There are many known epithets and nicknames with which emperors, kings, kings and other royalty went down in history. One of them was lucky: who wouldn’t be flattered, for example, to remain Great, Beautiful or Terrible for centuries and millennia? And here is the English king Henry VIII(1491 - 1547) has the right to complain about fate: he received the nickname "Old" from his subjects copper nose".
The reason for such a “high honor” was as follows. Under Henry VIII, the expenses of the court were very large: a lot of money went to official wives alone (and he had half a dozen of them), and the wars with France and Scotland required significant “capital investments.” All this led to a serious breakdown of the royal finances.
The loving and warlike monarch found an “original” way out of the situation: according to his secret instructions, silver coins began to be minted from ..... copper, only covering them with a thin layer of silver on top (during his reign, the silver content in coins decreased from 90 to 40% ). But here's the problem: every coin, being long years in use, gradually wears out. This same fate befell Henry VIII's shillings, which featured the king himself. And since the most prominent feature of the royal face on the coin was the nose, it suffered from wear and tear to a greater extent, than other, less convex parts of the portrait. The silver on the tip of the nose was worn away, shamelessly exposing the copper. That is why, during his lifetime, Henry VIII was popularly called “Old Brass Nose.” This nickname is still in use among numismatists.
Gold fish"
Fishermen, as you know, love to boast when talking about their catch. But the fact that a certain Iemura is an amateur fisherman from Japanese city Shimonoseki - caught a goldfish, local police can confirm.
One day, while he was fishing, the hook of his fishing rod got caught on something at the bottom. Carefully, so as not to break the fishing line, the fisherman pulled out his “prey” - a small but very heavy package. Iemura unfolded it and gasped: it contained bars of gold.
According to police estimates, the value of these bars (there were 21 of them) is 100 thousand dollars. Apparently, the goods of smugglers fell for the bait, and they temporarily hid the treasure on seabed, rightly believing that its inhabitants are indifferent to earthly treasures. But unfortunately for the smugglers, “the old man threw his net”...
Flying saucer?
One October evening in 1978, traffic in central London was paralyzed. Near Hyde Park and other areas English capital Hundreds of cars formed unprecedented traffic jams. Drivers and pedestrians in a single impulse turned their gaze upward: an unknown silver body hovered high in the sky above the city.
A few hours later, this “unidentified flying object” was finally identified: it turned out to be one launched by someone kite from aluminum foil.
Why did the steel fail?
The reasons for the breakdown of metal structures can be very diverse and sometimes quite unexpected. You can be convinced of this by reading an excerpt from an article by Thor Heyerdahl, in which he describes the incident that preceded the start of his expedition on the reed sailing ship"Tigris":
“On November 11, 1977, we lowered our ship into the Tigris and named it Tigris. What happened in last minute a misfire almost led to disaster. When we launched the Tigris into the water, the metal platform on which the ship was located could not stand it and broke, threatening to damage the hull and rope equipment. But, fortunately, no damage was caused to the Tigris, and a few moments later it was bobbing on the waters of the river. I attributed this misfire to a platform defect. However, my Arab friends knew better than me what was going on. “You refused to sacrifice a bull on the occasion of the launching of the ship,” they noted bitterly.”
Person and law
Since there is a law, there will always be a violator. Such is the fate of all laws adopted at any time and anywhere. But here is one of them, introduced back in the 14th century English king Henry IV, for five centuries no one could violate it, despite the fact that there were more than enough people who wanted to do this.
We are talking about the strictest ban on “transforming ordinary metals into gold.” As you know, in the Middle Ages there were many seekers of happiness who hoped with the help philosopher's stone get gold from “simpler” materials. Alas, their dreams never came true.
But what was beyond the power of alchemists is no problem for modern physicists: Through nuclear bombardment, they can transform some metals into others, including gold. English physicists, the decree of Henry IV, which has not yet been repealed, must have been “trampled on” more than once. I wonder how British lawyers react to such violations of the law?
