Tug of War Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scotland

Berwick is England's most northerly town, located only a couple of miles south of the current border with Scotland. Its location so close to the border led to several battles for ownership, with William I of Scotland making an attempt to capture the town between 1173 and 1174.

Although he was defeated, Richard I (known as Lionheart) later sold the town to William as a fund raising exercise for his Crusade. The town was then taken back into English possession by Edward I in 1296, before being re-captured by Scotland in 1318. Eventually, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later to become King Richard III) re-took Berwick in 1482 and it has remained part of England ever since.

Answer: 1950s

The Korean War began in June 1950, between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, known as North Korea, and the Republic of Korea, or South Korea. In July 1950, the North Korean forces captured the South's capital of Seoul, which was then taken back by United Nations forces in September of the same year in a fight known as the Battle of Inchon.

The Third Battle of Seoul saw the city taken by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, who were supporting North Korea, in January 1951 before the United Nations seized control back in March 1951. One final assault was launched by the Chinese the following month, but they were held back before the fighting ended in stalemate. An armistice agreement was reached in 1953 with the establishment of a buffer zone between the two countries, but skirmishes continue into the twenty-first century.

Answer: Six Day War

Also known as the June War and the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the war was begun by a surprise Israeli attack on 5 June. By 10 June, Israel had taken control of the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula, formerly part of Egypt and had taken the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan as well as capturing the Golan Heights from Syria. A ceasefire was signed on 11 June, but Israel had made huge territorial gains.

The Yom Kippur War was a 1973 attempt by the Arab nations to recover the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. Initally, their efforts were successful, but Israel fought back before a ceasefire was agreed with the boundaries remaining substantially unchanged. The Seven Years' War was a global war which lasted from 1756 until 1763 and the Wars of the Roses were a series of battles fought for the English throne between 1455 and 1485.

Answer: France

The first Europeans to land on Saint Lucia are thought to have been the Spaniards, in the late fifteenth century. Attempts by many countries to establish territory on the island were fiercely resisted by the native Carib population, and any settlements founded were soon decimated by disease. By 1674, the French had managed to establish control, but the island changed hands between the French and British at regular intervals, with one or other country invading when the other was in power.

Some of the battles formed part of the American War of Independence, and it was not until 1803 that the British finally triumphed, and Saint Lucia was confirmed as a British possession in 1814.

The island obtained its independence in 1979 although it still acknowledged Queen Elizabeth II as head of state in the early part of the twenty first century.

Answer: Estonia

The Livonian War took place between 1558 and 1583 and involved Russia (then the Tsardom of Russia) against various alliances between Norwary, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania and Poland, who were fighting over Old Livonia. This region is now the countries of Latvia and Estonia. Toolse Castle was originally built in 1471 to guard against piratical raids in the Gulf of Finland, and was captured and re-captured on several occasions during the Livonian War.

It may have been completely rebuilt, but was destroyed again during the Great Northern War (1700-1721) between the Swedish Empire and the Tsardom of Russia.

The other countries listed as options are not classed as Baltic States.

Answer: Virginia

Winchester was a prize possession due to its location on many road, rail and waterway routes. It is claimed by some that it changed hands on more than seventy occasions, including thirteen times on one day alone. Full scale occupations are placed more realistically at a figure of eleven to thirteen, with estimates made from diaries kept at the time giving 39% occupation to the Confederates, 41% to the Union army and the remaining 20% being with neither side in control. The information for this section has been taken from encyclopediavirginia.org.

Answer: Roman

Ctesiphon was a major city for the Parthian Empire, which lasted from 247 BC until 224 AD, and its strategic position on the River Tigris made it a target for the Romans. The emperor Trajan captured it for the first time in 116, before Hadrian returned it the following year as part of the peace settlement. The city was then retaken by the Romans in 164, again being returned when peace was agreed. In 197, Septimus Severus captured the city yet again with many of its inhabitants being sold as slaves. The Romans returned in 283 with Carus sacking the city. Galerius attempted to take the city yet again in 295, but was repulsed, before finally capturing Ctesiphon in 299. The city was returned to Persian control in exchange for other territories.

The city's sufferings did not end there, with both the Byzantine Empire and the Muslims attacking it. The seat of government then moved to Baghdad and Ctesiphon fell into ruin.

Answer: Treaty of Paris

The island was named by Columbus in 1493, but the Spanish did not settle there due to the fierce resistance of the native population. Although France originally claimed ownership in 1635, the first French settlements did not take place until 1715. The British attacked in 1761, during the Seven Years War, and captured the island, with possession being transferred to them by the Treaty of Paris, signed in 1783.

The French made several attempts to recapture the island, notably in 1795 and 1805, but were unsuccessful. Dominica received its independence in 1978. All the treaties named are genuine peace treaties, but only Paris is situated in France.

Answer: Monmouth Castle

Monmouth Castle was well known as being the birthplace of England's King Henry V in 1386 or 1387. Although in Wales, it is one of the border castles along with the castles of Skenfrith, Grosmont, Abergavenny and the White Castle. In 1642, civil war broke out in England between the forces loyal to the monarchy - the Royalists or Cavaliers - and those supporting the power of parliament - the Parliamentarians or Roundheads. Monmouth was captured by the Roundheads, then retaken by the Cavaliers before being recaptured by the Parliamentarians in 1645.

It was slighted (i.e. damaged to prevent its reuse) by the direct orders of Oliver Cromwell. Goodrich Castle is in Herefordshire, and Kenilworth and Warwick are both in Warwickshire, with all three being in England.

Answer: World War I

Hill 60 was situated about three miles from Ypres, Belgium, which was a major battle area during the First World War. Its height about the surrounding area meant that possession was key, and it was fought over fiercely. It was held originally by German forces, in December 1914, before the British captured it in April 1915, having mined tunnels underneath the hill. Hill 60 saw the first use of poison gas by German forces, in 1915. Several other battles for control took place, with British forces capturing the hill for a final time in September 1918, a few weeks before the Armistice. My thanks are due to the historylearningsite.co.uk for these details.