Difference between revisions of "Alexander"

Revision as of 15:37, 19 June 2010

Alexander is a male forename. It derives from thew Greek adjective Ἀλέξανδρος, 'defender of men', sometimes applied to the goddess Hera, and later to the legendary hero Paris. It has various forms: Alexandre in French; Alessandro or Sandro in Italian; Alysaundre in medieval French, and its earliest form in English; Alasdair in Gaelic. In Russian, the male name Sacha (or Sashe) is a common shortening.

• Saints
• Popes:
  • Alexander I, St, (c. 109–c. 116) The fifth or sixth pope after St Peter.
  • Alexander II (1061–73). Original name Anselm.
  • Alexander III (1159–81). Originally Orlando (Roland) Bandinelli.
  • Alexander IV (1254–61). Rinaldo, son of Philip count of Ienne.
  • Alexander V (1409–10). Pietro Philarghi (a Greek, formerly Peter of Candia, or Crete).
  • Alexander VI (1492–1503). A Spaniard christened Rodrigo de Borja y Borja, perhaps better known by its Italian equivalent Borgia. Notorious as a licentious Pope, father of Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia, amongst at least nine children.
  • Alexander VII (1655–67). Italian; Fabio Chigi.
  • Alexander VIII (1689–91). Pietro Ottoboni.
• Kings and rulers, including:
  • in ancient Greece:
    • of Epirus: Alexander I, (370 - 331 BCE) and and Alexander II (272-c.242 BCE)
    • of Macedon: Alexander I (495–450 BCE), Alexander II (370 to 368 BCE); Alexander III, Alexander the Great, (356-323 BCE), his posthumous son Alexander IV (323–309 BCE), who was assassinated at the age of 14; and Alexander V (r. 297-294 BCE), who was also assassinated
  • in modern Greece, Alexander, King of the Hellenes (1893–1920) reigned from 1917 to 1920, and in other Balkan states the confusingly numbered Alexander (KaraÄ‘orÄ‘ević)I (1806–1885), Prince of Serbia 1842-1858; Alexander (Obrenović) I (1876-1903) King of Serbia 1889-1903; and Alexander I (KaraÄ‘orÄ‘ević)(1888-1934) King of Yugoslavia 1929–34.
  • in Scotland: see King Alexander
  • There have also been three Czars of Russia: Alexander I (1777-1825), ruled 1801-1825 - Napoleon's opponent;; Alexander (1818–1881) reigned 1855-1881; Alexander III (1845–1894)

• The common noun alexanders, which is singular although having plual form, is an English name for a common plant (Smyrnium Olusatrum). It looks not unlike celery, growing about 4 foot tall, and wass formerly eaten in the same way - popular with the Romans, who introduced it to Britain, because it was welcome early green-stuff.
• The Alexander Technique is an alternative medicine approach to better posture and breathing.

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