French History in Roman Numerals Quiz

Answer: Vercingetorix

The date LII BC corresponds to the year 52 BC.
The Battle of Alesia was a great victory for the Romans under Julius Caesar. Vercingetorix threw down his weapons at Caesar's feet and was taken prisoner. He was later strangled in his cell. Roman control of Gaul was not seriously challenged before the second century AD.

Answer: The Arabs

The date DCCXXXII corresponds to the year 732.
The Battle of Tours ended the Islamic invasion of Gaul. Charles Martel, a leading general and the majordomo of the Frankish kingdom, was assisted by Odo of Aquitaine. After Martel's death, his son, Pepin I the Short was offered the position of King from the Pope in exchange for his help at defeating the Lombards, who threatened the Papal States.

Answer: Leo III

The date DCCC corresponds to the year 800.
Charlemagne was crowned Emperor at the Christmas Day of 800 by the Pope Leo III, causing the wrath of the Byzantine Empire. Charlemagne offered to marry the Empress Irene of Athens, but her throne was usurped two years after Charlemagne's cornation and the marriage never came to be. Christendom was now divided.

Answer: Philip IV, the Fair

The date MCCCXIV corresponds to the year 1314.
The reason Philip IV suppressed the Knights Templar was the fact that France was deeply indebted to him. Philip's actions were supported by the Pope. Whilst burning at the stake, Jacques de Molay told both Philip and the Pope would pay for their deed. The Pope died a month later, while Philip died before the end of the year in a hunting accident.

Answer: Hundred Years' War

The date MCDXV corresponds to the year 1415.
The Battle of Agincourt was fought on St. Crispin's Day. The belligerents were England and France. The English commander was King Henry V and the French commander was Charles d'Albret. Mainly due to the usage of the longbow and due to several blunders of the French commanders, the battle was a tremendous English victory.

Answer: Orleans

The date MCDXXIX corresponds to the year 1429.
Despite her being a woman and despite her youth, Joan of Arc had earned the trust of the Dauphin of France and she was appointed to lead his army. Her accomplishment of lifting the Siege of Orleans resulted in her being called "The Maid of Orleans". However, her military career was brief, for she was captured by the English two years later, in 1431, and burned on the stake as a heretic.

Answer: Louis XVI

The date MDCCLXXXIX corresponds to the year 1789.
The French Revolution began with the intent of securing better living conditions for the people of France and to turn the unpopular monarchy with a republic. However, the Revolution was tainted with the blood of innocent people, especially when the Jacobins came to power, under Maximilian Robespierre. Robespierre's days are remembered today as "The Reign of Terror". Both Louis XVI and his wife, Marie-Antoinette, were guillotined during that period.

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

The date MDCCCIV corresponds to the year 1804. Napoleon's coronation offended the other monarchs of Europe, who formed the Third Coalition against France. Napoleon responded by invading Austria, capturing Vienna and defeating a combined Austro-Russian army at the Battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon gradually conquered most of Europe, but his invasions of Spain and Russia ended in a long stalemate and a great defeat respectively and, in 1814, the other European nations succeeded in ousting him from the throne. Napoleon briefly returned in France for a time span of 100 days, but he was utterly defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.

Answer: The Franco-Prussian War

The date MDCCCLXXI corresponds to the year 1871.
The Franco-Prussian War was fought in 1870 and 1871. It was caused by the desire of Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to unite Germany under the banner of Prussia. After the earlier war with Austria in 1866 , Prussia's status as a major power had been increased. France was weak and politically isolated and it posed an ideal target. The Prussians were victorious in the war and Bismarck proclaimed Wilhelm I German Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles in 1871.

Answer: no

The date MCMLVIII corresponds to the date 1958.
The first President of France under the Fifth Republic was Charles de Gaulle, the former leader of the Free French and a national hero of France, due to his deeds in both the World Wars. Georges Pompidou became President after de Gaulle had resigned from politics, in 1969.