Seventeenth Century Dating Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1658

Cromwell was the leader of the Parliamentarians, or Roundheads, in the Civil War which led to him becoming England's leader, as Lord Protector. His formation of the New Model Army created a professional fighting force, which received regular pay.

Cromwell died in 1658, with his son, Richard, taking over leadership of the country. Richard lacked his father's control, and the monarchy was re-established in 1660 with the Restoration of King Charles II to the throne.

Answer: 1628

Harvey's book, known by its shortened title of 'De Motu Cordis et Sanguinis', 'On the Motion of the Heart and Blood' in English, was based on a combination of theory, observation and experiment. He established that the blood flowed around the body in a logical 'closed circuit', and that the heart was the pump which controlled blood circulation.

Answer: 1605

Still celebrated in the UK in the twenty-first century, as Bonfire Night on 5 November, the plot was to blow up the Houses of Parliament and King James I in an attempt to force the country back to the Catholic religion. Guy Fawkes was captured in the cellars, with several barrels of gunpowder, and the plot was foiled.

The king ordered that a huge bonfire be lit in celebration, setting the precedent which is still followed.

Answer: 1688

James II had succeeded his brother, Charles II, in 1685. Unlike Charles, James was a Catholic, which was a burning issue at the time with many believing that the Catholic Church was plotting to take over the country. The birth of a son, and heir to the throne, in 1688 brought matters to a head, with the throne being offered to James's Protestant daughter, Mary II, and her husband, William of Orange.

The Glorious Revolution, as it was named, led to a Bill of Rights, passed by Parliament in 1689.

Answer: 1620

The ship began its journey from Rotherhithe, on the River Thames, in July, sailing to Southampton to meet with the Speedwell, bringing more passengers from Holland. Only the Mayflower was seaworthy enough for the journey across the Atlantic, and the ship arrived at Cape Cod, Massachusetts in November 1620.

Answer: 1649

Of course, 1649 did not just see the abolition of the monarchy, but the death of King Charles I, after a trial for high treason. Having been found guilty, the king was executed. Soon after, on 7 February 1649, the office of the monarch was formally abolished by Parliament, leaving Cromwell as ruler.

Answer: 1645

One of the major battles of the English Civil War, the battle took place in Northamptonshire, near a village named Naseby. The Parliamentarian forces were led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell, while King Charles I and Prince Rupert led the Royalists. Cromwell's forces outnumbered those of the king by almost two to one, and the result was a resounding victory for Cromwell's army.

Answer: 1625

Charles was the second son of James I of England, but became heir on the death of his older brother. James died in 1625, so Charles became king. His insistence on ruling in accordance with the 'divine right of kings', being able to make all decisions subject only to God, led to continual conflict with parliament. Eventually, the discord led to civil war and Charles's own death.

Answer: 1666

The fire was a major event of the century, destroying a large area of London between the second and fifth of September 1666. The fire began in a bakery and was spread by high winds. Among the buildings lost was St. Paul's Cathedral, which was rebuilt to a design by Sir Christopher Wren.

Answer: 1603

1603 saw the death of the last Tudor monarch, Queen Elizabeth I. The throne passed to King James I, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, who had been executed on the orders of Elizabeth in 1587. Mary had been forced to abdicate as Queen of Scotland in 1567, and James had been king of the country, as James VI, since her abdication. James was the chosen successor, being the grandson of Margaret Tudor, one of the sisters of King Henry VIII.