Royals Central Europe Trivia

1. From the name (NOT title!) of what great Roman general does the term "Kaiser" derive?

From Quiz My Favorite Kaisers

Answer: Gaius Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life in 44 BC, but was never designated an emperor. A month later, he was assassinated. Octavian, whom Caesar chose for his heir, became Rome's first emperor with the elimination of Mark Antony and Lepidus, the other two members of the Second Triumvirate. Lucus Papirius Cursor was a great general who was twice declared dictator and was five times a consul. He died about 200 years before Caesar. Marcus Valerius Corvus was a contemporary of Papirius and was also twice elevated to dictator and a six-time consul.

From Quiz The Elusive Elisabeth

Answer: 16

Sisi's older sister Helene was supposed to marry the Emperor, but Franz fell in love with Sisi immediately and proposed only a few days after meeting her. Franz Joseph was also King of Hungary and Bohemia, and she became those countries' queens.

From Quiz Queen Marie of Romania

Answer: Czar Alexander II of Russia

Queen Marie was the daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria, and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, the only daughter of Czar Alexander II. Alexander III was Alexander II's son, whereas Nicholas I and Paul I were the latter's father and great-grandfather, respectively.

From Quiz Secrets of the Gotha III

Answer: England

"The first of these unfortunate princesses was Sophia of Brunswick-Celle, wife of George I of England, whose love affair with the handsome Count of Koenigsmark earned her forty years seclusion in the fortress of Ahlden". Technically the first German queen consort, Sophia Dorathea had married the Elector of Hanover on 1682 and had two children, George and Sophia Dorathea. However the couple soon split as George preferred the company of his mistresses. The last straw for the future queen was when she embarked on her own love affair and had the misfortune of being caught. She died on 13th November 1726 in Hanover, Germany, a prisoner of her jealous husband.

From Quiz Franz Josef

Answer: Ferdinand

Ferdinand was, according to most, mentally challenged. A nice person, he was nicknamed Ferdinand the Good. Even as a deposed monarch, the people of the city where he lived demonstrated affection. Abdication allowed the Habsburgs to 'put a new face' on the monarchy.

From Quiz Frederick V Elector Palatine

Answer: 1610

Frederick V acceded on his father's death to the rule of an electorate that included land spread across south Germany. His capital was at Heidelberg. He only truly took the reins of government in 1614, when he reached his majority.

From Quiz Secrets of the Gotha I

Answer: Swiss

The House of Habsburg may have had humble beginnings, but it was not long before they rose to some prominence with the first Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf I, being elected on 29th September 1273. His family were the ruling counts of Austria, before being elevated to dukes in the late 13th century. "Originating from a family of small Swiss squires in the Canton of Argovie, the counts of Habsburg, through a skillful marriage policy which justifies the famous motto 'Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube', ended by constituting one of the most important sovereignties in the world"

From Quiz King Ludwig II of Bavaria

Answer: August 25, 1845

He was born on August 25, 1845 to his parents, Crown Prince (later King) Maximilian II and Queen Marie. He was named after his grandfather, King Ludwig I.

From Quiz Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Early Life)

Answer: Munich

Elisabeth was born into the Wittelsbach family which ruled Bavaria at the time. Her father was a Duke and a General in the Army. Her cousin was 'Mad' King Ludwig who built Schloss Neuschwanstein.

From Quiz Not in His Right Mind: the Castles of a Mad King

Answer: Hohenschwangau

Castle Hohenschwangau is near the town of Füssen, Germany. Construction of the castle started in 1833 and was finished in 1837 by Crown Prince Maximilian (later King Maximilian II of Bavaria). There were additions that continued until 1855. The castle's style is Neo-Gothic. It is built on the ruins of a old castle dating from the 12th century.

From Quiz The Elusive Elisabeth

Answer: Hair

She was considered the most beautiful woman in Europe at the time. Washing her hair, which reached the floor, took a whole day. If her hair wasn't ready to go out, neither was she. Her teeth, on the other hand, were not the best; she tried not to speak much so that her bad teeth wouldn't show. This gave rise to the popular belief that, because Elisabeth didn't speak much, she was unintelligent.

