We've heard of Alexander the Great. We've heard of Ivan the Terrible. But what was so Great about Alexander? What was so Terrible about Ivan? Spanning centuries of history in a culturally diverse framework-from ancient India to nineteenth-century Hawaii, and with a balanced focus on notorious women rulers as well as male, The Great and the Terrible takes a humorous look at some of the most glorious and notorious figures in history through the lens of the nicknames they're remembered by.

Includes index.

The greats -- Hatshepsut -- Cyrus the Great -- Alexander the Great -- Ashoka the Great -- Suiko, the Great Empress -- Pacal the Great -- Good King Wenceslas -- Sejong the Great -- Askia the Great -- Lorenzo the Magnificent -- Su⁺leyman the Magnificent -- Nur Jahan -- Good Queen Bess (Elizabebeth I) -- Nanyehi -- Kamehameha the Great -- Hall of worthies -- The terribles -- Attila the Hun -- Bad King John -- Vlad the Impaler -- Bloody Mary Tudor -- Ivan the Terrible -- Catherine de' Medici -- Mad Ibrahim I -- Sulta Ismail the Bloodthirsty -- Queen Ranavalona the Cruel -- Mad King Ludwig -- The rogues gallery of other notably notorious.