Why was Stalin called “shoe polish”, how did Nicholas II become a “pineapple”, how many “formidable” kings were there in Rus'? We study the nicknames of Russian rulers.
Prophetic Oleg
If we turn to Dahl’s dictionary, then a prophetic person is also one “who knows everything and who knows the future,” “a predictor,” and “prudent, prudent.” In Vasmer’s etymological dictionary, “prophetic” comes from the Old Russian word “veshti”, that is, wise.
Historians say that the nickname “Prophetic” stuck to Oleg after his return from Byzantium.
However, not everything is so obvious. The Norman name “Helgi”, consonant with Oleg, is translated as “prophetic”.
Vladimir Krasno Solnyshko
Vladimir is both the Great and the Saint, the Baptist, and the Red Sun. Why "Red Sun"? This nickname from epics has become entrenched in the minds of the people. This explains the peculiar imagery of the language. Sounds nice. However, people did not give nicknames “just like that.” "Red" is beautiful. Perhaps Vladimir began to be called that because of his good deeds.
According to another version, Vladimir received the nickname due to the fact that during his reign a serif line appeared, fortifications from Pecheneg raids. For this, the people, whose farming conditions have improved (it is highly dependent on the sun), nicknamed the prince that way.
Yaroslav the Wise
First version: under Yaroslav, “Russian Truth” was created - the first set of laws in the history of Russia - because of this, Yaroslav became “wise”. Second: under Yaroslav, Rus' finally got rid of the Pechenegs, so Yaroslav became “wise.” Third version: Yaroslav received the nickname “wise” due to the fact that he built two Cathedrals of Hagia Sophia in Kyiv and Novgorod.
Finally, there is a version that neither chroniclers nor contemporaries called Yaroslav wise, but Nikolai Karamzin came up with this nickname.
Dmitry Donskoy
Dmitry Donskoy is not the only Donskoy. After the Battle of Kulikovo, his cousin Vladimir Andreevich, who was also called the Brave, also became Donskoy. Initially, it was he who was “Donskoy”, then in history it went to Dmitry, although Donskoy is not enough for the Vladimir prince.
Ivan the Terrible
Ivan IV was not the only “formidable” tsar in Russian history. “Terrible” was also called his grandfather, Ivan III, who, in addition, also had the nicknames “justice” and “great”. As a result, Ivan III received the nickname “great”, and his grandson became “formidable”.
When did this happen? During his lifetime, no one called Ivan Vasilyevich “formidable”. Skrynnikov, the most prominent researcher of the life of Ivan the Terrible, wrote: “The nickname “Grozny” was not found in sources of the 16th century. Most likely, Tsar Ivan received it when he became the hero of historical songs.” Probably during the Time of Troubles.
Interesting fact: Alexandre Dumas once wrote literally the following: “Ivan the Terrible, for his cruelty, began to be called “Vasilich.”
Alexey Quiet
The tsar's contemporaries put a completely different meaning into the concept of "quietest" - it was the official title of the sovereign, which was related directly to the rank, and not to the character of the sovereign.
“Quiet” (Latin “clementissimus”) is an honorary title of Latin origin, which means “silence” (prosperity, tranquility) in the country during the reign of the king. After the Latin language was replaced by French in diplomacy, the former dignification “clementissimus” was translated into French (French “tres gracieux”). And in Russia it was already translated from French as “most merciful,” and the same name was applied to the sovereign’s title instead of the previous “quietest.”
In addition to Alexei Mikhailovich, the title “quietest” was also awarded to his sons, successors on the throne: first Fyodor Alekseevich, then the brothers Ivan and Peter, who certainly cannot be suspected of excessive softness and “quietness” of character.
Peter the Great
Peter the Great is the last “great” tsar in Russian history. Among the people he was awarded several not very flattering nicknames, from Antichrist to Tabachnik, which, of course, does not negate Peter’s successes.
Nikolay Pineapple
It is well known that the last Russian emperor, after his tragic coronation, received the nickname “bloody” among the people. This nickname was later remembered during Bloody Sunday on January 22, 1905. The emperor also had other nicknames. For example, "pineapple". How did it come about? In one of the tsar’s manifestos, the text unsuccessfully and repeatedly used the phrase “And a heavy responsibility fell on us...”, “And a burden fell on us...”, “And on us...”.
Old Man Lenin
“Lenin” is also not a name, but a pseudonym, the origin of which is still disputed. The main version is the pseudonym's reference to the Lena execution of 1912. Vladimir Ulyanov also had other party nicknames: “Old Man”, “Ilyich”, “Lukich”, “Petrovich”.
The image of “Grandfather Lenin” was well regarded, so it was used by Soviet propaganda.
Shoe shoe
Stalin had many party nicknames. He was called “Osip”, “Ivanovich”, “Vasiliev”, “Vasily”, but the most famous nickname of young Joseph Dzhugashvili was Koba. It is significant that Mikoyan and Molotov addressed Stalin this way even in the 1930s. Why Koba? Literature influenced. One of the young revolutionary’s favorite books was the novel “The Patricide” by the Georgian writer Alexander Kazbegi. This is a book about the struggle of mountain peasants for their independence. One of the heroes of the novel, the undaunted Koba, also became a hero for young Stalin.
