I have often wondered, some Kings, Popes, emperors, etc. have the appellation "Great" added after their names "Peter the Great of Russia," "Frederick the Great of Prussia" etc...do they give themselves that title?
Whether they give it to them selves or others give it to them, is it while they are still alive, or must they be dead and sufficient time have gone by to make an historical judgment that they were truly "Great"?
Well, I think Jerry Lee Lewis declared balls of fire
to be great when he, in fact, was not. Does that help?