"Notorious" does mean "famous", but it carries the added implication of being famous for being bad. I suspect the meaning has changed over time, just like "awful" used to mean "awe-inspiring".
I think you mean awesome? Or have I been wrong all along?
"Awesome" still carries a positive meaning. "Awful" changed from being a synonym for "wonderful" to a synonym for "terrible".
Ivan the Terrible was originally Ivan the Awful, as in inspiring awe rather than terror.