People called Stalin differently. One of the most common nicknames was “shoe polisher” or “shoe polisher.” Firstly, Stalin was the son of a shoemaker. Secondly, many real shoe polishers - icers - had an external resemblance to the Leader.
As a rule, the people called any ruler with a weighty and apt word, sometimes so much so that the nickname was fixed for centuries.
I’ll start, perhaps, with antiquity itself.
Prince of Kyiv Svyatoslav (945 - 964) had a nickname among his enemies Leopard. He was young, ardent, brave and smart, and more than once defeated the Pechenegs and Bulgars with fewer troops.
The son of Svyatoslav - Prince Vladimir of Kiev (980 - 1015) had nicknames - Saint And Red sun. He baptized pagan Rus', ruled with dignity and justice, and managed to unite princes from other lands around himself.
Prince Yaroslav (1019 - 1054) was nicknamed Wise. Under him, Kyiv turned into one of the largest and most beautiful cities in Europe. Dynastic marriages strengthened ties with European countries. Yaroslav founded a number of new cities. Yaroslavl was founded on the Volga, and Yuriev (the current Estonian city of Tartu) was founded in the conquered land of the Chuds (Estonians).
The son of Prince Vsevolod of Chernigov and then Prince of Kiev Vladimir became Monomakh(1113 - 1125). Vladimir Monomakh is the first Russian prince who beat the nomads on their territory. This was a new military tactic of Rus'. In Polovtsian tents and wagons, mothers frightened children with the name of Vladimir Monomakh.
In 1125 - 1132 The Kyiv prince was the eldest son of Monomakh Mstislav Vladimirovich, nicknamed Great. This was the last period of relative political unity of Kievan Rus.
Prince of the Rostov-Suzdal land Andrei Yuryevich had the nickname Bogolyubsky, not because of his attitude towards God, but because he really loved his family estate - the village of Bogolyubovo, where he was killed during a boyar conspiracy.
Andrei's younger brother, Vsevolod, had a nickname Big Nest, given for successfully managing to place all of his sons in government in other cities.
It is characteristic that at that time nicknames were still fixed as a family trait, and were not yet widespread among children.
If he showed himself in some business or ruled a place, a nickname stuck among the people, which was later mentioned in the Chronicles. Later, nicknames began to be passed down from generation to generation - by surname.
The founder of Moscow, Prince Yuri Vladimirovich, had the nickname Dolgoruky, given because he had long arms disproportionate to his body, and the prince loved to annex to his lands those distant volosts in which the ruler was weak.
Novgorod Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich received the popular nickname “ Nevsky"for the victorious battle on the Neva, in which he defeated the Swedish squad.
Sons of Prince Ivan Kalita- Princes Simeon and Ivan had nicknames Proud And Red.
Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, received the nickname for the victory over the Horde Donskoy.
Prince Vasily Oblique in the internecine princely feuds for the possession of power over Russia, he was captured by Prince Dmitry Shemyakaya, blinded and nicknamed Dark, under which he later ruled Moscow.
Tsar of Moscow Ivan IV was called Grozny. And there was a reason - the king was fierce, quick to punish, and did not take into account the opinions of others.
Tsar of All Rus' Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov (1645-1676) went down in History as Alexey Quiet. The quietest wanted to observe the customs of Old Moscow Rus'. But, seeing the successes of Western European countries, he simultaneously sought to adopt their achievements. Russia balanced between paternal antiquity and European innovations.
The son of Tsar Alexei - Peter I, having barely begun to rule, received the nickname Great, under him he entered History. The young tsar accomplished many great and glorious deeds, forcefully turning the old Russian order towards Europe. In addition, among the people this king was given the nickname Tabachnik for his love of tobacco, previously unknown in Rus'.
The official nickname of Nicholas I (1825-1855) is Unforgettable.
However, the people retained the name “Palkin” for him, because he loved the munshra and corporal punishment, which the writer Leo Tolstoy aptly noted in one of his stories.
Alexander II (1855-1881) was officially called Liberator, for abolishing serfdom in Russia.
Alexander III (1881-1894) was called " Peacemaker", because under him Russia practically did not fight wars.
Nicholas II (1904-1917) was popularly called Nicholas the Bloody, for shooting a peaceful religious procession to the Tsar on January 9, 1909. In addition, the people called the king “ Nikola Fool»
Vladimir Ulyanov himself took his party nickname Lenin, in honor of the Lena execution of rebellious workers. Among his colleagues he was nicknamed “ Old man», « Ilyich», « Lukic», « Petrovich" Ulyanov remained in people’s memory as: “ Lenin», « Grandfather Lenin», « Leader», « Ilyich», « Vovka" And " Bald».
The first established pseudonym of Joseph Dzhugashvili was Koba. Later Dzhugashvili took his nickname Stalin, according to the analogy with Lenin.
The people called the father of nations: “ The heart of a folk song», « Pockmarked», « Yosya the Terrible», « Murderer».
Among the intelligentsia Stalin was called " Ginger», « Cockroach" And " shoe polisher" - thanks to the famous poem by the poet Mandelstam.
Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev was called by people by nicknames - “ Nikita kukruznik», « Khrushchev», « collective farmer" And " boar».
Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev, becoming Khrushchev's successor, immediately received the nickname " manager" People often called him " Armored Bearer in the Dark" or " Epochal Ilyich"and" Twice Ilyich of the Soviet Union"by analogy with the numerous titles of Hero of the USSR
Yuri Andropov - Mohican, Second Stalin, Chekist, Jeweler.
Mikhail Gorbachev - Bald, Marked, Globe, Humpbacked, Humpbacked, Lemonade Joe, Democratizer, Talker Bear and many others.
Boris Yeltsin - Grandfather, Chief, Drunk, Yolkin. Yeltsin's opposition dubbed him three letters EBN.
As a child, Vladimir Putin was called " Putka" And " Path».
In the reconnaissance group (Dresden, GDR - German Democratic Republic) they also gave each other nicknames. Vladimir Putin was called there ooty-way».
As the newspaper “Top Secret” wrote, “in the Leningrad KGB, Putin had nicknames “ Mole», « little rat», « Kaputin" And " Khaputin“, and while working for Sobchak, Putin’s name was “ Stasi», « Vice-Sobchak»,
After 1999, the following nicknames appeared: “ dressing Putenok», « Cleaning and cleaning agent - toilet Putenok", as well as " Ugly Putenok», « Puffed Poo», « pale aphid».
Boris Yeltsin, having learned about his successor, simply called Putin - “ Baby" In addition, people often call Putin “ successor», Putler And Puteng.
Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev. They say that as soon as the Kremlin started talking about LADIES, as a successor, he was immediately nicknamed “ Vizier" They also say that seven-year-old Dima was teased by boys as a child “ tadpole" People call Medvedev " Bear», « Abrashka-Shorty», « Na-no», « Mendel-Potapych», « Gummi Bear», « iPhone», « Kremlin dwarf».
In general, everyone was given nicknames according to their dignity in Rus', the USSR and Russia.
At all times, good people gave their rulers nicknames. Not always euphonious or beautiful, but it was under this nickname that rulers entered history. Almost all nicknames are a brief description of an activity, appearance or historical event. Most likely, there was not a single ruler without a nickname; it’s just that not all of them have come down to us, although they could very likely have been bright and original. Nicknames were born in palace corridors and on city streets, among soldiers and in the offices of nobles. It could arise overnight, or it could be chosen from a dozen others.
The easiest way to earn nicknames from people is to have a special appearance.
Louis VI the Fat - it’s clear why, Frederick I Barbarossa - for his gorgeous red beard, Louis Philippe d’Orléans, the Pear King, Philip IV the Handsome - apparently for his beauty by those standards, And there were also Harold I Harefoot, Sven I Forkbeard , Richard III the Hunchback, William II Rufus (Red), Edward I Longshanks (Longshanks) and... Viking King Harald II Blue Tooth. Maybe he really had blue teeth, but most likely, BlueTooth is a distorted Scandinavian Bletand (black).
Often the reason for assigning a nickname was what the monarch did most and his personal preferences. William the Conqueror - fought, Enrique the Navigator - walked the seas, Henry I the Birder - caught birds when he received the news that he had become king.
Nicknames received due to personal qualities have preserved for us the true face of their bearers. Brave warriors like Charles the Bold of Burgundy, Philip the Brave of Burgundy and Richard the Lionheart of England or those who suffered failures during their reign like the English king John the Landless, who lost almost all the French territories of the Plantagenets in the wars.
Character traits could also become the king's nickname - good or bad: Pedro the Cruel of Portugal or Alfonso the Meek of Aragon, Pedro the Ceremonial of Aragon or Charles the Mad of France. Piety in the behavior of the monarch was especially noted: Louis the Pious of France, Stephen the Saint of Hungary, Louis the Saint of France. Far-sighted rulers were called Wise: Sancho the Wise of Navarre, Charles the Wise of France, Alfonso the Wise of Castile.
Humpty Dumpty is actually the real nickname of the English King Richard III, and not just a character from a famous poem. The story is also reliable. He was not loved for his ugliness, but the nickname was born after a battle in which his legs were cut off and none of the army was able to come to his aid.
There were common nicknames - a whole series of Great, Just, Evil and Good kings: Charlemagne, Knut the Great, John the Good of France, Philip the Good of Burgundy, Charles the Evil of Navarre and others. Even an entire royal dynasty was given the nickname - the Lazy Kings (Merovingians), for never cutting their hair.
But the first place in the originality of the nickname is shared by the King of France Henry IV and the Romanian King Carol II. For his demeanor, Henry of Navarre received the nickname Gallant Vigorous. King II was known as the Playboy King because of his romantic adventures. He was married three times, the number of his girlfriends is legendary. In the end, the Romanian king abdicated the throne altogether and fled the country with an ordinary girl, leaving a Greek princess for her.
Our rulers were not without nicknames.
In my amateurish opinion, there is not much originality in them. although of course they do occur.
Oleg the Prophetic - it seems that he received this nickname for his extraordinary military success, intelligence and insight. The legend claims that because of the knowledge of his death from his own horse.
