Poland History Trivia

1. The first documented settlement in what is now Warsaw, Poland dates back to the 9th century. It was a small village called Brodno. What happened to Brodno?

From Quiz History of Warsaw

Answer: It burned down

Brodno was founded sometime around the end of the 9th century (or possibly early 10th). It was a very small settlement located near where the present-day neighborhood Brodno is located. The original Brodno had walls but, nonetheless, it was burned down in the mid 11th century by warring princes. A similar fate befall other early small settlements in what is now Warsaw.

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: A dragon

The legend goes that Smok Wawelski was a dragon who lived on what is now Wawel Hill in Krakow. The dragon would destroy homes and eat villagers, especially young virgins. Krakus fed the dragon a poisoned lamb, which killed him, and the city was saved. Wawel Cathedral currently displays, what are claimed to be, the bones of Smok Wawelski, but it is unknown where exactly the bones came from.

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: United States

Four million Poles migrated during the 1890s, mainly to the United States. Migration on a large scale continued until 1914.

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: 966

The ruler of Poland who decided to introduce Christianity, thus establishing a country, was Mieszko I.

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: The Duchy of Warsaw

Contrary to common (and erroneous) usage, the adjective "Grand" never was a part of the Duchy's official appellation.

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Mieszko I

Mieszko I (r. 960-992 AD) was married to Dobravka, daughter of Wenceslaus, the Saint, Duke of Bohemia. He estalished the Piast dynasty which held the throne of Poland until 1370 AD.

From Quiz Poland Under Communist Rule

Answer: The Oder-Neisse Line

The new Polish border was decided on by the Big Three (USSR, Great Britain and the United States) at the 1945 Yalta and Potsdam Conferences. The Soviet Union gained what had been Eastern Poland. Poland was compensated for its territorial losses by gaining 150 miles of what had been Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) did not recognize this new border until 1970.

From Quiz History of Warsaw

Answer: Income

Warsaw was an extremely divided city based on the income of its residents. The city was ruled by extremely wealthy princes and aristocrats while most of the residents were extremely poor tradesmen and their families. In 1525, the peasants revolted and secured a power-sharing deal establishing a house of government for the lower class. This agreement was short lived because the last Masovian prince was likely poisoned by the Polish Crown and Warsaw became part of Poland as a result, although this body of government remained with changes.

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: Saint Stanislaus the Martyr

Stanislaus and King Boleslaw II had a number of disputes, mostly with the men accusing each other immoral acts. King Boleslaw believed, which historians now believe is correct, that Stanislaus was conspiring to oust him and take more power for himself. King Boleslaw ordered Stanislaus to be executed but none of his soldiers were willing to kill the bishop. King Boleslaw killed Stanislaus himself while the bishop was celebrating mass.

From Quiz Ten Centuries in a Flash - A History of Poland

Answer: Dividing the country between his sons

Boleslaw was for many years involved in a struggle for supremacy against his elder brother Zbigniew, so to prevent such issues in future he divided Polish lands between his four sons. His will was broken soon after his death as the brothers became enemies. German crusaders were in fact invited to Poland, with even more dire consequences, but the one responsible for this act was Conrad of Mazovia - one of Boleslav's descendants.

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: September 17, 1939

The invasion attacked the eastern areas of Poland without a formal declaration of war, sixteen days after the beginning of the Nazi German attack on Poland. It ended in a victory for the Soviet Union's Red Army - and for Nazi Germany.

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: 1025

This was Boleslaw Chrobry. He had ruled Poland since 996, but was crowned in 1025 - the same year that he died.

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: Frederick August, king of Saxony

Napoleon chose the Saxon king partly because of the past historical connections between Poland and Saxony. Nevertheless, Frederick August was just a figurehead, the Duchy was in fact ruled by Napoleon himself.

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Boleslaus IV, the Curly

Boleslaus IV wanted to acquire some of the land that was inhabited by Prussian pagans. His crusade was not successful, although later rulers attempted similar campaigns to Christianize the Prussians from 1217-1274.

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: Mongol

This was the first Mongol invasion of Krakow. Two more followed in 1258 and 1287. By the time of the 1258 invasion, Krakow was destroyed again just after having been rebuilt two years earlier. The Mongols failed to take the city in 1287 and Krakow started becoming a stable city from then on.

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: 992

Their is no record of when the reign of Duke Mieszko began. In 966 he converted to Christianity after marrying Dabrowka of Bohemia.

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: Gniezno

It's a rather small city with a nice Romanesque cathedral.

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: legions

In the military terminology of that period "legion" signified a mixed unit including all the main branches of service (infantry, cavalry, artillery).

