Assorted Nicknames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Franz Schubert

Born in Vienna, Austria, Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was a musical composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Because of his small frame, his friends in school referred to him as "The Little Mushroom." Although he appeared short, he was said to have had the best and most angelic voice in his school choir. One of Schubert's most celebrated musical works is "Ave Maria."

Answer: Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC-43 BC) was a statesman and philosopher from Ancient Rome, well-known for his orations on politics and society. The surname "Cicero" originated from the nickname "cicer", the Latin word for "chickpea." Writing of Cicero, Plutarch believed the name came from an ancestor who had a dent in his nose resembling the cleft of a chickpea.

Answer: Elizabeth Báthory

Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed (1560-1614) was a Hungarian noblewoman who received the nickname "The Blood Countess" after being accused of killing and torturing hundreds of females. One famous accusation involved her bathing in the blood of virgins to attain eternal youth.

However, historians debate the validity of the accusations, some believing the accusations were part of a witch-hunt or efforts to diminish the influence of the Báthory noble family. Some believe that her infamous legacy influenced Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

Answer: Grigori Rasputin

Grigori Rasputin (1869-1916) was a Russian mystic, best known for befriending the Romanovs, the Russian Royal Family of the last Tsar, Nicholas II. Rasputin acted as a "healer," potentially able to help the Tsar's son, Alexei, who had the genetic condition of hemophilia. Rasputin's mysterious nature sparked controversy and conspiracy theories from the Russian public, straining the already negative views of the Russian Royals.

This "Mad Monk" was assassinated in 1916 before the start of the Russian Revolution.

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

French military leader and emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte (1768-1821), was called "The Little Corporal" by his soldiers. Although Napoleon is widely known for being short in stature, this nickname was not a reflection of his stature. Rather, his soldiers gave him this nickname affectionately to honor his rank and military achievements.

Modern historians debate Napoleon's exact height, acknowledging that biased propaganda during the Napoleonic Wars contributed to the widespread belief that Napoleon was abnormally short.

Answer: George W. Bush

George W. Bush was the 43rd President of the United States and the son of the former president, George H.W. Bush. He received the nickname "Dubya" based on his middle initial and to distinguish him from his father with the same first and last name.

Answer: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, now married to Charles III, reportedly received the nickname "The Rottweiler" by Princess Diana who was formerly married to the then Prince Charles. In reference to Camilla, Princess Diana famously explained in a 1995 interview, "There were three of us in this marriage." Enamored with covering the British Royals, the media continued to use this nickname to refer to Camilla.

Answer: Tony Blair

Tony Blair is the only Leader of the Labour Party out of all the choices. As the British Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, Tony Blair received various nicknames. "Bambi" was one nickname for Tony Blair, referring to his distinct young age (the youngest British Prime Minister since 1812) and speculations of being a soft or fawnlike leader (of course before being nicknamed "Bliar" and receiving opposition for his stance on the Iraq War). Blair was referred to as "Bambi" by Tory opponents, a nickname that stuck in the press and political cartoons.

Answer: Benito Mussolini

The Italian Fascist leader, Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) gave himself the title "Il Duce" from the Latin "dux" meaning "leader." The title "Il Duce" is heavily associated with dictatorship and the ideology of fascism. Mussolini was the Italian dictator during WW2 and helped build the foundations of fascism in Europe before the war, inspiring leaders such as Adolf Hitler of Germany.

Answer: George S. Patton

Fiercely leading American soldiers in WWII, General George S. Patton (1885-1945) wanted his soldiers to know exactly what to expect in battle. Patton once announced to his soldiers, "you're going to be up to your neck in blood and guts." This created a strong impression, contributing to his nickname "Old Blood and Guts."