Vladimir Svyatoslavovich is the Saint, the Baptist of Rus', and in folk songs the Red Sun. It is unlikely that people would call someone who uses fire and sword such nicknames. Svyatopolk Vladimirovich, nicknamed the Damned, got it. For the murder of his named brothers Boris and Gleb. Vladimir also killed his brother, but became the Red Sun. What kind of destruction did the prince prepare for his brothers in order to become the Damned?
Yaroslav the Wise is the eldest son of Vladimir. While Svyatoslav seized power in Kyiv, Yaroslav moved with his squad to fight with his father. And here's the layout. The Wise Beat the Damned. But he became Wise only after 35 years of rule in stability and prosperity.
Vladimir Monomakh - everyone remembered the hat named after him. But he got his nickname from his last name. Vladimir Monomakh was the grandson of Yaroslav the Wise and the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomakh. There is another explanation for the name of Vladimir Monomakh: as if he went against the prince of the Genoese, for which he was nicknamed Monomakh, i.e. combatant.
Yuri Vladimirovich Dolgoruky - one might think that the prince’s arms were disproportionately long, so he received the nickname. In the chronicles that have survived to this day, there was a verbal portrait of Yuri Dolgoruky, we can judge about him from the words of the historian V.N. Tatishchev: “This Grand Duke was of considerable height, fat; little brada...” There is no mention of hands. But it is reliably known that he received his nickname due to the fact that he conquered lands lying far from his region, and extended his hands to Kyiv itself. The people of Kiev did not like him, which is why they poisoned him when Dolgoruky became the Grand Duke.
Andrei BOGOLYUBSKY - according to one version, the prince received his nickname from the name of the village of Bogolyubovo. The history of this village is unusual. “Andrey brought a relic from Vyshgorod to Suzdal, later known as the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God. According to legend, the horses that were carrying the cart with the icon suddenly stopped not far from the city of Vladimir. I had to spend the night in an open field. In a dream, the Mother of God herself appeared to Prince Andrei and said that she wanted to stay here. Andrey built the town (village) of Bogolyubovo on the site of his forced overnight stay. The Byzantine icon was installed in Vladimir in the Assumption Cathedral, built by order of Andrei. He himself settled nearby in the village of Bogolyubovo.
Vsevolod THE BIG NEST is one of the heroes of “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” which proclaimed the idea of the universal unity of the Russian principalities. But he got his nickname thanks to his large family (he had 8 sons and 4 daughters).
Alexander NEVSKY and Dmitry Donskoy received their nicknames for their glorious victories at the battle site.
Ivan KALITA - He was known as “a smart but treacherous man, nicknamed the money bag - Kalita.” The nickname “Kalita” also means “wallet”. The prince was generous to the poor (“give the poor a piece of money”), that is, he gave to the poor without looking at how much he pulled out of his wallet.
Vasily the Dark - was blinded, which is why he received the nickname “Dark”.
There were also Grand Duke John II Ioannovich, nicknamed the Red, namesake of Philip IV the Beautiful, and Grand Duke Simeon (Semyon) Ioannovich the Proud, nicknamed for the fact that he ruled with a firm hand and was the first to call himself the Grand Duke of All Rus'.
Ivan III Vasilyevich the Terrible.
Since time immemorial, all princes in Rus' were called “formidable”. It was an epithet, not a nickname. It goes back to the common Slavic noun thunderstorm “fear, horror” and has many synonyms with an “angry-evil” meaning. (See: Abramov N. Dictionary of Russian synonyms and expressions similar in meaning. - M., 2002).
Ivan III, according to N.M. Karamzin, although he had “natural cruelty” in his character, but pacified it with the “power of reason.” “Ivan III was the first to be given the name of the Terrible in Russia, but in a laudable sense: formidable for enemies and obstinate disobedients.”
Ivan IV Vasilyevich the Terrible (TORMORTOR) - it was the Torturer that the people called Ivan Vasilyevich, the first Russian Tsar. “After the death of the tyrant, the people “rejected or forgot the name of the Tormentor, given to him by his contemporaries, and to this day call him only the Terrible, although initially this nickname was given by the people to his grandfather Ivan III more in praise than in reproach” (Karamzin) Fyodor Ivanovich the Blessed - often he went and traveled to different monasteries, inviting the highest Greek clergy to Moscow, and prayed a lot. Chroniclers wrote that Fyodor was “meek and gentle,” he had mercy on many, and richly “gifted” cities, monasteries, and villages.
Another devout and lover of church services is Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich the Quietest.
Peter I the Great is the only one awarded such an epithet.
Nicholas I Palkin - unlike the nicknames of his relatives, invented in their offices, he received the nickname from the people.
The revolutionaries, as usual, took a different path. You shouldn’t rely on people, you have to come up with nicknames yourself. Can anyone imagine Leib Davidovich Bronstein, Yeshua-Solomon Movshevich and the tradesman Ulyanov as the leaders of the revolution? And so Trotsky, Sverdlov and Lenin against the backdrop of Nicholas the Bloody are quite euphonious nicknames.
And Stalin? The nickname matches the times. They say that prisoners called Stalin Khabibulin, fully aware that he was not a Tatar. Or maybe meaning Igo?
Then there was “Corn Man”, “Brown Bearer”, “Jeweler”, “Marked”. We will soon find out what nicknames the current rulers will be given. And rest assured, they will also go down in history.
