modern Messalina
Charles I, duke of Burgundy, 1433–77
The BOLD
The Audacious
Charles, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, c.688–741
The HAMMER
Charles I, king of England, 1600–1649
The LAST MAN
The Man of Blood
The Martyr
Charles I (Charlemagne), king of the Franks and Lombards and Holy Roman Emperor, c.742–814
The GREAT
Charles II, king of England, 1630–85
The MERRY MONARCH
The Black Boy
The Blackbird
Old Rowley
The Son of the Last Man
Charles II, king of France, 823–77
The BALD
The Most Christian King
Charles II, king of Spain, 1661–1700
The BEWITCHED
Charles III, Frankish king and Holy Roman Emperor, 839–88
The FAT
Little Charles
Charles IV, king of France, 1294–1328
The FAIR
Charles IV, king of Germany and Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor, 1316–78
The PARSON’S EMPEROR
The Pope’s Errand-Boy
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, 1500–1558
The HARLEQUIN
A Discrowned Glutton
A Second Charlemagne
Charles VI, king of France, 1368–1422
The SILLY
The Mad
The Well-Beloved
Charles VIII, king of France, 1470–98
The AFFABLE
The Scourge of God
Charles XII, king of Sweden, 1682–1718
The MADMAN OF THE NORTH
The Alexander of the North
Charles Seymour, sixth duke of Somerset, 1662–1748
The PROUD DUKE
Charle
s Edward Stuart, pretender to the English throne, 1720–88
BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE
The Highland Laddie
The Young Pretender
Childeric III, Merovingian king, d.755
The STUPID
Christian II, king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, 1481–1559
The TYRANT
The Cruel
The Nero of the North
Christian III, king of Denmark, 1503–59
The FATHER OF HIS PEOPLE
Christina, queen of Sweden, 1626–89
The MIRACLE OF NATURE
Christopher III, king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, 1418–48
The KING OF BARK
Claude, queen consort of Francis I of France, 1499–1524
The HANDSOME QUEEN
Clovis I, Merovingian king, c.466–511
The GREAT
Clovis II, Merovingian king, c.634–57
The DO-NOTHING KING
Constantine I, emperor of Rome, c.280–337
The GREAT
Constantine III, king of Scotland, d.997
The BALD
Cyrus II, Persian ruler, c.585–c.529 BC
The GREAT
[ D ]
David, king of Georgia, 1073–1125
The BUILDER
David Kalakaua, king of Hawaii, 1836–91
The MERRY MONARCH
The Last King of Paradise
Demetrius II, king of Georgia, 1269–89
The DEVOTED
The Man Who Sacrificed His Head
Denis, king of Portugal, 1261–1325
The FARMER
Diana, princess of Wales, 1961–97
The PEOPLE’S PRINCESS
The Queen of Hearts
Donald III, king of Scotland, c.1033–99
The WHITE
Duncan I, king of Scotland, c.1001–40
The GRACIOUS
[ E ]
Edgar, king of England, c.1052–c.1125
The OUTLAW
The Atheling
Edgar, king of the English, c.943–75
The PEACEABLE
The Peacemaker
Edmund I, king of the English, 921–46
The MAGNIFICENT
The Deed-Doer
Edmund II, king of England, c.993–1016
Edmund IRONSIDE
Edward, king of England, c.962–78
The MARTYR
Edward, king of England, c.1003–66
The CONFESSOR
Edward, king of Wessex, d.924
The ELDER
Edward, prince of Wales, 1330–76
The BLACK PRINCE
Edward I, king of England, 1239–1307
The HAMMER OF THE SCOTS
Edward Longshanks
The English Justinian
The Father of the Mother of Parliaments
The Lawgiver
Edward II, king of England, 1284–1327
Edward CARNARVON
Edward III, king of England, 1312–77
The BANKRUPT
The Father of English Commerce
The King of the Sea
Edward IV, king of England, 1442–83
The ROBBER
Edward VI, king of England, 1537–53
The JOSIAH OF ENGLAND
Edward VII, king of England, 1841–1910
The CARESSER
Bertie
The Peacemaker
Tum Tum
The Uncle of Europe
Edwy, king of the English, c.941–59
The FAIR
Eleanor ‘Nell’ Gwyn, mistress of King Charles II of England, 1650–87
The WITTY
Pretty Witty Nell
The Protestant Whore
Puddle-Nell
Sweet Nell
Elizabeth, countess of Transylvania, c.1560–1614
The BLOOD COUNTESS
Elizabeth, empress of Russia, 1709–62
The INFAMOUS
The Northern Harlot
Elizabeth, princess of the Palatine, 1618–80
The RED-NOSED PRINCESS
Elizabeth, queen of Bohemia, 1596–1662
The WINTER QUEEN
The Queen of Hearts
The Snow Queen
Elizabeth I, queen of England, 1533–1603
GOOD QUEEN BESS
Gloriana
An Untamed Heifer
The Queen of the Sea
The Virgin Queen
The World’s Wonder
Emma, queen of England, d.1052
The GEM OF NORMANDY
Erik, Viking explorer, 935–1001
The RED
Erik I, king of Denmark, 1056–1103
