For The World History Aficionado Quiz

Answer: arrow wound

Richard I is also known as Richard the Lion Hearted. He was killed by an arrow wound he had received while in France. He was 41 years old.

Answer: He served for three months as an acting second lieutenant in 1918

As a health nut, he was a vegetarian. He was staunchly anti-smoking. He called tobacco "the wrath of the Red Man against the White Man for having been given hard liquor."

Answer: Lisbon

He moved to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. The Portuguese were making many explorations. It was most likely while he was living there that Columbus originally began to ponder the possibility of making it to the coast of Asia by sailing westward across the Atlantic.

Answer: Pope Honorius III

Hugh was made Bishop of Lincoln on 21 September 1186. Pope Honorius III canonized him in February of 1220. He is patron saint of sick people and children. He is also patron saint of swans.

Answer: 1826

By one of the most amazing coincidences in world history, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. "Thomas Jefferson still lives," said Adams shortly before his own death, unaware that Jefferson had died.

Answer: Edwin Booth

The Booth brothers were the sons of famous actor Junius Booth. John Wilkes Booth was the Clark Gable of his day. Edwin Booth was even more famous than his brother was. Edwin had voted for Lincoln and was horrified when he heard about what his brother had done. In a letter, Robert Lincoln stated to Richard Watson Gilder, who was the editor of "The Century Magazine":

"The incident occurred while a group of passengers were late at night purchasing their sleeping car places from the conductor who stood on the station platform at the entrance of the car. The platform was about the height of the car floor, and there was of course a narrow space between the platform and the car body. There was some crowding, and I happened to be pressed by it against the car body while waiting my turn. In this situation the train began to move, and by the motion I was twisted off my feet, and had dropped somewhat, with feet downward, into the open space, and was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform. Upon turning to thank my rescuer I saw it was Edwin Booth, whose face was of course well known to me, and I expressed my gratitude to him, and in doing so, called him by name."

Answer: 1608

Cardinal Duc de Richelieu became His Eminence in 1608. He rose to the position of Secretary of State eight years later. He reigned during the Thirty Years' War.

Answer: Socrates

Socrates was unjustly condemned to die. When the judges asked him what he thought his punishment should be, he answered: "Instead of punishment, O Athenians, I deserve a reward; and if you ask me what it is, I say that I ought to be supported by the state as long as I live, just as those who win in the Olympic games are supported; for I am more worthy of honor than they are." This angered those who hated him even more.

They then voted he be put to death. According to Greek law, one month had to pass before the sentence could be carried out.

He spent his final month in prison talking to his friends who visited him. When a day came where they told him they arranged for him to escape and flee to another city, he refused. The law had condemned him to die.

As a good citizen, he thought it was his duty to obey the law even in that.

Answer: 132

The Spanish Armada set sail in 1588. Medina Sidonia was the Armada's commander. The English fleet was a little larger. It contained 197 vessels. They weren't as big as those in the Armada, but they were more swift and easily managed. They were also manned and led by some of the greatest sailors and gunners in the world.

The Armada was defeated. As a result, Catholicism was not restored in England.

Answer: Charles V

Charles granted five ships to Ferdinand Magellan after the Portuguese captain's request was profusely rejected by Manuel I of Portugal. The voyage was a huge commercial success. Charles was enriched by the selling of its cargo of cloves. This built the foundation for the oceanic empire of Spain.