It should be noted that the tradition of nicknames for the first persons of the country is very ancient, so ancient that it literally goes back to the beginnings of Russian statehood. In addition, it should be remembered that nicknames were firmly in the public consciousness, since until the XIV-XV centuries. there were no actual surnames, and it was nicknames that became the foundation for the appearance of surnames. We all remember that Prince Vladimir, the baptist of Rus', was called Red Sun, his son Svyatopolk - Damned, and the other son Yaroslav - Wise. Even after the appearance of surnames, the tradition of nicknames for the first persons was preserved. So, we know more about Ivan IV, how Grozny, and the Moscow Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, as The quietest. This tradition of nicknames was fully reproduced under the Romanovs until 1917.
The fact is that the large Romanov family had many levels of communication. At the level of personal contacts, when talking among themselves about one of their family members, they often used nicknames, sometimes taking on an almost official character. These nicknames were associated either with external features or with specific character traits. As a rule, members of the imperial family knew “their” unofficial nickname. If it was complimentary in nature, it became almost official. If it carried negative traits, then, of course, it was not said “to anyone’s face,” which did not prevent them from actively using the nickname in conversations with each other “behind the scenes.” Mention of these nicknames is quite rare, since they are only occasionally mentioned in personal correspondence or memoirs.
The nicknames (names) of Russian emperors are widely known. As a rule, they were politicized in nature and associated with the peculiarities of their domestic or foreign policy. Sometimes the reason for the appearance of a particular nickname was any specific event. Often nicknames begin to come from an environment opposed to the House of Romanov. Thus, the authorship of the most famous nickname of Nicholas I, Palkin, attributed to Herzen's "Bell". It was from among the revolutionary democrats that other equally unflattering nicknames for the Tsar came. Through their efforts, the complex and contradictory figure of Nicholas I was reduced for many decades to a single-line image of a martinet with pewter eyes. Nicholas I
Alexander II received the official nickname Liberator. The Tsar's manifesto, signed on February 19, 1861, which freed millions of serfs, is forever associated with the name of Alexander II. Official propaganda made a lot of efforts to secure a flattering nickname for the name of the king. 
Alexander II
Alexander III received the nickname Holy Peacemaker. During the 13 years of this tsar's reign, Russia, without participating in wars, significantly strengthened its position in the international arena. However, this nickname was also the result of official propaganda. It was first used by Nicholas II in 1895 in one of his first speeches, compiled by the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod, K.P. Pobedonostsev. Both complimentary nicknames, Liberator And Peacemaker, through the efforts of official propaganda, were closely associated with the names of Alexander II and Alexander III. This became possible not only thanks to the efforts of official propaganda, but also to the fact that these nicknames had a solid basis, recognized by contemporaries. 
Alexander III (Artist - Nikolay Shilder)
Nicholas II never acquired such a flattering official nickname, but uncomplimentary nicknames abounded. The most famous of them is Bloody. The memory of those who died on the Khodynka Field during the coronation celebrations of 1896 remained in the memory of the people until 1917. This nickname was finally assigned to the tsar after the lost Russo-Japanese War, Bloody Sunday on January 9, 1905 and the senseless multimillion-dollar victims of the First World War. Nicholas II also received other equally unflattering nicknames. Thus, in one of his manifestos, the text unsuccessfully and repeatedly used the phrase “And a heavy responsibility fell on us...”, “And a burden fell on us...”, “And on us...”. As a result, the king got the nickname Pineapple . 
Nicholas II
Less known are the nicknames of other members of the imperial family and how the autocrats themselves called themselves among their loved ones. For example, Nicholas I, in a letter to his younger brother Mikhail Pavlovich on May 17, 1826, asked to hug his nieces on his behalf, “on behalf of his uncle with a long nose.” It should be noted that in this case, the emperor’s self-irony characterizes him very positively. Nicholas I called his younger brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, “dear Mikhailo” in his letters. 
Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, portrait by I. Kramskoy
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna had many pet nicknames. All of them, naturally, were of a complimentary nature, since Nikolai Pavlovich for decades consistently created the cult of a beautiful lady in relation to his wife. Charlotte of Prussia also had a home, girlish nickname - White Flower. So she was named after the heroine of a French poem of the 18th century, the beloved of the Saracen king of Spain. This nickname sounded like Blanche fleur, or Blancheflour. Nikolai Pavlovich himself called his wife like a bird for the fragility of the figure and the lightness of gait. Sometimes Nicholas I called his wife like Madame Nicolas. In the same spirit, he called his daughter-in-law Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna - Madame Michel . 
Madame Nicolas (Empress Alexandra Feodorovna) and Madame Michel (Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna)
The children of Nicholas I also had household nicknames. The eldest son-heir, the future Alexander II, born in Moscow, was sometimes called by his father Moscow kalach. His daughter Alexandra Nikolaevna, along with the French abbreviation Adini, also called Brownie. It's hard to say why. 
