Category Archives: The Awesome Epithets of European Nobility and Royalty

The Awesome Nicknames of European Nobility and Royalty, part 4

By terje | Published: July 13, 2009
Moving a bit forward in history this time, to the age of Metternich and his lot. Julius Jacob von Haynau (October 14, 1786 – March 14, 1853). The Hyena of Brescia. Haynau was a Austrian noble and general whose hatred of revolutionary ideals (and revolutionaries, for that matter) was legendary. He also had an infamously bad temper, so [...]
Also posted in History, Links, Lists, Revanche! | 1 Comment

The Awesome Epithets of European Nobility and Royalty, part 3

By terje | Published: July 7, 2009
It seems I promised you a series of these once, so let’s continue, shall we? Constantine V (741-775) of Byzantium: Kopronymos — the Dung-Named. Constantine was an Iconoclast, and hostile Iconodules referred to him as “the Dung-Named”, as he was to have defecated in the purple cloth in which he was swaddled during his baptism. Imagine how nice [...]
Also posted in Byzantium, Greek stuff, Impressions, Irony, Links, Lists, Medieval stuff, Roman stuff | 17 Comments

The Awesome Epithets of European Nobility and Royalty, part 2

By terje | Published: March 30, 2009
Anund Jacob (1022-1050) of Sweden: the Coalburner (Colbrænnæ). When this Swedish king was elected ruler by the Thing the people objected to his foreign name, and appended an “Anund” to it. When not caring for the balance of power in Scandinavia by supporting Olav Digre of Norway against Knut of Denmark, Anund Jacob enjoyed crusading in [...]
Also posted in History, Norse stuff | 2 Comments

The Awesome Epithets of European Nobility and Royalty, part 1

By terje | Published: March 30, 2009
General Introduction Whenever someone distinguished themselves in olden days, be it positively or negatively, it was customary to give them a nickname (also known as an epithet). Some of these are plain and dull (Haakon the Good, Louis the Pious), but some are more fascinating (Philip the Handsome (an epithet which sounds ridiculously more fun in [...]
Also posted in History, My microcosmos, Roman stuff | 3 Comments