Most Notorious Nicknames (Part One)

An epithet is a literary device used to describe or characterize a person, place, or thing by highlighting a particular quality or trait associated with them. It is a descriptive phrase or adjective that often becomes closely linked to the subject’s name. Here are some of the most notorious nicknames.

Ivan the Terrible, also known as Ivan IV, was the first Tsar of Russia, reigning from 1547 to 1584. Despite his early achievements, including the expansion of the Russian territory and the establishment of a centralized government, Ivan’s later rule was marked by periods of brutal repression and paranoia. He conducted a series of purges against real and perceived enemies, leading to the deaths of thousands, and even killed his own son in a fit of rage. His actions earned him the moniker “Ivan the Terrible.”

Jack the Ripper is the infamous and unidentified serial killer who terrorized the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. He is believed to be responsible for the brutal murders of at least five women, all prostitutes. The gruesome nature of the killings, which involved mutilation and disembowelment, shocked Victorian society and the world. Despite intense investigations and numerous theories, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains a mystery to this day, making him one of the most enigmatic and notorious figures in criminal history.

The Unabomber, whose real name is Theodore Kaczynski, is an American domestic terrorist and former mathematics professor. Between 1978 and 1995, he carried out a nationwide bombing campaign targeting individuals involved in modern technology and industrial society. His homemade bombs killed three people and injured 23 others.

The Unabomber’s manifesto, titled “Industrial Society and Its Future,” was published in 1995, leading to his identification and arrest. In 1998, Kaczynski pleaded guilty to all charges and is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. His case raised important discussions about the impacts of technology on society and the motivations behind acts of domestic terrorism.

“Scarface” is a nickname famously associated with Al Capone, a notorious American gangster who rose to power during the Prohibition era in the 1920s. Capone became one of the most influential crime bosses in Chicago, involved in various illegal activities such as bootlegging, gambling, and prostitution. The nickname “Scarface” was derived from a facial scar that Capone had earned during a bar fight, which added to his fearsome image.

“The Butcher of Bosnia” is a nickname often associated with Radovan Karadžić, a Bosnian Serb politician and leader during the Bosnian War (1992-1995). Karadžić was the President of the self-proclaimed Republika Srpska and played a significant role in orchestrating the genocide and ethnic cleansing campaigns during the war. He was indicted for war crimes, including genocide, by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In 2016, Karadžić was found guilty of genocide for his involvement in the Srebrenica massacre and other atrocities, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.

“The Railroad Killer” is a nickname given to Angel Maturino Resendiz, a Mexican drifter and serial killer responsible for a series of brutal murders in the United States during the 1990s. Resendiz would travel by train and hop on and off freight trains, earning him the moniker “The Railroad Killer.” He targeted isolated homes near railroad tracks, committing his heinous crimes across several states, including Texas, Illinois, and Kentucky. His victims included men, women, and children, and he often used blunt objects or tools found at the crime scenes as weapons. Resendiz was known for his transient lifestyle, making it difficult for law enforcement to apprehend him.

“The Acid Bath Murderer” is a notorious nickname given to John George Haigh, a British serial killer who operated during the 1940s. Haigh was responsible for the brutal murders of at least six people, including his victims in acid-filled drums, to dissolve their bodies and destroy evidence.

He believed that if the bodies were dissolved in sulfuric acid, there would be no traces of the murders. Haigh’s motive for the killings was mainly financial, as he planned to steal his victims’ assets and properties. However, his heinous crimes were eventually discovered, and he was arrested, tried, and found guilty. In 1949, John George Haigh was executed by hanging for his gruesome and chilling acts.

“The Night Stalker” is the nickname given to Richard Ramirez, an American serial killer and rapist who terrorized Southern California during the mid-1980s. Ramirez’s crime spree lasted from 1984 to 1985, during which he committed a series of brutal home invasion attacks, leading to the deaths of at least 13 people. His modus operandi involved breaking into homes at night, assaulting and killing the occupants, and often leaving satanic symbols at the crime scenes.