Historical People IV: Monarchs Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Marco Polo is famous for his journeys to Mongolia where he met this powerful Mongol emperor.

Answer: Kublai Khan

Kublai Khan was the first of the Khan line to become emperor, instead of following the "Great Khan" tradition (although he kept this title as well). He also welcomed Marco Polo into his empire. Marco Polo then returned to Europe with magnificent stories that made Kublai Khan a legend in Europe.

Ghengis Khan was the founder of the Mongol Empire, and thus the first Great Khan.

�gedei Khan was the son of Ghengis Khan and the second Great Khan.

M�ngke Khan was responsible for conquering Iraq and Syria and was the fourth great Khan of the Mongol Empire.

2. This emperor was the ruler of the Aztec empire when the Spanish began their conquest of the nation. (Bear in mind that Aztec spellings are different from English versions)

Answer: Moctezuma II

Huayna Capac was an Incan ruler, and there was never a Moctezuma III.

3. This Spanish ruler's reign saw an end to the Spanish Inquisition, one of the darker spots of human history.

Answer: Isabella II

Isabella II of Spain is responsible for ending the Spanish Inquisition, although it had diminished in its effectiveness for quite a while by the time of her rule.

Isabella I and Ferdinand II both are responsible for starting the Spanish Inquisition, a dangerous time where torture was common. False accusations and forced confessions added to an air of fear and despair.

Alfred the Great was the English King of Wessex, long before the Spanish Inquisition was even thought of.

4. This Zulu ruler was a military genius that not only united large numbers of the Northern Nguni people, but virtually founded Zululand, a powerful empire that held sway over much of southern Africa for quite some time.

Answer: Shaka

Shaka is commonly thought of as a brutal but effective ruler. His conquests and ability helped an obscure tribal people become a prime power in Africa.

Dingiswayo was a Mtetwa chief, he was also a sort of mentor of Shaka Zulu when he was a general.

Zwide opposed Dingiswayo and Shaka Zulu being a powerful rival, he was responsible for the death of Dingiswayo, but he would soon suffer his own great defeat.

5. This Akkadian king, known for his great conquests, was the predecessor of many future Babylonian rulers.

Answer: Sargon

Sargon, known as "Sargon the Great" was a powerful ruler. Many Babylonian and Assyrian kings thought themselves as caretakers of his legacy.

Rimush was Sargon's son, succeeding his father in control of his empire.

Manishtushu was also Sargon's son, succeeding Rimush.

Hammurabai was a Babylonian King, and creator of "Hammurabai's Code of Laws."

6. This European monarch had the nickname of "The Sun King" and had the longest rule of any European monarch in history.

Answer: Louis XIV of France

Louis XIV's reign that lasted 72 years, 3 months, and 18 days. He ascended the French throne at the age of 4.

Louis XVI was the King of France during the French revolution, and was the only French king ever to be executed: he was guillotined.

7. This Latin American hero was an advocate of democracy, seeking to imitate that of the American Revolution, despite this, he had to declare himself Dictator of Gran Colombia, which led to serious dissent amongst his people.

Answer: Sim�n Bol�var

Despite his temporary dictatorship, Sim�n Bol�var is recognized today as a national hero in many Latin American countries.

8. This Macedonian king was the father of Alexander the Great.

Answer: Philip II

Philip II is well known for his achievements in conquering Greece.

Philip III was Alexander's half-brother, he didnt assume the name Philip until he assumed control of the throne, before that he was known as Arrhidaeus.

9. This Russian monarch was responsible for great expansion of his territories, he was also the first Tsar of Russia.

Answer: Ivan the Terrible

Ivan IV of Russia was the nation's first Tsar. Interestingly, Ivan's name in Russian more correctly translates to awesome or awe inspiring rather than terrible.

10. This female monarch was said to write an average of 2,500 words a day in her diaries and journals according to Giles St. Aubyn, a biographer of hers.

Answer: Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria was an influential monarch who not only served as a symbol for her empire, but worked hard to improve policies within the nation at a time when a constitutional monarchy was already in play within Britain. She took actions to improve relations between England's long time rival, France.

She was the first English monarch to meet with a French monarch since the meeting on the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, over 300 years before her reign. When Ireland was struck by the Potato Famine, the queen responded with a massive philanthropic donation to help those affected by it, her donation of �2,000 was more than any individual donor.

She was also the first reigning monarch of Britain to set foot in Spain. She is one of the most popular monarchs in British history.

11. This Chinese emperor was responsible for the Terracotta Army, the Great Wall of China, and allegedly, a magnificent tomb "worthy of a God".

Answer: Qin Shi Huang

Qin Shi Huang was the first emperor of China, and worked hard to leave a lasting legacy that generations would marvel at. He had a deep fear of death however, and worked hard to try and find a way to delay or conquer his own mortality.

Puyi was the last monarch of China.

12. This Wallachian monarch was the father of Vlad "The Impaler."

Answer: Vlad II

Vlad II was the father of Vlad "The Impaler," or Vlad III also known as Vlad Tepes. His notorious rule was filled with bloodshed and violence, and he would become the inspiration for the vampire Dracula. Vlad IV and Radu the Handsome are also sons of Vlad II, both assuming rule of Wallachia as well at one point or another. Radu would defect to the Ottomans and become a janissary commander.

13. This Egyptian pharoah is known for uniting Upper and Lower Egypt.

Answer: Menes

Menes was the uniter of upper and lower Egypt, and founded the first dynasty of Egypt. According to Manetho, Menes would reign for 62 years before being killed by a hippopotamus on a hunting expedition.

14. This great king was both King of the Franks and Emperor of the Romans until his death. He also removed the Lombards from power in Italy, and is identified as a leading figure of the Early Middle Ages.

Answer: Charlemagne

Charlemagne's reign was one of progress and greatness. He is known as a defender of Christianity, and even made efforts to learn to read (a rare thing at this time, even for a king). Charlemagne also had a strong love for women.

15. The first emperor of the Roman Empire was a powerful figure indeed, he was known as Augustus, but what was his true name?

Answer: Gaius Octavius

Julius Caesar was Octavian's uncle, and a powerful figure that was thought to become emperor until his assasination at the hands of several conspirators. Marc Antony and Octavian banded together to rid themselves of the remaining conspirators. Octavian and Antony had formed a triumvirate along with Lepidus, but this peace did not last long, eventually Octavian and Antony would become mortal enemies and Octavian's victory would mark his rise to power as the first emperor of the Roman empire.

Source: Author RockBou

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

This quiz, the fourth in the series, focuses on people who held the fate of their nation in their hands.

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