"Alexander, Alfred, Peter & Frederick" Topic

I have always wondered:
Who is it that decided to give them the title "The Great?"
Did it happen in their life time?
Or is it something that came later?

I assumed that they bought them from "Titles 'r Us".

Frederick was given the title after taking Silesia in the War of the Austrian Succession.
Don't know exactly who gave it to him (some Prussians council or parliament I imagine) but it was quite early in his reign.

Peter is termed the Great because otherwise he'd be Petr Perviy…….

Alfred became "the Great" during the Reformation. He ticked all the necessary boxes for the new Church of England.

It seems the title "the great" following someone's name is usually bestowed on those with exceptional military prowess; Alexander, Ivan, Peter, Frederick the Great. Great scientists, philosophers, artists, inventors, explorers don't get the title even though their accomplishments may have had a greater impact on history. So let's hear it for Euclid the Great, Galileo the Great, Guggenheim the Great, and Newton the Great.

Surely, USAFpilot, both from the four examples we have, together with Tamburlaine the Great and Napoleon the Great, there's also an element of political power as well. These latter two examples are less commonly heard, though the one is at least the title of a drama by Marlowe, the other having been adopted during Napoleon's own lifetime (admittedly, only by some people).
With the underlying point, about those who have benefited Humanity most generally being less celebrated, or even remembered, than those who have troubled the peace in one way or another – usually in more than one way or another – I am thoroughly in agreement. Poets and Scientists sometimes get statues, however (and now, a lot of Sportsmen and Singers and so on).

More powerful being know by one name like Napoleon. Galileo, Newton, these names transcend ordinary or the need to stick great at the end of a name to pump them up, there achievements are Great

Yes, that's a good one. Apropos, when Verdi was once asked what his address was, he replied (in Italian, presumably), "I think 'Italy' would be sufficient".

That's cuz names like Freddy the Mediocre don't have the same PIZZAZZ!

The international board of greatness holds a conference every 50 years and votes on who will earn the title.

Personally I think that I have a good shot, Colonel Scott the Great has a ring to it don't you think. After all being a great son, great husband, great dad, great scouting advisor and working on being a great Grandpa should be worthy.

If you're really, really great, you get an "Age" named after you, like Age of Napoleon and Age of Marlborough.