English monarchs' nicknames

Introduction
Pseudonyms and nicknames are really popular nowadays. But people started using them from ancient times. I want to tell you about English monarchs' nicknames.

Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which can differ from his or her original or true name.
Pseudonyms are most usually adopted to hide an individual's real identity. A pseudonym may also be used for personal reasons. In some cases, pseudonyms are adopted because they are part of a cultural or organisational tradition.

Why do people use nicknames?
Human has always aspired to live several lives at the same time. More often there were used nicknames that allow to come up with a new role, social status and behavioral characteristics which were not enough in reality.
Researchers have identified a number of reasons why people take nicknames:
First, censorship.
The second popular reason of using a pseudonym is a dissonance of the real name and a desire to hide the origin.
Third - some are trying to change the destiny, bringing into the new name a certain symbolism.

Here are the main items of the formation of different nicknames by:
a place of birth and residence;
appearance;
personal qualities.

English monarchs' nicknames
In the UK's history there are 63 kings and queens, and more of them had nicknames. They were given both when the monarch was alive and after his death.

Classification of the reasons of nicknames' destination can be identified by the following criteria:
- By the appearance: Harold I Harefoot (Harold's nickname "Harefoot" is believed to refer to his speed and hunting skills), Sveyn I Forkbeard, Richard III Hunchback, William II Rufus (Red), Edward I Longshenks (Leggy), Henry II (Shortmantl);
William II Rufus
-By personal qualities: Henry I Boklerk (scholar), Mary I (Bloody), Edward the Martyr, Ethelred II Unreasonable, Canute the Great, Edward III the Confessor, Richard I the Lionheart, William I the Conqueror, Edmund II Ironsides.
Mary I (Bloody)

I can also select nicknames, which do not belong to any category. For example: Edward I the Elder, he has got this pseudonym because he was the first king of England with such a name or John Lackland, named like this because after the distribution of the paternal legacy he got a little number of lands.
- By the place of birth: Edward of Caernarfon, Richard II of Bordeaux, Henry IV of Bolingbroke.
Richard II of Bordeaux
Edward I the Elder

There were situations when the nicknames were given after the death of the monarch. As an example I can offer you Edward the Martyr. This king was mortally hurt, while sitting on a horseback. He fell to the ground, but his foot became stuck in the stirrup and the terrified horse dragged his body along the ground. The contemporaries were so shocked by this terrible death, that they gave him the postmortal nickname "Martyr".