Barrel - for money
For some time now, small change coins in denominations of 5 and 10 cents have begun to disappear from circulation in the Republic of Sri Lanka. What was the reason for this? As it turned out, copper coins are an excellent raw material for. . . manufacturing of nails, prices for which are last years have increased noticeably and are now several times higher than the nominal value of these coins. And then there were practical people who decided that making nails out of money was much more profitable than paying money for nails. The "nail trade" could turn into serious problem. To stop this, the Central Bank of Colombo announced that aluminum coins of the same denomination would be issued to replace the copper five and ten cent coins.
But is this a way out? After all, aluminum prices on the world market are also, figuratively speaking, not marking time. This has already been felt, for example, by English brewers, who are seriously concerned that theft of aluminum beer barrels has become fashionable. Enterprising swindlers melt down barrels and ingots, which they then sell and turn into money. In short: barrels are for money. But brewers have to shell out money again for the barrel, or rather, per barrel. According to the brewers' union, the annual loss of "unstocked casks" is estimated at almost two million pounds sterling. Recently, the police discovered and confiscated a stock of aluminum ingots from a Scottish resident, which he obtained by melting down 672 stolen barrels.
Iron "menu"
Fakir Ali Ben Camelia (Swiss illusionist Camille Rossier performs in the circus under this name), celebrating his 50th birthday, swallowed. . . razor blade. The guests present gave the hero of the day a storm of applause: after all, this blade was “not simple, but golden” for him, or rather the 50,000th in his life.
Rossier began his swallowing work at the age of sixteen; then he first performed in the arena of a traveling circus in Brussels as a “sword swallower”. And for more than thirty years now, his artistic “menu” has included very “refined dishes”: short sabers, bayonets, spoons, razor blades. When asked why he prefers such too spicy “food”, the fakir usually answers: “Iron is very good for health.”
As they say, there is no arguing about tastes.
New test method
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In the south of France, in the town of Saint-Ambrois, lives a certain Claude Lefauchet, who gained fame thanks to his rare profession. More precisely, his profession is not so rare - a gold digger, but his search methods are truly unique. He places nylon mats at the bottom of small rivers, takes them out two weeks later and then extracts grains of gold from them in his garage, which also serves as a “laboratory”. How he does this is the secret of the “company”.
Apparently, such an original booty precious metal It is unlikely that Lefoshe will allow him to make a large fortune, however, he has been persistently doing his business for a good ten years. Perhaps he liked this occupation, and besides, in such a job, Lefoshe can look to the future with confidence: he is not threatened with dismissal.
What place in England cannot the Queen enter?
The only place in Great Britain that the king or queen cannot enter is the House of Commons. This tradition was introduced by deputies after King Charles the First tried to arrest five members of the House of Commons for anti-royalist views in 1642.
How does the wife Louis XIV Did you go sledding in the summer?
One day wife French king Louis XIV, Madame Maintenon wanted to ride a sleigh in the middle of summer. The next morning, she was given a multi-kilometer snow course made of salt and sugar along the roads of Versailles.
Which medieval king fought like a knight even when he was blind?
John of Luxembourg was the Czech king for almost 20 years in the 14th century. But he was almost never in the Czech Republic; instead, he traveled around Europe and took part in various battles, either for the French or for German knights. Even though he was blind, he took part in the Battle of Crecy, tying his reins to those of two other knights. He died in this battle.
How did the Swedish king Gustav III check the harmfulness of tea and coffee?
Swedish King Gustav III once decided to personally check what was more harmful to humans - tea or coffee. For this purpose, two twins were selected, sentenced to death penalty. The first was given a large cup of tea three times a day, the second - coffee. The king himself did not live to see the end of the experiment, being killed. The twins lived a long time, but the one who drank tea was the first to die at the age of 83.
Where was the custom of sucking the king's nipples to show one's devotion?
In ancient Ireland, subjects demonstrated loyalty to the king. in a strange way- they sucked his nipples.
How did a provincial French lawyer become the king of a state in South America in the 19th century?