Alexandra Nikolaevna (Artist - Christina Robertson)
Naturally, courtiers from the inner circle of the Imperial family also had nicknames. It is noteworthy that some of the nicknames came from childhood. Thus, the Minister of the Imperial Court, Count V.F. From his childhood, Adlerberg bore not only a scar on his forehead, received with a rifle butt in a childhood brawl from the future Nicholas I, but also a childhood nickname Flam. And in later times, the imperial entourage acquired their own nicknames. Some of them were very simple - for children. So, already quite an adult, Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich calls his maid of honor Countess A.D. Bludov Whore(“We congratulated Bludikha on her name day”), and the Grand Duchess’s teacher, Countess A.A. Fat - Tolstikha(“In the evening we had a party with several people: Bludikha, Tolstikha, Nadina, Varvara V., Kostya, Nikola”). One of the security officers of Nicholas II in the family was named Beijing Den. The fact is that Captain 1st Rank Karl Dehn took part in the suppression of the Boxer Uprising in Beijing and was the first officer to climb the wall of the Forbidden Year, receiving the Order of St. George for this. 
Countess Bludova Antonina Dmitrievna
A number of nicknames existed only in a narrow circle. Thus, Alexander II in his letters to E.M. Dolgorukova called himself Munkoy, and his common-law wife - Dusey . 
Dusya and Munka
Since the name Nicholas, with the light hand of Catherine II, became popular in the Romanov family, then, naturally, there were many “household” derivatives from this name. When in the family of Alexander II in the 1840s. When children began to be born, their parents traditionally gave them “home” names. The eldest son of Alexander II, Grand Duke Nikolai Alexandrovich was called at home Niksa. Therefore, when in 1850 the second son of Nicholas I, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, had his first son, also named Nikolai, the problem arose of what to call him simply, in home life. Baron M.A. Korf conveys the words of the young father: “There are so many Nikolaevs in our family that it is not easy to come up with a diminutive name for everyone. Big brother's name is still Nizi. Nikolai Alexandrovich - Nix. Nikolai Maximilianovich - Kolya, I had to call mine - Nikola.” 
Grand Duke Nikolai Konstantinovich (Nikola)
The second son of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, Konstantin Konstantinovich, the famous poet “K. R.”, already in his youth, for his tall height and thinness, relatives called him Herring . 
Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich (Herring)
The daughter of Alexander II, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, the future Duchess of Edinburgh, was called at home Duck. She had other pet names. One of the memoirists cites an episode when they, then small children, had a conversation about this with the young emperor: “The Emperor told us that he also gave his daughter Masha a nickname. “Guess, children, which one?” We didn't come up with anything. "Duck - for its gait." But the father also had more affectionate names for his daughter. In one of the letters, Alexander II, thanking his daughter for the letter, calls her Little soul . 
Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna (Duck)
The second son of Alexander II, the future Emperor Alexander III, was called by his loving parents for his strong physique and some bagginess. Bulldog, Pug or Makoy. Apparently, the demanding parents were not delighted with the appearance of their son. In one of his letters to his wife, Alexander II wrote about the future of Alexander III: “Oh, how I would like to strangle this dear ugly girl with kisses.” 
Portrait of Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich (Bulldog) (1845-1894) in a retinue frock coat (Artist Zaryanko)
The third son of Alexander II, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, who was distinguished by his plump physique in childhood, was called Fat man. He also had another childhood nickname - Kukea. Apparently, it was already connected with the character traits of the little Grand Duke. Of course, children were called that without any ulterior motive, but this probably did not make these nicknames any less offensive for them. The fifth son of Alexander II, Sergei, was called by Empress Maria Alexandrovna Gegoy, and relatives in letters - Sizhik. The sixth son of Alexander II, Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, born in 1860, was literally called by everyone at home from infancy Pitsem . 
Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich (Piz)
The tradition of nicknames also existed among children. For children it was quite natural. Count S.D. Sheremetev, describing his adolescence in the 50s. XIX century, mentioned that “there was a custom among everyone to call each other special nicknames. So, Alexander Petrovich was nicknamed Iriny, Georgy Petrovich - Bach, my name was Makar, and Ekaterina Petrovna was Marlinochka. It should only be added that all of the above are the princes and princess of Oldenburg, who left a noticeable mark on the history of Russia in the second half of the 19th century. 
Ekaterina Petrovna Oldenburgskaya (Marlinochka)
However, the tsar’s children, even during games, were invariably called by their peers by their first and patronymic names, regardless of age. When in 1865, one of his playmates asked the seven-year-old Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich if he could be called simply Seryozha, the seven-year-old boy replied: “I don’t know, ask Dmitry Sergeevich.” However, the boy was embarrassed to address the teacher and continued to call the seven-year-old Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. It should be noted that Empress Maria Alexandrovna asked the parents of the “invited” children in advance to instill in them not to please the little Grand Duke, not to call him “Your Highness,” but simply “You” and “Sergei Alexandrovich.”
In the family of Alexander III, Empress Maria Feodorovna was called behind her back for her explosive character Angry. The heir to the crown prince, the future Nicholas II, was called Nicky, or Nika. The second son of Alexander III, the sickly and thin Grand Duke Georgy Alexandrovich, was called by his parents Georgie. He also had another “name”. His daughter-in-law, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, nicknamed the painfully thin Georgy Alexandrovich Weeping Willow. 