Erik EVERGOOD
Erik II, king of Denmark, d.1137
The MEMORABLE
Erik III, king of Denmark, d.1146
The MEEK
Erik IX, king of Sweden, d.1160
The SAINT
Erik XIV, king of Sweden, 1533–77
The ROMANTIC
Ernest, duke of Austria, 1383–1424
The IRON-HANDED
Ethelred II, king of England, 968–1016
The UNREADY
[ F ]
Ferdinand I, king of Portugal, 1345–83
The INCONSTANT
The Handsome
Ferdinand II, king of Aragon, 1452–1516
The CATHOLIC
Ferdinand II, king of the Two Sicilies, 1810–59
BOMBA
Ferdinand IV, king of Castile and Leon, 1285–1312
The SUMMONED
Francis, second duke of Guise, 1519–63
The SCARRED
Francis I, king of France, 1494–1547
The FATHER OF LETTERS
The Maecenas of France
Frederick I, king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, c.1123–90
BARBAROSSA
The Father of His Country
Frederick II, king of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, 1194–1250
The WONDER OF THE WORLD
The Antichrist
The Hammer of Christianity
Frederick II, king of Prussia, 1712–86
The GREAT
Alaric-Cotin
Old Fritz
The Sand Dealer
Frederick II, margrave of Brandenburg, 1413–71
Frederick IRONTOOTH
Frederick III, elector of Saxony, 1463–1525
The WISE
The Hesitater
The Learned
Frederick IV, duke of Austria, 1384–1439
The PENNILESS
Frederick V, elector Palatine and king of Bohemia, 1596–1632
The WINTER KING
The Snow King
Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, 1707–51
POOR FRED
Griff
Frederick William IV, king of Prussia, 1795–1861
CLICQUOT
Fulk III, count of Anjou, c.970–1040
The BLACK
Fulk IV, count of Anjou, 1043–1109
The SURLY
Fyodor I, tsar of Russia, 1557–98
The BELLRINGER
[ G ]
Geoffrey V, count of Anjou, 1113–51
Geoffrey PLANTAGENET
George, prince of Denmark, 1653–1703
ESTIL-POSSIBLE?
George I, king of England, 1660–1727
The TURNIP-HOER
George II, king of England, 1683–1760
The GREAT PATRON OF MANKIND
George III, king of England, 1738–1820
FARMER GEORGE
The Button-Maker
George IV, king of England, 1762–1830
The BEAU OF PRINCES
The Fat Adonis at Fifty
The Fat Adonis at Forty
The Prince of Whales
Prinny
George V, king of England, 1865–1936
The SAILOR PRINCE
Godred, king of Man and Dublin, c.1040–95
WHITE HANDS
Gorm, king of Denmark, d.c.958
The OLD
Götz von Berlichingen, German knight, 1480–1562
IRON-HAND
[ H ]
Haakon I, king of Norway, c.920–c.961
The GOOD
Haakon II, king of Norway, c.1147–62
The BROAD-SHOULDERED
Haile Sellassie I, emperor of Ethiopia, 1892–1975
The LION OF JUDAH
Halfdan III, king of Norway, d.c.86o
The BLACK
Harald, king of the Danes, c.910–c.985
Harald BLUETOOTH
Harald I, earl of Orkney, d.1131
The SMOOTH TALKER
Harold, king of Norway, c.860–c.940
Harold FAIRHAIR
Shockhead
Harold I, king of England, d.1040
Harold HAREFOOT
Harold II, king of England, c.1020–66
The LAST OF THE SAXONS
Haroun al-Rashid, caliph of the Abbasid dynasty, c.766–809
The JUST
Heneage Finch, first earl of Nottingham, 1621–82
The DISMAL
Henry, prince of Portugal, 1394–1460
The NAVIGATOR
Henry, prince of Wales, 1594–1612
OUR ENGLISH MARCELLUS
Henry I, count of Champagne, 1152–81
The LIBERAL
Henry I, duke of Guise, 1550–88
The SCARRED
Henry I, king of England, 1069–1135
Henry BEAUCLERC
Henry I, king of Germany, c.876–936
The FOWLER
Henry I, king of Navarre, c.1210–74
The FAT
Henry II, king of England, 1133–89
Henry CURTMANTLE
Henry II, king of France, 1519–59
The WARLIKE
Henry III, king of France, 1551–89
The MAN-MILLINER
Henry IV, king of England, 1366–1413
Henry BOLINGBROKE
Henry IV, king of France, 1553–1610
The GREAT
The King of Brave Men
Henry V, king of England, 1387–1422
The ENGLISH ALEXANDER
Henry V, king of Germany, 1086–1125
The PARRICIDE
Henry VI, king of England, 1421–71
The MARTYR
Ill-Fated Henry
Henry VI, king of Germany, 1165–97
The CRUEL
Henry VII, king of England, 1457–1509
The ENGLISH SOLOMON
Henry VIII, king of England, 1491–1547
BLUFF KING HAL
The Defender of the Faith Old Copper Nose
Henry Percy, English nobleman, 1364–1403
Harry HOTSPUR
Hereward, Saxon thane, fl. eleventh century
The WAKE
Hugh, Lord of Douglas, 1294–1342
The DULL
Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, 1391–1447
GOOD DUKE HUMPHREY
Hywel ap Gruffyth, Sir, Welsh nobleman, b.c.1284
Hywel of the HORSESHOES
Hywel, king of Wales, c.882–950
The GOOD
The Good, the Bad, and the Unready: The Remarkable Truth Behind History's Strangest Nicknames Page 23