The Frenchman Aurélie-Antoine de Tounant, who lived in the 19th century, dreamed of adventures and travel to distant countries and board own kingdom. Having received an education and worked as a lawyer in a provincial town, he did not give up his fantasies and carefully prepared to implement the plan. Having found a sponsor, Tunan and two comrades went to South America to the lands where the Araucan Indians lived. Formally, these territories were part of the state of Chile, but the Indians successfully fought the colonialists. The Frenchman inspired the Indians with his speeches to proclaim a new state - Araucania, began to rule it under the name Antoine I and managed to wage a war with Chile. Although in the end the Araucanians were defeated, and Antoine I himself was arrested and sent back to France.
What on the River Thames belongs to Queen Elizabeth II?
All unmarked mute swans on the Thames belong to Queen Elizabeth II. The royal family established ownership of swans as early as the 12th century, when they were served as a delicacy. Nowadays the birds are not eaten, but the rights under English law are preserved.
Which of the Russian rulers wooed Queen of England?
Ivan the Terrible wooed Queen Elizabeth I of England, but was refused.
Why did Canada give one of the maternity hospital wards in Ottawa status outside Canadian jurisdiction in 1943?
During World War II, the Germans occupied the Netherlands and The Royal Family was evacuated to Canada. There, the current Queen Juliana gave birth to her third daughter, Margrit. The ward in the maternity hospital where the birth took place was declared outside Canadian jurisdiction by a special decree of the Canadian government. This was done so that Princess Margriet could lay claim to the throne of the Netherlands in the future, because having received foreign citizenship at birth, she would have lost this right. In gratitude to the Canadians after returning home, the Dutch royal family sends thousands of tulip bulbs every year to Ottawa, where the annual tulip festival takes place.
What prediction of the Oracle was disastrous for the king, who did not understand its meaning?
The Lydian king Croesus, before attacking the Persians, decided to ask the Delphic Oracle about the need for this. He replied that if Croesus attacks, he will destroy great empire. As a result, the Lydians were defeated in the war, but the prediction still came true - only in relation to Croesus’s own empire.
Which monarch survived more than 50 attempts on his life?
Albanian President Ahmet Zogu, then king of that country from 1928 to 1939, survived more than 50 attempts on his life. In 1931, they tried to kill him near the Vienna theater when the king was getting into his car. Zogu took out his pistol and returned fire, which saved him - the killers fled. This the only case V modern history, When official head state personally shot at people trying to kill him.
Who produced a library for his son for 28 years?
Louis XIV ordered his son to be released to raise educational library Greek and Roman classics, cleared of obscenities and accompanied by commentaries on difficult passages. The collection of 64 volumes was completed 28 years after the start of work, when the son himself had long ago had children.
What phrase from Frederick the Great helped chess players achieve tax benefits?
In 1982, the German Chess Federation, after many years of attempts, achieved recognition of chess from the Ministry of Finance useful view sports that have educational value (which allowed the federation to receive tax benefits). The decisive argument was a quote from the letter Prussian king Frederick the Great: Chess fosters a penchant for independent thinking. The end of this phrase, which the federation chose not to quote, read: ... and therefore they should not be encouraged.
Who apologized for stepping on the executioner's foot?
When French queen Marie Antoinette was led to the guillotine, she stepped on the executioner's foot. Excuse me, I did it accidentally - this phrase became her last words.
Why bluetooth technology so called?
Bluetooth technology was named after the Danish king Harald I Bluetooth. In the 10th century, this king united the disparate Danish tribes, and Bluetooth was intended to do the same with communication protocols, unifying them into one universal standard.
What expressions came from the decree to brand the foreheads of criminals?
In 1746, Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna ordered the foreheads of criminals to be branded. Many originate from here idioms: written on the forehead, branded with shame and a hardened criminal.
What kind of person was the Swedish king really like? Charles XII?
Swede John Magnus's 16th-century work on the history of Swedish kings was fictional, but still has serious implications. Magnus came up with 5 Erics before Eric the Victorious and 6 Charles before Karl Sverkersson. That's why famous king Charles XII was in fact only the sixth.
What voyages made Henry the Navigator famous?
The Portuguese Prince Henry (Enrique) the Navigator never sailed anywhere as a captain and generally went few places from Portugal, and received his nickname because he was the organizer of many Portuguese expeditions that led to the discovery of new lands.
Who executed poets for sad poems?
