A-Z Greatest Battles of History II Quiz

Answer: Antioch

The Siege of Antioch was a major battle in the Crusades. Antioch was a heavily fortified city that was being defended by Turkish governor, Yagi Siyan. In the beginning the crusader waited it out during winter until a Turkish traitor let crusaders into the city.

After the Crusaders took the citadel, a Muslim relief force of about 75,000 came. The Crusaders were trapped and on the verge of defeat until being inspired by the Holy Lance, they attacked the Muslim force and took over the city once again.

Answer: The Bulge

In the very cold winter of 1944, Hitler launched a counter-offensive against the Allied forces out of desperation. The Allies (mainly U.S.) forces slowed down the German forces. The Germans, tired of fighting and running low on supplies, abandoned the offensive. This loss was a devastating blow to the Germans, who already couldn't afford any more losses.

Answer: Cannae

In 216 B.C.E, Carthaginian general, Hannibal, hot off his victories all over Italy, was attacked by a larger Roman army near Cannae, Italy. After a few skirmishes, the forces met near the Aufidus River. The Carthaginians, armed with better weapons and armor destroyed the Roman legions and killed around 50,000 Romans. The victory led to more victories for Hannibal but ultimately Carthage was defeated.

Answer: Drepana

The Battle of Drepana was a major naval battle in the First Punic War. Both side had about 130 ships but the Carthaginians were victorious over the Romans. This victory meant nothing because the Romans won more battles and the war. Carthage slowly lost its naval dominance and would be destroyed all together.

Answer: El Alamein

The Battle of El Alamein took place in northern Egypt. The Allies were being pushed further back until the army under General Bernard Montgomery launched an offensive on the Axis. The Germans were being pushed back until Rommel ordered his men to launch a counter-attack.

The counter-attack failed and the Allies launched a final offensive and forced Rommel into a retreat. The battle halted any further German progress in North Africa.

Answer: Friedland

The Battle of Friedland took place in Friedland, Prussia. It was a battle between Napoleon's French army and Levin von Bennigsen's Russian army. The French had won a major victory and destroyed much of the Russian army. The battle prompted Alexander I, monarch of Russia to conclude the Treaty of Tilsit, which ended the Fourth Coalition.

Answer: Gallipoli

The British Empire and France planned a naval attack the Dardanelles Straits so that they could make their way to Constantinople and take the Ottomans out of the war. When the naval attack failed, the Allies decided to send forces of men onto land to take out the forts.

This also eventually failed. The Ottomans launched several counter-attacks and won the battle. The Ottomans had succeeded in winning in their home land but failed to win the war. Anzac Day was in remembrance of those ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) troops who died in the battle but has now become a memory to all ANZAC war veterans.

Answer: Hydaspes River

The Battle of the Hydaspes River was as Alexander's last major battle. He faced King Porus, the leading raj of Punjab across the Hydaspes River(Jhelum River) in modern day Pakistan. Alexander had split his army but King Porus had discovered and sent over a hundred elephants charging at Alexander's army. Alexander sent his cavalry and archers forward to take out the elephants who starting killing their own men.

After the battle, his men continued to advance but they eventually wanted to go back so Alexander turned back at the Hyphasis River, where Alexander's mighty empire came to a halt.

Answer: Issus

The Battle of Issus took place near the Gulf of Iskenderun in modern day Turkey, where Darius and his Persian army and Alexander and his Greek army met. The Persians had superior numbers but were forced to fight on a narrow plain. The Greek cavalry had dominated and crushed the larger Persian forces. Darius had fled after the battle and came back to fight against Alexander again.

This victory is regarded as one of Alexander's greatest.

Answer: Jutland

The battle of Jutland was a battle between the British Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet. This was the largest naval battle in the war. The British lost 14 ships while the Germans lost 11. The Germans fled the battle and the British public was outraged that they managed to escape.

Answer: Kandahar

The Battle of Kandahar ended the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The British army included many Indian fighters. The Afghan commander, Ayub Khan, was defeated and much of his army was destroyed. As a result of the victory in the war, Britain gained control of Afghanistan's foreign policy but Afghanistan could mostly govern itself.

It wouldn't be until the Third Anglo-Afghan War that Afghanistan would gain independence and fully govern itself.

Answer: Lexington and Concord

The battle of Lexington and Concord took place in Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. The British were sent to take weapons away from the colonists in Concord. The British were stopped in Lexington and were continually being shot at until they reached Concord and came back. The American Revolution had officially begun with this battle.