"Wrathful" (Empress Maria Feodorovna) and children
Another brother of Nicholas II, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, was called by his relatives Sweet Floppy. This nickname comes from the English “flop” - to flop. The fact is that the lanky Mikhail used to plop down in a chair, stretching out his long legs in front of him.
As contemporaries noted, Alexander III changed the stereotype of communication with his subjects. Everyone unanimously argued that, unlike his predecessors, the tsar addressed “you” only to those closest to him. The same applied to nicknames. Alexander III very rarely “allowed himself to give himself nicknames and speak in a half-joking tone with the courtiers.” Nevertheless, from his adolescence he still had nicknames for close people, and he periodically used them. Thus, Alexander III called his uncle, Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, with whom he did not get along very well, nothing more than Coco, and Grand Duchess Ekaterina Mikhailovna (daughter of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich), “even more inconvenient...” The tsar made fun of his younger brother Vladimir Alexandrovich, calling him “general.” There were still friends from my youth, with whom relations gradually changed. Such a bizarre person with a complex reputation as Prince V.P. Meshchersky, Alexander III called Vovo, but without the slightest irritation, rather with a feeling of pity and slight irony. 
Prince Vladimir Petrovich Meshchersky
Sometimes members of the imperial family also received very derogatory nicknames. Thus, it was under Alexander III that Grand Duke Mikhail Mikhailovich (1861-1829) received the simple nickname Misha the Fool. The great Montenegrin princesses Milica and Stana, who left behind the gloomy memory of their relatives, were called Scylla and Charybdis. It must be said that loving relatives “nailed” Nicholas II with a family, unflattering nickname. Grand Duke Nikolai Mikhailovich behind his back called his nephew nothing more than “our fool Niki.”
Numerous European relatives also had their own nicknames. The English Queen Victoria (1838-1901) at the Russian court was usually called Granny. Prince of Prussia Sigzimund Wilhelm - Bobby, German Emperor Wilhelm II - Uncle Willie. Maria Maximilianovna, Princess of Baden, was simply called Aunt Marusya. There were many such names. Therefore, European foreign policy until the beginning of the 20th century. had a distinctly family character, when Grandma Granny could chide her “grandson,” the Russian Emperor Niki, in a family-like manner in the presence of Uncle Willy (German Emperor Wilhelm II). 
Representatives of the reigning houses of Europe in Coburg. Seated: Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, Queen Victoria of England (center), Dowager Empress Victoria of Germany. Behind them stand: Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, his bride Princess Alice of Hesse, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (second from right), Grand Duchess Elizaveta Mavrikievna (first from right). In the penultimate row are Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich (in the center), Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich (second from right). In the last row are Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich (second from left), Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (second from right). Germany. Spring-summer 1894
When Nicholas II got married, secular gossips immediately noted that the young wife called her husband “in her own way.” If before his name was at home Nika, then the young empress began to call him Coco. However, this name did not stick in the family, and Alexandra Fedorovna began, like everyone else, to call her husband Nicky .
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna had her own “names.” So, as a child, she signed her letters “M.K. No. III" is an abbreviation of the children's nickname - "Little Queen No. III". She often simply signed her letters to her husband “Your Old Hen”, “Your Old Wife”. However, as a rule, both behind the scenes and in front of her they called her Alix . 
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna
The children of Nicholas II also bore pet names. So, the sisters called the third daughter, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna Masha. The fourth, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, the most lively and mischievous, - Shvibzdom. The long-awaited Tsarevich Alexei had only complimentary pet nicknames. In correspondence, his parents called him in the English manner - Baby, Tiny, or Sunbeam . 
Empress with daughters
The correspondence between Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna that has reached us allows us to reconstruct what they called part of their entourage. They were called mostly by their first and patronymic names. But there were also nicknames for people from the inner circle. The spouses called Anna Alexandrovna Vyrubova in their letters Anya, Big Baby, in moments of irritation Cow, or Disabled. Educator and French teacher Pierre Gilliard was called to his face Zhilikom. The name of the Empress Ekaterina Adolfovna Schneider's lecturer was Trina, or Schneiderlein. Alexandra Feodorovna's chamberlain-jungfer, who came with her from Germany in 1894, Maria Gustavovna Tutelberg was called in her family Tudels. For some reason, Alexandra Fedorovna’s valet Gustav Genrikhovich was nicknamed Lio leaf fall . 
Anna Vyrubova on a walk in a wheelchair with Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, 1915
The people who were part of the closest retinue also had their own names. The maid of honor Anastasia Vasilyevna Gendrikova was affectionately called Nastenka. Admiral Konstantin Dmitrievich Nilov was nicknamed Little admiral, another sailor, Rear Admiral of His Majesty's Retinue, commander of the imperial yacht "Standart", Anglomaniac Ivan Ivanovich Chagin, were called among themselves Johnny. Nicholas II’s childhood friend Alexander Illarionovich Vorontsov-Dashkov was simply called in person and behind the scenes Sasha. The Minister of the Imperial Court V.B. also had his own nickname. Fredericks, whom both royal spouses deeply respected. In their correspondence they called him Old man . 
Fredericks Vladimir Borisovich, 1915
When in 1915 Empress Alexandra Feodorovna began to get involved in the political life of the country and felt a taste for making managerial and personnel decisions, she and her husband developed coded nicknames, which are still controversial to this day.