From Quiz Frederick II the Great

Answer: Imprisoned in the fortress Küstrin and forced to watch his accomplice's beheading

Frederick was moved to the fortress at Küstrin in August of 1730 and forced to witness the beheading of his confidant and friend, Hans Hermann von Katte. He remained in his cell until November, when he received a pardon, and was then required to remain in Küstrin until 1732, under the tutelage of General von Grumbkow. The General acted as a mediator between father and son and healed some of the rift between them.

From Quiz Secrets of the Gotha III

Answer: Prussia

"In 1765 a princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel married the prince royal of Prussia and although she escaped life imprisonment and violent death she did know the humiliation of being repudiated by her husband. He relegated her to an old palace in Stettin so that it would be easier for him to marry a princess of Hesse-Darmstadt". That Prince Royal of Prussia was the future Frederick William II. They were married on 14th July 1765 in Charlottenburg, Berlin. Of their four year marriage, only one child was produced; Frederica Charlotte (b. 7 May 1767). The union was dissolved in 1769 in order for Frederick to marry Princess Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt.

From Quiz Franz Josef

Answer: Prague

Ferdinand and his brother Franz Karl (the father of Franz Josef) took up residence in the Hradcany Castle. The local population always treated them affectionatly, decorating the streets on Ferdinand's birthay celebrations.

From Quiz Frederick V Elector Palatine

Answer: Protestant Union

The Protestant Union was to have an undistinguished history and Frederick's position as head of it was to bring him little joy. The rest of the states in the Union refused to aid him in 1619.

From Quiz Secrets of the Gotha I

Answer: Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa Habsburg

Empress Maria Theresa earned this nickname by having sixteen children, including two Holy Roman Emperors, a Queen of France and Sicily, a Duchess of Parma and a Grand Duke of Modena. Maria Louisa of Spain also had sixteen children with HRE Leopold II. Maria Theresa of Sicily came close with twelve children by HRE Francis II; whilst Marie Ludovika of Modena, Francis' third wife, had no children at all. "No doubt, remembering the danger constituted by the absence of male heirs, Maria Theresa ensured the future of the dynasty by bringing into the world sixteen children, including five sons"

From Quiz King Ludwig II of Bavaria

Answer: Otto

After Ludwig was made to give up the throne, his younger brother, Otto, was made King. Ludwig is sometimes called the last true King of Bavaria, because Otto was known to be insane.

From Quiz Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Early Life)

Answer: Helene

Ludovika, Helene and Elisabeth took a trip to Bad Ischl in order for Helene and Franz Joseph to meet. However, Franz fell in love with her younger sister, Elisabeth, instead. This complicated matters for both sisters: Elisabeth was young and had had never been prepared for such a position as Empress of Austria. For Helene, it meant that it would be very hard to find another suitor for her (she was already considered 'old' to be making a new match) and had spent a lot of time learning French and other things which an Empress of Austria would have had to know.

From Quiz My Favorite Kaisers

Answer: Joseph II

Known as the "Musical King," Joseph was a patron of the arts and commissioned work from both Mozart and Beethoven. The oldest son of Empress Maria Theresa, Joseph ruled as Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria from 1765 to 1790.

From Quiz Not in His Right Mind: the Castles of a Mad King

Answer: Linderhof

Schloss Linderhof is located in Ettal, Germany. Construction began in 1869 with rebuilding of the forester's house into the royal lodge. The palace continued under construction through six phases ending in 1886. and was completed during King Ludwig II reign. The castle is completed in the rococo style. Ludwig used his personal funds and fortune for the construction of all his castle projects.

