and Dublin, c.1040–95
Godred ‘White Hands’ was so named because of his habit of wearing white gauntlets into battle. A slightlymore outlandish choice of battledress was that of ‘Sebastian the Madman’, the sixteenth-century king of Portugal who dressed in green armour, in order that he might be clearly visible to one and all.
On his arrival in Paris in 1830, the son of Citizen EQUITY received two nicknames. The first was ‘the King of the Barricades’, after the form of mass protest that occurred before he was declared lieutenant-general of France. The second, ‘the Citizen King’, was conferred upon him ten days later when the people elected him their monarch.
After a cautious and conservative reign, Louis Philip was ousted by the Revolution of 1848. Again he used a pseudonym to ensure safety. When he arrived in England, his immigration papers stated that he was a humble citizen called ‘William Smith’.
Clicquot
Frederick William IV, king of Prussia, 1795–1861
Often depicted as a romantic aesthete rather than a hard-headed politician, Frederick William had specific tastes and strong views: he appreciated organized religion but believed in the divine right of kings; he liked the order of the German nation but disliked parliaments; and he loved champagne (for which the British satirical magazine Punch gave him his brand-specific nickname) but absolutely loathed France.
Omar the Commander of the Faithful
Omar I, second caliph, c.581–644
Succeeding Abu Bakr the UPRIGHT , Omar was the first of several caliphs to enjoy the title ‘the Commander of the Faithful’. His reign was marked by significant Islamic territorial expansion, including into Persia, but an obviously unfaithful Persian slave assassinated him.
Edward the Confessor
Edward, king of England, c.1003–66
It is widely accepted that Edward did not love the military life. It is also generally agreed that Edward did not love his wife, Edith (indeed their unconsummated marriage dissolved completely when he sent her off to a convent). Instead, Edward had one passion: the Church. The most enduring expression of his passion for Christianity is Westminster Abbey in London, the construction of which he personally financed.
The term ‘confessor’ can mean someone who makes their confession to a priest or it can denote a priest who hears confession. In Edward’s case, however, it describes a man whose entire life was a confession of his faith.
Conky see Arthur the IRON DUKE
Alfonso the Conqueror
Alfonso I, king of Portugal, c.1109–85
Qualities of boldness, persistence and guile made Alfonso an excellent first king of Portugal. His most famous conquest was that of Berber-controlled Lisbon in 1147 when, accompanied by soldiers originally recruited by St Bernard for the Second Crusade, he took the city after a four-month siege. His success assured him of a nickname and the continuity of the Portuguese monarchy.
Alfonso was a big man with a big beard who enjoyed a reputation of possessing Herculean strength. In 1169, however, the muscle-bound monarch trapped his leg in a gate and broke it so badly that he was never able to ride again. With his military career and conquering days at an end, Alfonso knighted his sixteen-year-old son Sancho the SETTLER (see NOBLE PROFESSIONS ) and prepared him for the throne.
Mehmed the Conqueror
Mehmed II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1432–81
Ottoman tradition demanded that each new sultan had to embark on a great conquest, and Mehmed plumped for the greatest prize of them all: Constantinople. It was a tall order, since the thickness of the city’s walls had foiled many a Turkish assault. Nevertheless, on the orders of the new sultan, Ottoman troops once more laid siege to it in April 1453.
At first, history looked like repeating itself. Heavy bombardment of the walls using a 28-foot-long monster of a cannon proved largely ineffective, and the inhabitants had no trouble in repairing the
Godred ‘White Hands’ was so named because of his habit of wearing white gauntlets into battle. A slightlymore outlandish choice of battledress was that of ‘Sebastian the Madman’, the sixteenth-century king of Portugal who dressed in green armour, in order that he might be clearly visible to one and all.
On his arrival in Paris in 1830, the son of Citizen EQUITY received two nicknames. The first was ‘the King of the Barricades’, after the form of mass protest that occurred before he was declared lieutenant-general of France. The second, ‘the Citizen King’, was conferred upon him ten days later when the people elected him their monarch.
After a cautious and conservative reign, Louis Philip was ousted by the Revolution of 1848. Again he used a pseudonym to ensure safety. When he arrived in England, his immigration papers stated that he was a humble citizen called ‘William Smith’.
Clicquot
Frederick William IV, king of Prussia, 1795–1861
Often depicted as a romantic aesthete rather than a hard-headed politician, Frederick William had specific tastes and strong views: he appreciated organized religion but believed in the divine right of kings; he liked the order of the German nation but disliked parliaments; and he loved champagne (for which the British satirical magazine Punch gave him his brand-specific nickname) but absolutely loathed France.
Omar the Commander of the Faithful
Omar I, second caliph, c.581–644
Succeeding Abu Bakr the UPRIGHT , Omar was the first of several caliphs to enjoy the title ‘the Commander of the Faithful’. His reign was marked by significant Islamic territorial expansion, including into Persia, but an obviously unfaithful Persian slave assassinated him.
Edward the Confessor
Edward, king of England, c.1003–66
It is widely accepted that Edward did not love the military life. It is also generally agreed that Edward did not love his wife, Edith (indeed their unconsummated marriage dissolved completely when he sent her off to a convent). Instead, Edward had one passion: the Church. The most enduring expression of his passion for Christianity is Westminster Abbey in London, the construction of which he personally financed.
The term ‘confessor’ can mean someone who makes their confession to a priest or it can denote a priest who hears confession. In Edward’s case, however, it describes a man whose entire life was a confession of his faith.
Conky see Arthur the IRON DUKE
Alfonso the Conqueror
Alfonso I, king of Portugal, c.1109–85
Qualities of boldness, persistence and guile made Alfonso an excellent first king of Portugal. His most famous conquest was that of Berber-controlled Lisbon in 1147 when, accompanied by soldiers originally recruited by St Bernard for the Second Crusade, he took the city after a four-month siege. His success assured him of a nickname and the continuity of the Portuguese monarchy.
Alfonso was a big man with a big beard who enjoyed a reputation of possessing Herculean strength. In 1169, however, the muscle-bound monarch trapped his leg in a gate and broke it so badly that he was never able to ride again. With his military career and conquering days at an end, Alfonso knighted his sixteen-year-old son Sancho the SETTLER (see NOBLE PROFESSIONS ) and prepared him for the throne.
Mehmed the Conqueror
Mehmed II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1432–81
Ottoman tradition demanded that each new sultan had to embark on a great conquest, and Mehmed plumped for the greatest prize of them all: Constantinople. It was a tall order, since the thickness of the city’s walls had foiled many a Turkish assault. Nevertheless, on the orders of the new sultan, Ottoman troops once more laid siege to it in April 1453.
At first, history looked like repeating itself. Heavy bombardment of the walls using a 28-foot-long monster of a cannon proved largely ineffective, and the inhabitants had no trouble in repairing the
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