Chinese Emperor Qianlong executed poets for writing sad poems.
Which French king reigned for 20 minutes?
The July Revolution of 1830 prompted the French king Charles to abdicate the throne, and he demanded the abdication of his eldest son (in order to transfer power to his grandson Henry). The Duke of Angoulême signed the abdication after 20 minutes, so from a formal point of view, he reigned as Louis XIX for these 20 minutes.
In 1681, the Kremlin alarm bell was imprisoned in the Nikolsko-Karelian Monastery because its ringing disturbed the sleep of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich. In 1591, by order of Boris Godunov, the ears were cut off and the tongue of the Uglich bell, which informed the people about the death of Tsarevich Dimitri, was torn out; then he was exiled to Tobolsk.
Why was the English king called the old copper nose?
English king Henry VIII, instead of making silver shillings, began minting them from copper, then covering them with silver. The silver quickly wore off, especially on the most protruding parts, which included the king’s nose. Because of this, the king received the nickname old copper nose.
Perhaps everyone has heard of such monarchs as Alexander the Great, Richard Lion Heart, Louis XIV "The Sun King". However, many rulers with nicknames were much less fortunate. People mocked some of them, “hanging” unflattering labels for stupidity or complete madness.
Grandmother of Europe
Queen Victoria of Great Britain was nicknamed "Grandmother of Europe." She gave birth to nine children, who in turn produced 42 royal offspring. Queen Victoria took care of profitable parties not only for their children, but also for some grandchildren. As you know, Her Majesty’s descendants are present in the Windsor dynasty (the monarchical dynasty of Great Britain), Spanish Bourbons, Hohenzollers (grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Prussia), Romanovs (granddaughter of Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Nicholas II).
Old copper nose
During the reign of the English king Henry VIII, the state treasury was rapidly emptying. Long military campaigns against Scotland and France took their toll. The king also did not deny himself extravagant and expensive entertainment. In his declining years, Henry VIII decided to save on coinage.
The fact is that shillings were previously minted from silver, and Henry VIII decided to save on their production by using copper as the base metal. Only the thinnest layer of silver was applied on top. The full face of the king was printed on shillings, and the silver plating was first erased on the most protruding part of the coin, i.e. on the nose. For this, the king soon received the nickname “Old Copper Nose.”
Bloody Mary
« Bloody Mary"is the name of not only an alcoholic cocktail, but also the nickname of the English Queen Mary I Tudor. This woman was known as an ardent Catholic and, after ascending the throne, began a fierce struggle against Protestants. More than 300 “heretics” were burned at the stake. During her entire reign, not a single monument was erected to the queen, and the day of her death was celebrated as a national holiday.
Charles VI the Mad
The official nickname of the French king Charles VI sounded like Beloved. As he grew older he became handsome and strong man. But over time, the people gave the monarch another nickname - Mad. At the age of 24, the king suffered from a long fever, after which he began to show signs of madness. Charles VI had outbursts at first uncontrollable anger, then hallucinations appeared. The monarch could fall into a coma for several days.
Sometimes the king felt like he was made of glass. At such moments, Karl ordered to put armor on him so as not to break. Once for 5 months he refused to wash himself, change his clothes or cut his beard. 12 servants forcibly changed the king's clothes.
King Pear
Louis-Philippe d'Orléans was proclaimed King of France on August 7, 1830. At first, the people were impressed by the new ruler. He abolished the court ceremony, his children attended regular school, and Louis Philippe himself walked the streets of Paris on foot. For this, he was initially nicknamed the “Citizen King.” After some time, it became clear that the king was a petty, quarrelsome person who did nothing for the common people.
Gradually, Louis Philippe acquired a new nickname - “The Pear King”. In part, people hinted at the king’s obesity. On french word"pear" sounds like "poire". This word can also be translated as “fool, simpleton.”
The English king Richard I also had several nicknames. The most famous of them was "Lionheart".
What place in England cannot the Queen enter?
The only place in Great Britain that the king or queen cannot enter is the House of Commons. This tradition was introduced by deputies after King Charles the First tried to arrest five members of the House of Commons for anti-royalist views in 1642.