From Quiz The Elusive Elisabeth

Answer: Her reluctance to appear in public

She never liked being a public figure, having grown up in privacy and seclusion in the Bavarian countryside. She wrote of feeling imprisoned, as she lost her freedom and anonymity by marrying an emperor. She also detested the rigid Austrian court etiquette. Sometimes she'd have another woman stand in for her during public appearances while she went sightseeing alone. An archduchess would stand in for her at some functions, and she didn't visit the poor as much as the nobility thought that the empress should.

From Quiz Frederick II the Great

Answer: Silesia

In December 1740, Prussia, along with France and Bavaria went to war against Austria. Frederick based his invasion on loose hereditary claims from the early 17th century. Frederick and the Prussian army crossed into Silesia on December 16, and thus began the First Silesian War (1740-1742). Two more wars would be fought over the territory, ending with the Seven Years' War in 1763, before Prussia's annexation of the territory was undisputed. Just over a hundred years later Silesia was a key staging ground for the Austro-Prussian War of 1866.

From Quiz Secrets of the Gotha III

Answer: the Duke of Cambridge

"When the electorate of Hanover had been transformed into a kingdom, England had hastily sent the duke of Cambridge there, as viceroy. He was later replaced by his brother, the duke of Cumberland". During the reigns of Georges I, II, III and IV and William IV, England and Hanover had been ruled by the same person. However when Victoria succeeded to the throne of Britain, Salic Law prevented her from inheriting Hanover, which went to her uncle, the Duke of Cumberland. Once Cumberland had become king, he was able to send his brother, Cambridge, home.

From Quiz Franz Josef

Answer: Nephew

Franz Josef, son of Sophie, daughter of Maximilian I of Bavaria and Franz Karl, brother of Ferdiand III, took this double name as propaganda to illustrate loyalty to the conservative nature of Emperor Franz II (I) and the liberal enlightened nature of the (Holy Roman) Emperor Josef II.

From Quiz Secrets of the Gotha I

Answer: Isabella of Parma, wife of Joseph II

The poor girl was forced into her marriage on 6th Oct 1760 in Vienna, Austria, at the tender age of 20. She lived long enough to give birth to two daughters, Maria Theresa and Marie Christine, but both girls died in their infancy. The Empress died on 27th Nov 1763 in Vienna, Austria. "She was very much in love with a Spanish gentleman and she planned to run away with him. However the affair was discovered and he was assassinated on the very night of the elopement. The Infanta, weeping bitterly, was only able to hear his dying words: 'In three...you...' She imagined that within three hours she would die of sorrow. Once the three hours has passed, she was convinced then that it was a question of three days and agreed the next day to be betrothed to Archduke Joseph and since the third day arrived without her being called to God, she thought that the length of time fixed by the dying man was three weeks and she left for Vienna. Once there, the three weeks had lapsed, she politely warned the Archduke that either in three months or three years, she would die. She kept her word".

From Quiz King Ludwig II of Bavaria

Answer: Wagner

He first learned about Richard Wagner when he was in his early teens. He first heard "Lohengrin," when he was 16, then he became infatuated with the composer. In one of his three castles, Neuschwanstein, there are dozens of panels that depict opera scenes from many of Wagner's operas.

From Quiz Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Early Life)

Answer: circus

Duke Max was the eccentric of the family and enjoyed entertaining his family (and guests) at the palace with his riding. The courtyard was transformed into a circus complete with box seats. However, many of the 'high' aristocracy family members looked down on him and the family as the 'poor relations' because of his eccentric ways. However, Duke Max was extremely popular to the common people and when the royal family in Bavaria was in danger of being executed by mobs, they fled to Duke Max's palace... as it was the least-likely palace the commoners would storm!

From Quiz My Favorite Kaisers

Answer: Wilhelm II

Wilhelm, whose full name was Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert Hohenzollern, ruled for 30 years from 1888 to the end of World War I and the abolition of the German Empire in 1918. He was the oldest grandchild of Britain's Queen Victoria, his mother Victoria being the British queen's oldest child. After Germany's defeat in 1918, Wilhelm went into exile in the Netherlands.

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