FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

England in 1066 Trivia Quiz

Most people know bits of information about the year 1066. So I thought I'd test you a little bit to see what you know.

A multiple-choice quiz by KrivoyRog. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
KrivoyRog

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
240,479

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
2449

Last 3 plays: Guest 92 (7/10), Guest 81 (7/10), 1310 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. On 1st January 1066, who was King of England? Hint

Harold I

Edward the Confessor

Ethelred the Unready

Elvis III

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Harold claimed the throne and was crowned King the day after Edward's death. This resulted in invasions by two separate claimants to the throne. Who led the Northern invasion? Hint

Harald Hardrada of Norway

Magnus Magnussen of Iceland

Sven-Goran Erikksen of Sweden

Gerhard the Goth

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The Northern invasion reached the area around York and on 20 September 1066, they defeated the English Earls, Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria. What battle was this? Hint

Battle of Selby

Battle of Doncaster

Battle of Bootham

Battle of Fulford

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What battle took place on 25th September 1066? Hint

Battle of Malton

Battle of Wakefield

Battle of Stamford Bridge

Battle of Knaresborough

5. While the English were fighting off the Vikings near York, William of Normandy landed his army unopposed down on the South Coast in what is now Sussex. What did Harold and his army do next? Hint

Nothing

Caught the "Army Special" train from York to London and rested up in hotels near Kensington

Marched from York to London in 5 days and then on to the coast

Had a good moan about everything, then jumped on their horses and galloped to London

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What other completely unrelated phenomena occured during 1066 and was regarded by many as a "bad omen"? Hint

The ravens at the Tower of London died

A group of travelling minstrels performed a song called "England's Doom"

Thetford Castle collapsed for no obvious reasons

A "bright star" lit the skies over England

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. On October 14th, 1066, the armies of William of Normandy and King Harold of Anglo-Saxon England met near Hastings. What weapons would have been visible that day? Hint

Tanks, rifles

Spears, battle-axes, bows

Swords and cannon

Machine guns, bazookas

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. King Harold was killed during the battle. Popular folklore tells of how he died that day. Which statement best fits what could well be the last sentence he heard? Hint

"Look out, my Lord, he's got a gun"

"Keep your eye on those arrows coming our way, my Lord"

"Blimey, my Lord, those spears look a bit sharp".

"Look out, my Lord, the Normans planted some landmines over there".

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Westminster on what date? Hint

22nd November 1066

Christmas Day 1066

30th December 1066

3rd January 1067

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. 1066 is a date that everyone seems to remember. Here are some different **66 years. One is incorrect. Which is it? Hint

1966 - England won the football World Cup

1466 - Henry VII became first Tudor King after winning the Battle of Bosworth.

1666 - the Great Fire of London

1766 - the Stamp Act was repealed

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Today : Guest 92: 7/10
Dec 22 2024 : Guest 81: 7/10
Dec 20 2024 : 1310: 7/10
Dec 13 2024 : Guest 90: 8/10
Dec 12 2024 : Guest 77: 7/10
Dec 12 2024 : Guest 51: 5/10
Dec 12 2024 : Guest 90: 8/10
Dec 11 2024 : Guest 86: 7/10
Dec 05 2024 : Johnmcmanners: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. On 1st January 1066, who was King of England?

Answer: Edward the Confessor

Edward died on 5 January 1066 and left no direct heir to the throne. This set the backdrop for the events that followed.

2. Harold claimed the throne and was crowned King the day after Edward's death. This resulted in invasions by two separate claimants to the throne. Who led the Northern invasion?

Answer: Harald Hardrada of Norway

Yes, Norway's first entry into Europe went as well as their Eurovision entries over 900 years later.
Magnus Magnussen started, yet never seemed to finish his invasions. Sven Goran Erikksen's invasion was disastrous for the country. Gerhard the Goth is entirely ficticious.

3. The Northern invasion reached the area around York and on 20 September 1066, they defeated the English Earls, Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria. What battle was this?

Answer: Battle of Fulford

The Battle of Fulford ended with the deaths of the two English Earls and defeat for the English. Five days later, things would turn out very differently.

4. What battle took place on 25th September 1066?

Answer: Battle of Stamford Bridge

Just five days after their victory over the English Earls, the Viking Army was decimated by King Harold at Stamford Bridge, again just outside of York.

5. While the English were fighting off the Vikings near York, William of Normandy landed his army unopposed down on the South Coast in what is now Sussex. What did Harold and his army do next?

Answer: Marched from York to London in 5 days and then on to the coast

No other choice. The weary English marched to London, then on to Hastings.

6. What other completely unrelated phenomena occured during 1066 and was regarded by many as a "bad omen"?

Answer: A "bright star" lit the skies over England

By pure co-incidence, Halley's Comet was passing by, as it does every 76 years. As it wasn't "discovered" officially until 1758, it didn't actually have a name back in 1066. It was just "that bright thing in the sky".

7. On October 14th, 1066, the armies of William of Normandy and King Harold of Anglo-Saxon England met near Hastings. What weapons would have been visible that day?

Answer: Spears, battle-axes, bows

Much as I would love to have seen the look on William's face as Harold led a tank division over the hill, it was mainly hand to hand and bow and arrow engagements.

8. King Harold was killed during the battle. Popular folklore tells of how he died that day. Which statement best fits what could well be the last sentence he heard?

Answer: "Keep your eye on those arrows coming our way, my Lord"

King Harold famously died from his wounds after being hit in the eye with an arrow. This version is given some credence as it is recorded on the Bayeux Tapestry, which chronicles events that day and on many others. He is said to have snapped the arrow's shaft and with the blade still embedded, he continued to fight on until he received a severe injury to his thigh and was set upon by several of William's men, who ripped out his guts and severed his head.
[ Some historians believe he was the man next to the one with an arrow in his eye. ]

9. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Westminster on what date?

Answer: Christmas Day 1066

On a snowy Christmas Day, William became the third King to rule over England in the year 1066. He ruled the country until his death in 1087 and was succeeded by his son, William II Rufus.

10. 1066 is a date that everyone seems to remember. Here are some different **66 years. One is incorrect. Which is it?

Answer: 1466 - Henry VII became first Tudor King after winning the Battle of Bosworth.

Henry VII became King in 1485 but the other three are all part of the "66's". I wonder what will happen in 2066?

Source: Author KrivoyRog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.