him by the title which had been given to the commander-in-chief of the French army during the monarchy. la grande asperge: The tall asparagus. De Gaulle spent four years studying and training at the elite military academy, Saint-Cyr. While there, because of his height, tall forehead, and nose, he acquired the nickname "the tall asparagus". It is common in French to use "asparagus" as a slur against tall people. le melon-kilomètre: Another nickname from Saint-Cyr, coming from one initiation where one had to measure the courtyard using one's own body as a yardstick, and given his height, he managed to do it faster than others. Cyrano: This nickname derives from his large nose and refers to Cyrano de Bergerac. Notes See also List of things named after Charles de Gaulle Charles de Gaulle Lists of names