What alias did Guy Fawkes use when renting the cellar?

Guy Fawkes used the alias John Johnson when renting the cellar beneath the House of Lords. The name helped conceal his identity while the conspirators prepared their plan to blow up Parliament and kill King James I on 5 November 1605.

Fawkes was an experienced soldier who had fought for Catholic Spain in the Spanish Netherlands. His military background made him the plotters’ explosives specialist. On the night of 4 November, officials found him guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar. He initially gave the name John Johnson and maintained a false story during early questioning.

After his arrest, Fawkes was taken to the Tower of London. Under severe interrogation and torture, he eventually revealed his real name and signed confessions. The alias is sometimes confused with Guido Fawkes, the Italianised name he used while serving in Spain, but Guido was not the identity he used when renting the cellar.