Medieval History Trivia

31. William I of England's successor came to a infamous end: shot through the heart whilst hunting alone with a favourite. Foul play? Court intrigue? Regardless: he is known to history by his nickname: ___________ .

From Quiz Historical Miscellany

Answer: William Rufus & Rufus & Rufus the Red & the Red King

A "new" theory (see Hugh Ross Williamson's "Historical Enigmas", reprinted by Penguin in 2000 as "Who was the Man in the Iron Mask and other Historical Mysteries") suggests that Rufus, a patron of Cathar troubadours from the south of France, could have "given" himself in a ritualistic self-sacrifice linked to the Cathar and Druidic belief that in times of crisis the king must give his blood for his land. Years of poor harvests and a general feeling of unease were recorded by period chroniclers. It is further interesting to note that William Rufus' nephew died in a similar manner the preceeding year: did he die trying to save his sovereign from having to participate in the ritual?

From Quiz Medieval Basics

Answer: 7

The first years of a child's life were free from burdens, formal education and hard work.

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs V (Bulgars)

Answer: Krum

Krum (reigned c. 803-814 AD) not only destroyed the Kingdom of the Avars (c. 808 AD) but also challengeed the Byzantine Empire for control of the Balkans. At the Battle of the Verbitza Pass (Jul 24, 811 AD) he ambushed and massacred an Imperial army led by the Emperor himself (Nicephorus I). Krum turned the Emperor's skull into his special drinking cup. After defeating the next emperor (Michael I Rhangabe) at the Battle of Versinicia (Jun 21, 813 AD) he marched to the very walls of Constantinople (Jul 17, 813 AD) and demand the surrender of the city from the new Emperor (Leo V) (Michael I had abdicated after returning to the capital). Krum died (Apr 13, 814 AD) never having captured Constantinople. He was succeeded by his son, Omortag (reigned 814-831 AD) who soon conclude peace with the Byzantium.

From Quiz Who Art Thou? Medieval Personalities

Answer: Regiomontanus

Born Johann Muller, Regiomontanus took his name from the Latinized form of his home town, Konigsberg, 'King's Mountain.' In 1461 he completed the re-translation begun by Peuerbach of Ptolemy's 'Almagest' from Arabic to Latin. This improved translation sparked new interest in mathematics and ultimately led to Ptolemy's successful refutation by Copernicus.In English this book was translated as Five Books on Triangles of All Kinds, published posthumously in 1533.

From Quiz Europe: Middle Ages to Modern Times

Answer: Avignon

For nearly seventy years, the seat of the papacy remained in Avignon, unit 1377, when Pope Gregory XI returned it to Rome.

From Quiz Medieval Europe

Answer: Charlemagne

He was crowned on Christmas Day in A.D. 800. Contrary to a widespread misconception the title had no reference to Roman, to 'holy' or to the 'West'. It was simply 'August Caesar'.

From Quiz Getting Medieval

Answer: castles

Castles were numerous on the continent by 1066. As soon as William was crowned king of England, he began building castles.

From Quiz General European Medieval History

Answer: 6

Adrian VI, the last of the Adrians was only Pope for a month.

From Quiz Know Your Frankish History!

Answer: Merovingian

This dynasty ended Roman control of the region in the fifth century A.D., but was itself toppled by the Austrasian Franks (nothing to do with Australia!) in the eighth century A.D.

From Quiz The Days of Knights

Answer: Rodrigo Diaz

Rodrigo Diaz, more commonly known to history as El Cid, was primarily responsible for driving the Muslim forces from Valencia. He ruled Valencia until 1099, the year of his death. After El Cid's death the city was attacked again, and Alfonso VI ordered it evacuated and burned. Valencia remained in Muslim control until 1238. El Cid roughly translates to "the lord".

From Quiz Disasters That Shook The World

Answer: Netherlands

The flooding permanently reshaped some features of the Dutch coastline, including interior lakes which became extensions of the North Sea. Several coastal islands were largely destroyed. The flooding is also credited with largely ending the Friso-Hollandic wars of the previous two centuries. Estimates for the number of casualties are 50,000 to 80,000, one of the deadliest floods in world histories.

From Quiz Storm the Castle!

Answer: Threw projectiles at a castle wall

A mangonel was a catapult that was used to throw projectiles at castle walls. Some had a range of over 300 metres and could launch rocks and fire pots, or anything else that was available. Sometimes, dead bodies were hurled into castles, helping to spread disease among the residents trapped inside.

From Quiz Medieval Europe Assortment

Answer: Merovingian

The Merovingian dynasty was followed by the Carolingian dynasty in 751 AD. The sons of Clovis were Theuderic, Chlodomer, Childebert, and Clotaire. They, and their successors, expanded the area under their control to cover what is now known as France.