Why was the English king called the old copper nose?
The English king Henry VIII, instead of making silver shillings, began minting them from copper, then covering them with silver. The silver quickly wore off, especially on the most protruding parts, which included the king’s nose. Because of this, the king received the nickname old copper nose.
What on the River Thames belongs to Queen Elizabeth II?
All unmarked mute swans on the Thames belong to Queen Elizabeth II. The royal family established ownership of swans as early as the 12th century, when they were served as a delicacy.
Nowadays the birds are not eaten, but the rights under English law are preserved.
Which Russian ruler wooed the Queen of England?
Ivan the Terrible wooed Queen Elizabeth I of England, but was refused.
How did Louis XIV's wife ride a sleigh in the summer?
One day, the wife of the French king Louis XIV, Madame Maintenon, wanted to ride a sleigh in the middle of summer. The next morning, she was given a multi-kilometer snow course made of salt and sugar along the roads of Versailles.
Which medieval king fought like a knight even when he was blind?
John of Luxembourg was the Czech king for almost 20 years in the 14th century. But he was almost never in the Czech Republic; instead, he traveled around Europe and participated in various battles, either for the French or for the German knights.
Even though he was blind, he took part in the Battle of Crecy, tying his reins to those of two other knights. He died in this battle.
How did the Swedish king Gustav III check the harmfulness of tea and coffee?
Swedish King Gustav III once decided to personally check what was more harmful to humans - tea or coffee.
For this purpose, two twins sentenced to death were selected. The first was given a large cup of tea three times a day, the second - coffee. The king himself did not live to see the end of the experiment, being killed.
The twins lived a long time, but the one who drank tea was the first to die at the age of 83.
Where was the custom of sucking the king's nipples to show one's devotion?
In ancient Ireland, subjects showed their devotion to the king in a strange way - they sucked his nipples.
How did a provincial French lawyer become the king of a state in South America in the 19th century?
The Frenchman Aurélie-Antoine de Tounant, who lived in the 19th century, dreamed of adventure, traveling to distant lands and ruling his own kingdom since childhood.
Having received an education and worked as a lawyer in a provincial town, he did not give up his fantasies and carefully prepared to implement the plan.
Having found a sponsor, Tunan and two comrades went to South America to the lands where the Araucan Indians lived. Formally, these territories were part of the state of Chile, but the Indians successfully fought the colonialists. The Frenchman inspired the Indians with his speeches to proclaim a new state - Araucania, began to rule it under the name Antoine I and managed to wage a war with Chile.
Although in the end the Araucanians were defeated, and Antoine I himself was arrested and sent back to France.
Why did Canada give one of the maternity hospital wards in Ottawa status outside Canadian jurisdiction in 1943?
During World War II, the Germans occupied the Netherlands and the royal family was evacuated to Canada. There, the current Queen Juliana gave birth to her third daughter, Margrit.
The ward in the maternity hospital where the birth took place was declared outside Canadian jurisdiction by a special decree of the Canadian government. This was done so that Princess Margriet could lay claim to the throne of the Netherlands in the future, because having received foreign citizenship at birth, she would have lost this right.
In gratitude to the Canadians after returning home, the Dutch royal family sends thousands of tulip bulbs every year to Ottawa, where the annual tulip festival takes place.
What prediction of the Oracle was disastrous for the king, who did not understand its meaning?
The Lydian king Croesus, before attacking the Persians, decided to ask the Delphic Oracle about the need for this. He replied that if Croesus attacks, he will destroy the great empire.
As a result, the Lydians were defeated in the war, but the prediction still came true - only in relation to Croesus’s own empire.
Which monarch survived more than 50 attempts on his life?
Albanian President Ahmet Zogu, then king of that country from 1928 to 1939, survived more than 50 attempts on his life.
In 1931, they tried to kill him near the Vienna theater when the king was getting into his car. Zogu took out his pistol and returned fire, which saved him - the killers fled. This is the only case in modern history when an official head of state personally shot at people trying to kill him.
Who produced a library for his son for 28 years?
