Henry's Medieval Match 3 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Charlemagne

The Franks were a tribe of Germans who settled in Gaul toward the end of the Roman Empire. Charles the Great, well-known for his military leadership and ability to rule a vast empire, was crowned Emperor of the Romans on Christmas Day in the year 800. Although he did not reunite the entire Roman Empire as he had hoped, he did rule much of what is Europe today.

Answer: King Arthur

Perhaps Sir William somehow came into contact with the "History of the Kings of Britain" by Geoffrey Monmouth, who told that Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon, married to Guinevere, advised by his magician, Merlin, and ruled from Tintagel Castle in Cornwall. Arthur is credited with being the leader who helped Britain recover from the fall of Rome.

In doing so, he supposedly put together (in some versions of stories about him) a huge empire that grew to England, Ireland, Norway, Iceland and Gaul.

Answer: William the Conqueror

William believed that he had a claim to the throne of England. When King Edward died, however, there were three men who believed they should be king. One of the contenders for the throne, Harold of Norway, was defeated in battle by Harold Godwinson, another contender.

Then William defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. According to legend, Harold was shot in the eye with an arrow, and William became king after winning the battle.

Answer: Richard the Lionheart

Richard was not yet known as the Lionheart when he went to fight the Muslim leader, Saladin, in the Third Crusade. After negotiating a truce, Richard was captured and held for ransom in Austria on his way home to England. In order to raise money for the expensive ransom, his mother convinced the people of England that they could not leave such a brave man, "a lionheart", in a foreign prison.

The ransom was paid and Richard the Lionheart was set free.

Answer: William Wallace

William Wallace was a great freedom fighter and hero to the Scots, however, the English view him as a bit of a rebel! Under his leadership the Scots were victorious at the Battle of Sterling Bridge in 1297, and the English army was totally defeated; William was knighted toward the end of the year.

In 1305 he was captured and turned over to the English. Put on trial for treason, William was publicly executed.

Answer: Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc was a French peasant girl who had a vision from God. In the vision an angel told her that she was to lead the French army into battle against the English. They had been fighting a very long, difficult war that really lasted 116 years! After seeing the French prince, the dauphin, crowed King of France, Joan was captured by enemies who turned her over to the English.

She was tried on the charge of heresy and burned at the stake.

Answer: Robin Hood

Robin Hood famously "robbed from the rich to give to the poor". According to the legend, he lived in Sherwood Forest with his group of outlaws, who were called his Merry Men. Robin was a great swordsman, but he especially loved archery. While some of his men may have been stronger than he - like his second in command, Little John - Robin was hands down the best archer!

Answer: El Cid

El Cid's real name was Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar; he was known as the bravest knight in the land of Spain! After getting into a bit of trouble with the king, he was banished from the country with 300 of his knights. They took a city called Alcocer from the Muslim Moors and lived there. Eventually the king asked El Cid to return and gave him castles and land in exchange for military aid. El Cid called himself the Prince of Valencia after taking the city from the Moors.

Answer: Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor was married to the King of France, Louis VII, but she had the marriage annulled so that she could marry Henry II of England. During her lifetime, she was a very powerful woman, and even teamed up with three of her sons to begin a rebellion against their father, Henry! She had many children; however, her two sons, Richard I and John, became kings of England.

Answer: Marco Polo

Marco Polo traveled to China in 1271 with his father and uncle, but the trip took three years to complete. Altogether, they were away from their homeland of Italy for seventeen years! Marco traveled to many places during that time and is believed to have even served as a spy for Kublai Khan. He eventually wrote a book, "The Travels of Marco Polo" that influenced later explorers like Christopher Columbus.