Lorsque le 22 avril 1429, Jeanne quitte Blois pour Orléans, La Hire, ... Les anglais l'avaient surnommé "la Hire-Dieu" (ira-Dei : la colère de Dieu), ...
duguesclin.free.fr/guerre_de_cent_ans/page/La_hire.htm - 10k - Cached - Similar pages

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Note added at 25 mins (2006-01-08 23:59:11 GMT)
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The King, realizing the grave need for speedy relief to those under attack in Orleans, summoned his Council-to which Joan was likewise called-to weigh the means of [bringing] assistance and sustenance to those who were under siege. "I will undertake to do both, if you give me armed men," was Joan's declaration.

Then the King took further counsel with his captains. They, knowing and admitting the dire necessity of those besieged, the resolute success of the English, who, up to that moment, had achieved their aim in all their projects, and the extremities in which the affairs of the King and the kingdom existed, were of the opinion that the King might make use of this proposal of the Maid.

All agreed to do this.

Gilles de Rais and Ambrose de Lore" were assigned to accompany and escort her. They traveled with Joan to Blois where she was received with due honor by the Chancellor of France, Regnault de Chartes, Archbishop of Reims, Bastard of Orleans, La Hire, Poton de Saintrailles, and other captains, all of whom werein the city.
[...]
Then the captains of the king made derision and mockery, "Look, our valiant champion and captain! She will recover the kingdom of France?" They mut­tered against the King and his counsellors, all except the Duke of Alengon and a courageous captain of good will named La Hire.

(http://faculty.smu.edu/bwheeler/ijas/delteil.html)

Either because he was violent when angered, or because of his birthplace ...

Étienne de Vignolles, also known as ‘La Hire’. The word ‘hire’ in French means ‘anger’ and expresses well the character of this captain who supported Joan. ...
faculty.smu.edu/bwheeler/Joan_of_Arc/french.html

Son surnom de La Hire viendrait du fait qu'il était assez violent et colèreux (ire = colère en français d'alors). Guerre de Cent Ans ...
fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Étienne_de_Vignolles

Son vrai nom est Etienne de Vignolles. Son surnom de La Hire n'est pas expliqué. Il était courant que les hommes d'armes portent un surnom qui pouvait provenir d'une caractéristique physique, d'un défaut caractéristique ou d'un nom de lieu. L'explication la plus répandue est que La Hire vient du caractère coléreux (l'ire en ancien français) d'E. de Vignolles, mais on peut supposer aussi une référence à son origine géographique : Hinx, ou deux localité située près de Vignolles : la Hite ou Larehille.
http://www.jeannedarc.com.fr/centre/vignolles.html


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Note added at 1 day 1 hr 15 mins (2006-01-10 00:48:38 GMT) Post-grading
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A comparison could be drawn with "Hotspur", the nickname of Henry Percy, who died at the Battle of Shrewsbury in his rebellion against the King of England, so named because of his impulsive nature, it is said.

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Note added at 1 day 1 hr 28 mins (2006-01-10 01:01:42 GMT) Post-grading
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As to whether it needs translation or explanation, in comparison again I would note that while Harry Percy is widely known as "Hotspur" in England (Tottenham Hotspurs football team bears his name to this day, in his honour), and is referred to as such in historical texts, there appears to be no mention of his nickname - not that I can find - in French texts available on the Ouèbbhe. So maybe it could just be ignored (?).


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Note added at 1 day 1 hr 29 mins (2006-01-10 01:02:36 GMT) Post-grading
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No mention either as an explanation, translation, or even simply as "Hotspur", that is.