Michal Kazimierz "Rybenko" Radziwill (1702-1762)
Rybenko, the Sweetheart [109]
the Monkey (Fr. le Singe): "The farcical elections that followed the resignation of Jan II Kazimierz, the last of the Vasas (1668), led to the appointment of a Polish nonentity, the favourite of the szlachta (the nobility) suspicious of foreigners and seeking a "new Piast", despised by both Bourbon and Habsburg factions, Jarema's son, Michal Korybut (b. 1640; d. 1673), king (1669 - 1673); he proved to be a weak monarch unable to control the magnates who nicknamed him 'le Singe'. In 1672 the Turkish invasion of Podolia led to the fall of the fortress of Kamieniec Podolsk and, with the country in a state of chaos, the Poles sued for peace; at the Treaty of Buczacz the Poles lost what was left of Podolia and the Ukraine and had to pay a humiliating annual tribute. Michal Korybut died suddenly whilst a new invasion was in force, on the eve of Chocim; he was succeeded by the victor of that battle, Jan Sobieski." (Kasprzyk)
the Caulker:
Stratiotikos, Stratioticus (the Military One): "Stratiotikos is really an epithet, and not, like Monomachos, a surname. Had Michael VI left posterity, his children might have converted it into a surname." (Finlay: 448)
Michael of Kent
Lavalette's Bruce: "Michael Bruce, one of the Englishmen who helped in the escape of Lavalette from prison. He was known as 'Lavalette' Bruce'. He had previously tried to save Ney. . . ." (The Early Married Life of Maria Josepha, Lady Stanley: 387)
Michel of Croy (d.1516)
Lord of Sempy
a la Grande Barbe
Michel V, Count of Harnes
the Knight-Troubadour
Marshal Ney
the Red-faced or Ruddy (Fr. le Rougeaud)
the Bravest of the Brave (Fr. le Brave des Braves):"When the Emperor heard of Ney's exploit he exclaimed, 'He is the bravest of the brave,' and then spoke of the way in which Ney had extricated the remnant of the 3rd Corps from imminent destruction as a good augury for the whole army. 'I shall yet save my eagles!' he said." (Atteridge: 229)
the Indefatigable, the Untiring One (Fr. l'Infatigable): "Ney, from very modest origin his father is a wet cooper gives up a peaceful clerical work to engage in a regiment of hussars in 1787. Under the Revolution, he fights at the borders where he is noticed by Kléber in 1794. His men already gave him a nickname: «the Untiring one». The loads of the body of hussars which he controls in 1797 contribute to the victories of Neuwied and Dierdorf." (napoleon.com - Michel Ney)
the Red Lion (Fr. le Lion Rouge).
Amicus Imperatoris:
"Mieszko maintained a large, three thousand-strong, well-equipped personal force of professional soldiers, the drużyna, and a large army consisting of mounted and foot soldiers. Extensive trade at Wolin and Szczecin on the Baltic Sea led Mieszko to annex Lubusz-land and Western Pomerania (with Szczecin) in 967. Here he came into conflict with the Germans, the Volinians, Veletians and Raterians. The latter three were Slavs native of the area. To insure his conquest, Mieszko paid tribute to the Germans for this land on the Odra river and the Baltic sea. In return he received the appellation, Amicus Imperatoris." (Lang)
Schlenkerbein Jambes Mélées
the Fat.
the Slothful (Fr. le Faineant): "Boleslaw left his crown to his son Mieszko II (990-1034), known as Mieszko the Slothful, passing over an older son, Bezprim. Though a capable commander, Mieszko had neither the skill nor the luck of his father. In 1030 Poland's enemies took advantage of the old king's death to take back lands they had lost. Simultaneous attacks by imperial forces n the west and Kievan forces in the east, sent Mieszko into exile in Bohemia and Kievans managed to install Bezprim as ruler. Boleslaw's older son proved both incompetent and unpopular and was assassinated after a short reign. Mieszko returned to the throne in 1032 but was never able to effectively put his late father's empire back together." (A Traveller's History of Poland: 23)
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