Famous Dates in English History Quiz

Answer: 991

On August 10th or 11th in 991, the Vikings won a resounding victory over Byrhtnoth's troops, causing the King, Aethelred The Unready, to pay the Viking leader, most likely Olaf Tryggvason, Danegeld in the amount of 10,000 Roman pounds of silver to stop their aggression, the first time the English made such a payment. [Danegeld is a form of capitulation, in effect bribing the Vikings to cease their fighting.] The story of the battle is related in "The Battle Of Maldon," a poetic fragment of 325 lines in Old English.

The battle is also mentioned in several versions of the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle."

Answer: 1564

Shakespeare's birth is generally recognized as occurring on April 23, 1564. Before he died on 23rd April 1616, Shakespeare wrote magnificent plays in all genres, including "Twelfth Night," "Othello," and "The Tempest." His works have been translated into many languages, and they are regularly performed into the 21st century. Marlowe was born in February, 1564 (most likely on the 23rd). Among his works are "The Jew Of Malta," "Edward II," and "The Tragical History Of Doctor Faustus." His career was cut short when, aged 29, he was killed in a tavern brawl.

The reasons for his death still remain a mystery.

Answer: 1400

Richard II was deposed in 1399 by Henry Bolingbroke who became King Henry IV. On approximately 14th February 1400, he died in captivity. In Shakespeare's play "Richard II," he is murdered. Other theories suggest he was starved to death. Chaucer, author of the famous "Canterbury Tales," did much to establish English as a major language when he wrote his work in English rather than in French or Latin.

He passed away on 25th October 1400, and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Answer: 1642

The Puritans in England considered the theater to be sinful. On August 1642, the Puritan Parliament declared war against the Royalists supporting King Charles I. On 6th September 1642, they ordered all the playhouses to close. In 1648, they ordered all playhouses to be torn down.

Answer: Both

Most sources state that the man who became Henry V was born on September 16?, 1387. A few list 1386. He was the eldest son of Henry Bolingbroke who became Henry IV when he usurped Richard II. He ascended to the throne on 21st March 1413, and died on 31st August 1422. Chaucer is generally thought to have started to write his great work,"The Canterbury Tales," in 1387.

A few sources use 1386. It was unfinished when Chaucer died in 1400. Chaucer stated in his Prologue that he wanted to write four stories for each of the thirty pilgrims as they made their way to and from the shrine of St. Thomas Becket.

The actual collection of some 24 tales was not published until 1478?, three-quarters of a century after Chaucer's death.

Answer: 1066

Duke William of Normandy, with a large force, landed in England on September 27/28 and marched to Hastings. The English king, Harold Godwinson, had just defeated on September 25th the forces of the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. With a force at least equal to William's, Harold rushed to confront the invader. On October 14th, the two armies clashed.

After a day long battle, in which the advantage shifted from army to army and Harold was killed, William's forces wore down the English and carried the day. Thus, the Normans conquered England.

Answer: King John signed the Magna Carta

To end a revolt by English nobility, King John, on 6th June 1215, signed the Magna Carta at Runnymeade. The King made unprecedented concessions ... among other things, he would respect feudal rights and privileges, protect nobles from illegal imprisonment, and respect the rights of the church.

This document began the erosion of the powers of an absolute monarch, even though it was annulled on August 24th by Pope Innocent III. Many credit the Magna Carta as the beginning of the movement in England toward democracy.

Answer: 1476

Caxton (c.1422-1491), who lived in England from c.1422 to 1441, moved to Brugge in 1441 and set up a press there around 1474. In 1476, he returned to England and established at Westminster the first press in his native country. There he published such works as Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" (1478? and 1484?) and Thomas Malory's "Morte d'Arthur" (1485).

Answer: 1660

While he was exiled in France Charles enjoyed seeing females perform on the French stage. When he returned to England and took over the throne in May of 1660, he indicated that the English theater should also have female performers. On 8th December 1660, the first English actress played the part of Desdemona in Shakespeare's "Othello." Although who that actress was is a matter of dispute, most theories name Margaret Hughes.

Other possibilities include Anne Marshall and Katherine Cony.

Answer: 1314

On June 23rd and 24th, 1314, the Scottish forces commanded by Robert the Bruce defeated the English troops led by King Edward II. The Bruce, therefore, for all practical purposes, liberated Scotland politically from the English, moving the Scots close to full independence.