Answer: Mohács

When Suleiman I was approaching the Hungarian capital city, Buda, King Louis gathered as much support as he could and attacking the oncoming Ottoman army. The cavalry and cannons were too much for the Hungarians to handle so Suleiman counter-attacked. With the death of King Louis, the Hungarians lost the battle, the war, and their core lands to the Ottomans.

Answer: Nile

The Battle of the Nile was a naval battle in Aboukir Bay. The battle stopped France's invasion of Egypt and stopped any French threat to the British routes to India. This was one of the greatest naval victories for Britain. The battle also made Horatio Nelson a hero. The French fleet suffered heavy losses, but so, too, did the British fleet.

Answer: Orléans

In 1428, the Duke of Bedford sent troops to besiege Orléans. The English focused on taking out the castle defending it. Both sides held their ground as the French had heavy defenses and were attacking English reinforcements. Under the leadership of Joan of Arc, the French sent a small army to capture the English positions and strongholds.

The English were defeated and many people of France were inspired. Thousands of people joined the French army, which started to go north.

Answer: Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor was more of an attack, not really a battle. The Japanese navy made an attack on the American naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The U.S. suffered heavier losses than the Japanese. The attack is what basically made the U.S. enter the World War because after the attack, the U.S. declared war on Japan, and on 11 December 1941 Germany declared war on the US.

Answer: Qadisayya

In the early 600s, Muslim Arabs looked to attack the weakened Sassanian Empire. The Arabs met a large army near the Euphrates River, which they attacked and eventually defeated. The victory gave them room to advance up the Tigris and eventually destroy the empire.

Answer: Rorke's Drift

The Battle of Rorke's Drift was a great defensive victory for the British, who were very heavily outnumbered. The battle took place on the same day as the very painful defeat for the British at Isandlwana. The British won the battle and would win the war. Eleven Victoria Crosses were given to the defenders at Rorke's Drift.

Answer: Stalingrad

The Axis forces in the South planned an attack on Stalingrad on Hitler's orders. The army was comprised of Germans, Italians, Romanians, and Hungarians. The Axis faced an inexperienced General Chuikov defending the city. Both sides refused to give up and fought for every building.

As the winter came, the Axis troops were low on supplies and stuck in a cold winter, and were surrounded and defeated. This was a major inspiring victory for the Allies. After this defeat, the Germans had no real hope of winning World War II.

Answer: Tours

In the Battle of Tours, also called the Battle of Poitiers, the Franks stopped the further advance of the Umayyad Caliphate into western Europe. Abd ar-Rahman, the governor of Spain was pursuing Duke Eudo when Charles Martel came to confront the Muslims. The Muslims were pushed back and Abd ar-Rahman was killed. This was the beginning of the end for Muslim rule in Spain.

Answer: Ulsan

When the Japanese invaded the city of Ulsan, the Ming emperor sent troops to help defend Korea. The Korean navy was unable to stop the Japanese. The Chinese and Koreans were keeping the Japanese army pinned down until a relief force came from Japan. The Japanese still were unable to capture the fortress in Ulsan until they were called back home in 1598.

Answer: Vicksburg

The Siege of Vicksburg was important for the Union, which was losing many important battles. It took place in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The battle also made Grant a renowned general in the North, which is why he became the Union's overall commander. The surrender of the city also came along with the Union victory at Gettysburg.

The battle also gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

Answer: Wagram

The Battle of Wagram took place near the Danube River and not far from Vienna. The battle ended in a victory for French under Napoleon and a defeat for the Austrians under Archduke Charles. Napoleon needed a victory after his loss in Aspern-Essling. The battle lasted for two days but had many casualties for both sides. With the French army chasing the Austrians, the Austrians agreed to an armistice.

Answer: Yorktown

The Battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution. When the American army, led by George Washington, together with and the French navy, led by Comte de Grasse, trapped General Cornwallis's army, he was forced to surrender. The American victory prompted the British government to make a treaty, the Treaty of Paris.

Answer: Zenta

In 1697, when Sultan Mustafa II took his army to reconquer Hungary, Eugene of Savoy ordered his men to attack at the oncoming Turks. The Ottoman cavalry had crossed the Tisza River before Eugene destroyed the pontoon bridge, leaving the rest of the army stranded. The Ottomans lost, as their empire began to crumble.