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Whose Reign Was It? Trivia Quiz

This quiz refers to events in the reigns of different English monarchs.

A multiple-choice quiz by hj1. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
hj1

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
255,695

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
5568

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 109 (12/15), Guest 2 (15/15), Guest 98 (11/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Those nasty peasants led by Wat Tyler revolted in my reign. Hint

Richard II

Edward II

Edward III

Henry IV

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Question 2 of 15

2. Which reign saw England lose Calais? Hint

James I

Elizabeth I

Mary I

Henry VII

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Question 3 of 15

3. I was forced by some of my subjects to sign Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215. Who am I? Hint

Stephen

Henry II

John

Richard II

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Question 4 of 15

4. I didn't expect to be King but I stepped into the breach when my elder brother abdicated. Who am I? Hint

George VI

Edward VII

George V

Edward VIII

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Question 5 of 15

5. I'm the inspiration for a Swedish pop song. One of the highlights of my reign was the Battle of Trafalgar. Hint

George II

William IV

George IV

George III

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Question 6 of 15

6. It is said that I exclaimed angrily: "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" Thereupon four knights set off for Canterbury and murdered Thomas Beckett. Hint

Henry I

Henry II

Henry III

Edward I

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Question 7 of 15

7. I took the unprecedented step of changing the name of my dynasty. Who am I? Hint

Edward VII

George VI

Edward VIII

George V

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Question 8 of 15

8. Sir Francis Drake was the hero of the day in my reign. After finishing a game of bowls he went and defeated the Spanish Armada. Hint

Mary I

Edward VI

James I

Elizabeth I

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Question 9 of 15

9. My reign was known as the Restoration period and saw the Great fire of London and the Great Plague. It was a period known for sexual licence. Who am I? Hint

Charles II

James I

Charles I

James II

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Question 10 of 15

10. After breaking with Rome and my dissolution of the monasteries, some of my subjects decided to protest in 'The Pilgrimage of Grace'. Hint

Mary I

Henry VII

Henry VIII

Edward VI

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Question 11 of 15

11. My reign finally saw the joining of England and Scotland through The Act of Union. Hint

Anne

Charles I

James I

Mary II

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Question 12 of 15

12. Made into a play by Shakespeare, I fought the French at the Battle of Agincourt in my reign. Hint

Henry VI

Edward III

Henry IV

Henry V

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Question 13 of 15

13. Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators tried to blow up Parliament and my very own royal self at the beginning of my reign. Hint

James II

James I

Charles I

Elizabeth

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Question 14 of 15

14. Florence Nightingale tended the troops in the Crimean War which took place in my reign. Hint

George VI

William IV

Victoria

Edward VII

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Question 15 of 15

15. Although there has been more than one civil war in English history, the one known as The English Civil War was fought in my reign. Hint

Henry II

Charles II

Charles I

James II

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 21 2024 : Guest 109: 12/15
Nov 17 2024 : Guest 2: 15/15
Nov 17 2024 : Guest 98: 11/15
Nov 15 2024 : Guest 217: 14/15
Nov 15 2024 : Guest 5: 14/15
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 92: 11/15
Nov 12 2024 : Guest 171: 13/15
Nov 12 2024 : Philip_Eno: 8/15
Nov 10 2024 : Guest 67: 15/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Those nasty peasants led by Wat Tyler revolted in my reign.

Answer: Richard II

The Peasants' Revolt occurred in the reign of Richard II in 1381. Major events included the burning down of John of Gaunt's palace, The Savoy.

2. Which reign saw England lose Calais?

Answer: Mary I

The loss of Calais was one the the things that, it was said, weighed heavily on Mary's heart, and it is said she referred to it when she was close to death.

3. I was forced by some of my subjects to sign Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215. Who am I?

Answer: John

Magna Carta literally means 'Great Charter'. Most of it has been repealed as irrelevant, but in Stuart times it was widely seen as a solemn guarantee by the Crown of many essential English liberties.

4. I didn't expect to be King but I stepped into the breach when my elder brother abdicated. Who am I?

Answer: George VI

George became King after his elder brother abdicated in order to marry the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson.

5. I'm the inspiration for a Swedish pop song. One of the highlights of my reign was the Battle of Trafalgar.

Answer: George III

The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 assured British naval supremacy till the end of World War I. The Battle of Waterloo (1815) also took place in reign of George III, though by then his eldest son was ruling as regent in view of George III's insanity.

6. It is said that I exclaimed angrily: "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest?" Thereupon four knights set off for Canterbury and murdered Thomas Beckett.

Answer: Henry II

Thomas a Beckett was murdered inside Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170. He was later made a saint and in the 20th century inspired T. S. Eliot's play, "Murder in the Cathedral".

7. I took the unprecedented step of changing the name of my dynasty. Who am I?

Answer: George V

Given the level of anti-German feeling in World War I, the monarchy changed its surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. In this reign the British Empire reached its greatest territorial extent.

8. Sir Francis Drake was the hero of the day in my reign. After finishing a game of bowls he went and defeated the Spanish Armada.

Answer: Elizabeth I

The defeat of the Spanish Armada was a highlight in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which was known as 'The Golden Age'. Other highlights included a religious settlement that gave England a relatively long period of peace at home after a spell of religious strife.

9. My reign was known as the Restoration period and saw the Great fire of London and the Great Plague. It was a period known for sexual licence. Who am I?

Answer: Charles II

The Great Fire in 1666 follewed the Great Plague that ravaged England in 1665. The fire however was a blessing in disguise because it helped stop the spread of the plague. As for sexual licence, the King with his many mistresses set an example, so to speak.

10. After breaking with Rome and my dissolution of the monasteries, some of my subjects decided to protest in 'The Pilgrimage of Grace'.

Answer: Henry VIII

After the Pilgrimage was finished the leader Robert Aske was executed by being hanged from the walls of York.

11. My reign finally saw the joining of England and Scotland through The Act of Union.

Answer: Anne

Although England and Scotland had shared a monarch since 1603 it wasn't until 1707 in the reign of Anne that any union was made official.

12. Made into a play by Shakespeare, I fought the French at the Battle of Agincourt in my reign.

Answer: Henry V

The Battle of Agincourt in 1415 was won with the help of the English and Welsh archers even though they were greatly outnumbered by the French.

13. Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators tried to blow up Parliament and my very own royal self at the beginning of my reign.

Answer: James I

The attempt to blow up parliament is still remembered on the 5th of November with 'bonfire night', when Guy Fawkes is burnt in effigy.

14. Florence Nightingale tended the troops in the Crimean War which took place in my reign.

Answer: Victoria

When she died in 1901, she was England's longest serving monarch, at 63 years.

15. Although there has been more than one civil war in English history, the one known as The English Civil War was fought in my reign.

Answer: Charles I

The result of the English Civil War was that Charles was beheaded and the abolition (for the time being of the monarchy). After a period known as the interegnum Charles' son, Charles II was restored as King.

Source: Author hj1

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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