Louis XIV ordered the release of an educational library of Greek and Roman classics, cleared of obscenities and accompanied by commentaries on difficult passages, for the education of his son. The collection of 64 volumes was completed 28 years after the start of work, when the son himself had long ago had children.
What phrase from Frederick the Great helped chess players achieve tax benefits?
In 1982, the German Chess Federation, after many years of attempts, obtained from the Ministry of Finance the recognition of chess as a useful sport with educational value (which allowed the federation to receive tax benefits).
The decisive argument was a quote from a letter from the Prussian king Frederick the Great: Chess fosters a tendency to think independently. The end of this phrase, which the federation chose not to quote, read: ... and therefore they should not be encouraged.
Who apologized for stepping on the executioner's foot?
When the French queen Marie Antoinette was led to the guillotine, she stepped on the executioner's foot. Excuse me, I did it accidentally - this phrase became her last words.
Why is Bluetooth technology called this?
Bluetooth technology was named after the Danish king Harald I Bluetooth.
In the 10th century, this king united the disparate Danish tribes, and Bluetooth was intended to do the same with communication protocols, unifying them into one universal standard.
What expressions came from the decree to brand the foreheads of criminals?
In 1746, Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna ordered the foreheads of criminals to be branded. This is where many popular expressions originate: on the forehead it is written, to be branded with shame and a hardened criminal.
Who was the Swedish king Charles XII really like?
Swede John Magnus's 16th-century work on the history of Swedish kings was fictional, but still has serious implications. Magnus came up with 5 Erics before Eric the Victorious and 6 Charles before Karl Sverkersson. Therefore, the famous King Charles XII was actually only the sixth.
What voyages made Henry the Navigator famous?
The Portuguese Prince Henry (Enrique) the Navigator never sailed anywhere as a captain and generally went few places from Portugal, and received his nickname because he was the organizer of many Portuguese expeditions that led to the discovery of new lands.
Who executed poets for sad poems?
Chinese Emperor Qianlong executed poets for writing sad poems.
Which French king reigned for 20 minutes?
The July Revolution of 1830 prompted the French king Charles to abdicate the throne, and he demanded the abdication of his eldest son (in order to transfer power to his grandson Henry).
The Duke of Angoulême signed the abdication after 20 minutes, so from a formal point of view, he reigned as Louis XIX for these 20 minutes.
In 1681, the Kremlin alarm bell was imprisoned in the Nikolsko-Karelian Monastery because its ringing disturbed the sleep of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich.
In 1591, by order of Boris Godunov, the ears were cut off and the tongue of the Uglich bell, which informed the people about the death of Tsarevich Dimitri, was torn out; then he was exiled to Tobolsk.
As we know, every country has its own leader or ruler. We also have our own president. But not about him we'll talk. Below is a small selection of interesting facts about the leaders of different states.
1. Japanese Emperor Akihito is the 125th chief of state in an unbroken dynasty dating back to the 1st century BC.
13. The conqueror Tamerlane built pyramids from the skulls of defeated slaves.
14. Among the first 15 Roman emperors, only Claudius did not have relationships with men, for which they mocked him, saying that since he only had relationships with women, he himself became effeminate.
15. After Abraham Lincoln's death, his body was reburied 17 times.
16. The English king Henry VIII began minting copper shillings instead of silver shillings and covering them with silver. But over time, the silver wore away, especially in the area of the king’s nose, and for this the king received the nickname “Old Brass Nose.”
17. Louis XIV washed the feet of 12 beggars on Holy Thursday and also kissed them. True, initially the beggars were examined by doctors.
18. Queen Elizabeth of England was proclaimed queen in 1952, but ascended the throne only a year and a half later, until the mourning ended.
19. The words Tsar and Kaiser come from the word "Caesar".
20. And finally, a small story about the nicknames of “Russian presidents”:
Why is Putin a crab? Because in one of the interviews he said the phrase “I worked like a galley slave.” Like a slave and like a crab sound exactly the same to the ear.
Why Medvedev Shmel? This is what his classmates nicknamed him when, in his youth, at one of the weddings, he dressed up as a gypsy and sang the song “Shaggy Bumblebee.” Later this information was leaked onto the World Wide Web.
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