From Quiz Mediaeval Mixture

Answer: Bread

Of course, the wealthy could afford the best of all these food stuffs although uncooked fruits were regarded with some suspicion and left mainly to the poor. The manchet was made from the finest wheat flour, and was often flavoured with spices. The poor, by contrast, had to eat bread made from barley or oats. Rye was used only by country folk. The manchet survives in the form of the Bath bun and Sally Lunn, which are sweet breads with some similarities to brioche.

From Quiz Medieval History Innovations

Answer: Windmill

Early forms of a wind driven wheels to power various machines were known back as far as Ancient Greece, Tibet, China and Babylon. The first practical windmill in the form we recognise it today was claimed to be invented by the Persians in late 9th century, but today's scholars challenge this claim. Nobody then can say with full authority from where or whom the European windmill evolved. What can be stated though is that, by the close of the 12th century, windmills were beginning to spring up throughout Flanders, northern France and England. These early windmills had sails which spun around a vertical axis. They were used for the purposes of grinding grain into flour, pumping water out of flooded areas, or providing water for irrigation purposes. The first mechanical clocks were also introduced to the western European world during this period of history.

From Quiz Illuminating the Dark Ages

Answer: They converted to Christianity

Quite a few of these tribes were already Christianised, but followed a version of Christianity known as Arianism. They believed that God the Father was the 'senior partner' in the Trinity. This was like a red rag to a bull for the Catholic Church. Arianism was thoroughly denounced and its followers declared to be heretics. To make the process of invasion and rule as trouble-free as possible, the new rulers of the European world converted quite readily to Catholicism. This astute move quickly gained them the loyalty of the already converted Roman populace they had subjugated - and the hearty approval of the Pope. These new invaders also continued to recognise the local laws at the time, and only changed them over a period of time to those of Roman law. In much of the area that they invaded and settled, the languages that emerged were derived mainly from Latin (as spoken in the various regions concerned).

From Quiz Sir William Marshal: The Greatest Knight

Answer: Newbury Castle

William was only about 8 years old at the time. He was being used as a hostage by King Stephen to get his father, John Marshal, to surrender the castle. Thankfully, Stephen could not bring himself to kill young William and instead promised him that he would never come to harm by his hand.

From Quiz Condottieri - Medieval Mercenaries

Answer: the White Company

The polished armour of these men-at-arms presumably gave them their name.

From Quiz The Life of Richard Nevill Earl of Warwick

Answer: Thomas, John and George

Thomas (c1429-1460); John (c1430-1471) and George (c1432-1476)

From Quiz Alcuin of York - Educator of Kings

Answer: Charlemagne

Given that today we learn reading and writing together it seems odd the mighty king never did learn to write though he was very well read by all accounts but one can certainly see that reading can be taught more readily than the physical mechanics of writing!

From Quiz 12th-15th Century Europe

Answer: Pierre Abelard

Fourteen years before he taught at the cathedral school of Notre Dame, where he became scholar after studying there. Abelard is also well known for his tempestuous affair with Héloïse, which resulted in his castration.

From Quiz English Medieval Bonanza

Answer: Richard II

A younger son of Edward, the Black Prince, Richard was born in January 6, 1367, in Bordeaux, France. The suppresion of Tyler's peasants' rebellion in 1381 was one of the many notable events of his reign. Towards the end of the fourteenth century he came to be seen as tyrannical: he was deposed in August, 1399 by the future Henry IV and died a prisoner in Pontefract Castle in February, 1400 in suspicious circumstances.

From Quiz Melee Weapons (Mainly Medieval)

Answer: Flail

A flail, while slow, is devastatingly strong, destructive and dangerous. Mistakenly called a mace and morning star. The flail is used as a whip, but imagine swinging a whip at someone with a heavy spiked weight at the end of it. (Ouch?)

From Quiz Medieval Weaponry

Answer: A dagger

A poniard was a short dagger originally used in India from the 14th to the 17th centuries. It had a straight, often triangular, blade.

From Quiz The Middle Ages

Answer: chain mail

Chain mail armor was made of many, many small strips of metal bits that were made into small hoops about the width of a pinky finger. They were then welded together by armorers or blacksmiths so they interlocked each other. Plate armor was very expensive and most soldiers could not afford it.

From Quiz Medieval Celebrities

Answer: Thomas Becket

Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by some of Henry II's knights after Henry II allegedly called out, "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" He was killed on 29th December 1170 and continued to plague Henry long after his death. It is said many miracles happened at his tomb and he was canonised barely three years later, in 1173.

From Quiz Medieval Cold Weapons

Answer: 5 kg

Seems too light? Try to fight with 5 kilos in your hands for an hour. The maximum weight of bastard swords was about 2 kg and one handed swords were even lighter.

From Quiz Medieval Miscellany

Answer: Alcuin of York

Alcuin was invited to the Carolingian Court by Charlemagne himself, and was later made Abbot of St. Martin's of Tours, in France. He was a deacon in the Church, but lived as a monk would.

From Quiz Medieval Clothing

Answer: wimple

The wimple was worn by married women to show they were wed. The other articles listed are all medieval.

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