The Greatest (but not about Ali) Quiz

Answer: Struck by a roofing tile in the city of Argos.

It may seem amazing but the man who inspired the term "Pyrrhic victory" died after being hit in the head by a roofing tile in the streets of Argos. He and his men had entered the city by stealth, in the confusion an old woman hurled a roofing tile at Pyrrhus stunning him. An Argive soldier then finished the job in 272 BC. Plutarch can give you a much more detailed account.

Answer: Marcus Claudius Marcellus

Plutarch is once again a solid source, Marcellus earned his name "Sword of Rome" in wars against the Gauls and the Carthaginians. As for the most prestigious award a Roman commander could attain, the Spolia opima was given for the Roman leader killing the enemy commander in single combat.

The occasion for the final issue of the award was the killing of the Gallic king, Viridomarus, in 225 BC.

Answer: Commander of a phantom army group tying down German divisions in the Pas de Calais.

The general was put in command of the fictitious First Army group slated to invade the Pas de Calais. This was one of the main deceptions of Fortitude, which in itself was a massive deception operation to the build up to Operation Overlord - the invasion of Normandy. It is a fact that the Germans held critical divisions back near Calais even after the invasion commenced in Normandy. Author Martin Blumensons' works on Patton are very insightful.

Answer: Pratzen Heights.

The Pratzen Heights were the centerpice of the battle, the Russians and Austrians thinking that Napoleon was fearing facing the numerically superior Coalition seized the vacated Heights. And truth be told, the Pratzen Heights were about 12 meters high and Santon Hill actually overlooked the battle at 210 meters. For an detailed yet fairly short account of the battle Osprey Publishing Campaign series on "The Battle of Austerlitz" is what I read years ago for my info.

Answer: La Noche Triste, was a near calamity during the Spanish escape from Tenochtitlan as Cortes nearly drowned losing many men.

La Noche Triste translated as "the night of sorrows" occurred weeks after the Aztecs had besieged the Spaniards in Tenochtitlan. Cortes decided to risk a daring causeway escape during the night, though successful many spaniards and gold were lost not to mention Tenochtitlan. Cortes wrote his famous Letters describing the aforementioned events.

Answer: Oudenarde and the heavy casualties at Malplaquet.

Well Mollwitz, Hohenfriedberg, Valmy and Jemappes have nothing to do with John Churchill. He was however a junior commander at Sedgemoor and Walcourt before the War of the Spanish Succession. At Malplaquet Churchill was victorious but the allied casualties were roughly double those of the French. In England this led to wild accusations about the Duke which eventually led to his recall.

Answer: HMS Victory

The 100 gun HMS Victory was also of course the ship Nelson died on the day of the battle. The ship, the oldest in commission, now sits in port at Portsmouth, England.

Answer: Russian Empress Elizabeth died. "Miracle of the House of Brandenburg".

When Elizabeth died her heir Peter III, infatuated with Prussia, withdrew Russia from the war. This relieved the immense pressure on Frederick II, and in turn put strain on Austria. However, it must be said Peter III was later deposed and support returned to Austria, it was too late as she was exhausted.

Answer: Saved the life of his father.

Polybius tells us at the large skirmish of Ticinus the 18 year old Scipio, at the time a very young Consul, saved his father from certain death.

Answer: Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.

Gustavus' death at Lutzen in the Thirty Years' War actually inspired his men to victory during the battle. None of the others died during a victory.