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Casimir III, the Great

Casimir III (r. 1333-1370 AD) truly earned his title of Great. He issued the first Polish legal code, abolished serfdom, and the University of Cracow was founded (1364 AD). He also encouraged European Jews to settle in his kingdom (the countries of western Europe were periodically persecuting and expelling their Jewish populations). This increase led to Poland being the center of Jewish culture in eastern Europe. His only major failure - he left no legitimate heir to the throne.

From Quiz Poland Under Communist Rule

Answer: Nikita Khrushchev

Nikita Khrushchev, the successor to Stalin, was the only Soviet leader not to die while in power until Gorbachev. He was deposed in 1964 and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev. Georgi Malenkov was his main competitor for the position of Soviet Communist party chief. Yuri Andropov was the Russian ambassador to Hungary during Khrushchev's rule and played a vital role in the crushing of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

From Quiz History of Warsaw

Answer: Brandenburg-Prussia

The Battle of Warsaw was fought between Polish-Lithuanian forces against the Swedish-Prussian coalition. Although, Sweden and Brandenburg-Prussia won the battle, the victory was insignificant as Polish forces led by John II Casimir quickly fled the battlefield with only about 2,000 casualties. However, the battle was one of the first major wins for Brandenburg-Prussia despite being vastly outnumbered. Prussia quickly established itself as a major military force in Eastern Europe. The battle is also notable because it was one of the first skirmishes the future Polish King John III Sobieski fought in. He would later become one of the most important Polish kings in history. John III Sobieski brought stability to Poland and led military campaigns that successfully fought off invaders such as the Ottoman Empire.

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: Kazimierz

King Jan I Olbracht gave permission for the Jewish community to leave what is now called, the Old Town, which had been completely burned and demolished, and move to Kazimierz, which was later put aside specifically for the Jews. The Jewish people built walls around their quarter and it became known as Oppidum Judaeorum, the Jewish City.

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: 1543

Nicolaus Copernicus was a famous astronomer from Poland. He was born in Torun on February 19, 1473.

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: Konrad Mazowiecki

The knights were supposed to introduce Christianity to Lithuania, but remained there long after achieving their initial goal.

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: Light horse

The Polish light horse regiment (also known as chevaulegers) received lances only in the fall of 1809; originally it was armed with sabers and pistols. Its greatest triumph took place on 30 November 1808 in the Somosierra pass in Spain, where one of its squadrons captured four consecutive gun batteries and thus opened the way to Madrid.

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Jagiello

Jadwiga (r. 1384-1399 AD) marriage terms: the queen was to receive a powerful protector (a husband) and in return Jagiello would convert to Christianity (Roman Catholicism) along with his people. For Jagiello the marriage offered an alliance against the Teutonic Knights. Jagiello was baptized (Feb 15, 1386 AD) and took the Christian name of Ladislaus. Ladislaus II (r. 1386-1434 AD) would outlive his wife. Note: the union of Poland and Lithuania was only a personal union. Each were ruled separately until the Union of Lubin (1569 AD) officially united the crowns into a single kingdom.

From Quiz Poland Under Communist Rule

Answer: Boleslaw Bierut

Boleslaw Bierut was one of the Muscovite Communists who dominated Polish Communist politics. He died in March of 1956. His eventual successor was Gomulka (1956-70), a nationalist Communist. Edward Gierek(1970-80) succeeded Gomulka after widespread rioting over increased food prices forced him out of office. Gierek, in turn, was forced out of office when the Polish economy took another down turn in the late 70s. Stanislaw Kania held office very briefly following Gierek until he was replaced by Jaruzelski.

From Quiz History of Warsaw

Answer: Great Northern War

The Great Northern War was fought by Sweden and Russia during the first two decades of the 18th century with Poland getting caught in the middle. Warsaw was invaded by both Sweden and Russia numerous times during the conflict. Warsaw's struggles can be attributed to Polish King Augustus II's negligence of his kingdom as he focused on the worldly affairs of Saxony and elsewhere in Europe. Polish aristocrats were unhappy with Augustus who sided with Russia while the noblemen sided with Sweden. Augustus was dethroned when Sweden captured the city but reinstated when Russia took it. Warsaw was heavily damaged throughout the war, was constantly rebuilt only to be destroyed again.

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: Krakow

The capital was changed between 1596-1609. Krakow is filled with galleries, pubs, and cafes. In 1795 Krakow became part of the Austrian empire. It is one of the best preserved large cities in Poland and has for centuries been an important centre of Polish cultural life and of science and scholarship.

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Last Updated Nov 02 2024 5:46 AM

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