For example, it is known that Prince Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg was called in the “family” Alec, and the very elderly Prime Minister Ivan Logginovich Goremykin - Wisdom. But who owns the nicknames? Little Red Riding Hood, Blooming or Raspberry, is still controversial.
Source of the text I.V. Zimin "The adult world of imperial residences. Second quarter of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century" 
Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, nicknamed the Quietest, is perceived as a “not entirely successful king,” and his nickname is more often interpreted as a sign of weak character and detachment from politics. However, great things are done in silence.
At the same time, critics of the autocrat point to the salt and copper riots that occurred during his reign, to the beginning of the church schism and the separation of the Old Believers, followed by persecution of them.
Protracted wars with not very clear results with the Principality of Lithuania and Sweden also often become the subject of criticism. Well, the tsar’s passion for dog and falconry, when the country is unsettled, also complements this portrait.
But this opinion is somewhat superficial, and in fact, everything was much more complicated both with the nickname and with politics. Because if you look at the results of the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, it turns out that he received this nickname due to his understanding that great things are done in silence. Actually, this was indeed the characteristic style of his reign.
Author of the Council Code
Alesei Mikhailovich became the Russian Tsar at the age of 16; his contemporaries really spoke of him as a quiet and kind person, a sincere and deeply religious man. At the beginning of his reign, he relied on the advice of his tutor, boyar Boris Ivanovich Morozov. However, after the unsuccessful introduction of an increased duty on salt and the salt riot, he became an increasingly independent figure.
After this salt riot, Quietest showed himself as a systemic politician and lawmaker. In 1649, under the leadership of Alexei Mikhailovich, the Council Code was developed, which became the main legislative basis for Russia for the next 200 years. This legislation was unique in its own way; in fact, it codified and systematized all the laws of Russia, introducing legal clarity and enabling adequate law enforcement practice.
At the same time, the Quiet Tsar used Polish-Lithuanian, Venetian, and Byzantine developments to develop the Code, combining them with native Russian legal traditions. There was some Westernism in the policy of this tsar, but it was quiet and unhurried, and not harsh and public, like that of his son, the first Russian emperor, Peter the Great.
Alexey Mikhailovich borrowed from the West only what he considered truly useful, and was in no hurry with innovations, trying not to destroy the traditional Russian way of life.
Army reformer
These borrowings were also reflected in the reform of the army, which by that time had already matured. In 1648, Reiter, hussar and soldier regiments were introduced into the tsarist army. As for the reitar, this was the first experience of such extensive use of foreign mercenaries.
As a result, this reform made it possible to defeat the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and conclude the Truce of Andrusovo in 1657. And here again Alexey Mikhailovich acted like a shrewd diplomat. He only returned the lands seized from Russia during the Time of Troubles, giving the Poles all the newest conquests. As a result, Russia still increased its territories, including gaining part of Ukraine. And at the same time, “without offending” Rech Popolutu, the king led to the rapprochement of the two states in the fight against the Ottoman Empire.
The era of Alexei Mikhailovich
Here, again, it is important to remember the context of the era. All these reforms and state building with the gathering of lands took place at a time when the country was just recovering from the dire consequences of the Time of Troubles, which almost destroyed the Russian kingdom.
Internal turmoil also occurred regularly. Here is the uprising of Stepan Razin, and the plague epidemic of 1654-1655, and the constant civil war in Ukraine. And also the “good Western neighbors” who tried to get direct benefit from these Russian troubles, and even the Ottoman Empire, which also lived by expansion.
But even under these conditions, the Quiet Tsar continued to slowly but surely restore and develop the state with the expansion of territories.
The first sailing ship
By the way, it is Alexei Mikhailovich who can be considered the progenitor of the Russian fleet. It was he who ordered the construction of the first Western-style sailing ship, the Eagle. Historians agree that this project was only the beginning for the creation of a full-fledged Russian fleet.
Tellingly, according to a number of versions, for the first time the Russian tricolor, which is the Russian flag now, was raised on the Orel. The descendants of Alexei Mikhailovich appreciated the creation of this ship, although it was later destroyed. The figurine of a ship on the spire of the Admiralty in St. Petersburg is most likely the figurine of the “Eagle”. Alexei Mikhailovich simply did not have enough time and did not have enough opportunities to continue fleet construction. It was Pyotr Alekseevich Romanov who had to develop the ideas.
Challenging falconry
As for falconry, things are not so simple here either. Yes, indeed, this was one of the king’s favorite pastimes. But the issues of this hunt were supervised by the Order of Secret Affairs. A new unit in the Russian state, whose main tasks were intelligence and counterintelligence.
And in this context, keeping royal hawks and gyrfalcons looks like a very skillful cover, and not like a “useless whim” of the king. By the way, an interesting detail: Alexey Mikhailovich himself was the author and developer of some ciphers that were used in the intelligence and diplomatic correspondence of the Secret Order.
Of course, the reign of this monarch was not cloudless, and his decisions were not always successful. But the quiet, methodical work of the Quiet Tsar created the foundation thanks to which the already “loud” reforms of Peter the Great became possible, and the Russian Kingdom turned into the Russian Empire.
