Quincentennial Quiz

Answer: August 3, 1992

While Columbus may not have been the first European to sight the 'New World', much was made of his journey and legacy, largely through the publication of Washington Irving's 1828 book "A History of the Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus". However you regard Christopher Columbus as a historical figure, considering both the good and the bad, the date of August 3rd, 1492 marked the beginning of his journey.

Answer: August 7, 1436

Otto the Great inherited his father's throne (the Duchy of Saxony) in July, but the coronation did not occur until August 7th, 936, and proceeded to continue what his father (Henry I the Fowler) had begun and unite the German tribes into a single, united kingdom.

After defeating the Magyars in 955 and conquering the Kingdom of Italy in 961, Otto was also named the Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John XII in Rome, a title he held from 962 until his death in 973.

Answer: August 10, 1110

Laylat al-Qadr is the holiest night of the year and is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. In the year 610, that day was August 10th in today's Gregorian calendar reckoning. According to Islamic tradition, this is when the angel Gabriel brought the first words of the Qu'ran to Muhammad, exhorting him to "Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists)," in Surat Al-Alaq (Muhsin Khan translation).

Answer: August 14, 1540

The inspiration for Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth", King Duncan I of Scotland did, in fact, have his cousin Macbeth as a rival. While Shakespeare had King Duncan murdered in his sleep, he was actually historically killed on the field of battle at Bothnagowan, now Pitgaveny, near Elgin, by the men of Moray led by Macbeth. Duncan was the King of Scotland from 1034 until his untimely death in 1040.

Answer: August 15, 2019

Conquistador Pedro Arias Dávila led the first great Spanish expedition to the mainland of the New World. He served as governor of Panama from 1514-1526, establishing Panama City on August 15th, 1519, during his tenure. Panama City would be utilized as the starting point for expeditions that eventually resulted in the conquest the Inca Empire in Peru.

Answer: August 19, 1774

Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks, learned of the death of his father (Henry III) in 1272 as he was returning from the Ninth Crusade. The journey took some time, however, and his coronation did not happen until August 19th, 1274. During his reign, he was in continual conflict with the Kingdom of Scotland, earning him the moniker 'The Hammer of the Scots'.

He left an ongoing war to his son and successor, Edward II in 1307.

Answer: August 20, 1500

Stephen I (aka King Saint Stephen) was the last Grand Prince of the Hungarians between 997 and 1000, before he was crowned the first King of Hungary... on either December 25th, 1000 or January 1st, 1001. The date is uncertain because it is only referred to (in Hungarian tradition) as 'the first day of the second millennium', which could have been either day. All that to say, the celebration of the establishment of the Kingdom of Hungary is held on the Feast of Saint Stephen every year, which is August 20th.

Answer: August 23, 1805

Sir William Wallace lived in the same time frame as Edward Longshanks, against whom they were fighting the First War of Scottish Independence. From 1297 until 1298, he was even appointed 'Guardian of Scotland's (a regent under English rule). After his capture on August 5th, it did not take long for Edward I to have him executed for High Treason and for crimes against English civilians.

Answer: August 24, 910

Rome was not the capital of the Western Roman Empire at the time of the Visigoths sacking of the city in 410, but as the 'Eternal City's and the heart of the Roman Empire, this was a shocking blow to what remained of the beleaguered state, and some historians point to this event as the 'Fall of the Roman Empire', even though it would be years before it broke up entirely. And the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) would survive the West's fall and last another thousand years before falling to the Ottomans.

Answer: August 31, 1922

Henry VI was the only son of Henry V, and was only nine months old when his father died of dysentery on August 31st, 1422, leaving him as a very young King of England. Until he came of age, three Regents served as ruler in his stead. His father's successes during the Hundred Years' War left Henry VI with a strong kingdom, and he was even crowned King of France (as Henry II) in 1431, although it was disputed by Charles VII of France (Henry's uncle).

Henry was not a strong king, however, and by the end of his reign, only Calais remained under English control on the mainland.