Anglo-Saxon and Medieval English Royalty Quiz

Answer: Harold II

In January 1066, Harold II took the throne after Edward the Confessor's death and ruled from January 5 to October 14, 1066.

Answer: Egbert

Egbert, also spelled Ecgberht, is considered to be the first English king because he was the first West Saxon king to have authority over most of England. Offa, king of Mercia, forced Egbert into exile at the court of Frankish King (and from 800 Emperor) Charlemagne until 802 when he returned to be recognized as King of Wessex.

In 829, he defeated the Mercians at the battle of Ellendun to be proclaimed sole ruler of Britain (England), or the "Bretwalda." However, as with most people of this time period, there is always disagreement because of lack of good evidence.

Some say that he had true power over most of England and some say he had very little power and was more of a figurehead, or at best, had suzerainty - control over foreign policy only.

Answer: Alfred the Great

Alfred the Great authorized the ASC. Great as he was, not everything written about him can be believed. Asser's "Life of Alfred the Great" is claimed by many to be a forgery and to contain many abnormal things. Alfred was also a hyperchondriac, but did suffer from piles, or hemorrhoids.

Answer: Edward

He was calling on his stepmother and half-brother at Corfe Castle in Dorset. As he arrived the household retainers went to greet him but then stabbed him to death as he dismounted from his horse on 18 March 978, aged 16. The attack had clearly been premeditated, and before long Elfrida was implicated in the crime as the wicked stepmother.

It is not likely that many missed Edward and his fits of rage, but within a decade people were saying miracles were occurring alongside his bones at Wareham, and the Church, hostile to royal interests, declared him a saint and martyr within the three years after his death.

Answer: Swein

Swein was the son of Danish king Harald "Bluetooth", whose unflattering nickname came from the color of his decaying teeth. Swein's rule was one of the shortest in English history, lasting from December 25, 1013 to February 2, 1014.

Answer: Henry I

Henry I wins the prize with 29 children. Henry only had four legitimate children, all from his first marriage, and the legitimacy of one of those is questioned. The first born died an infant and two others were drowned. Henry's favourite mistress (of whom he had at least eight) seems to have been Sybilia Corbet who gave him six children. There is apparently some dispute about the paternity of four of the illegitimate children by unknown mothers.

Answer: Edward II

On 19 March 1284 the Statute of Wales was enacted, bringing Wales under the direct government of England. Wales now held the status of a colony of the Crown, and justice was administered by three sheriffs. Edward also set up a series of new lordships, some of which were granted to the dispossessed Welsh princes, but others to Edward's own barons.

In June 1284 Edward celebrated his conquest of Wales by holding an Arthurian Round Table court at Nefyn. The festivities were so well attended that the floor of the court gave way under the strain. One of the legends attached to this period is that Edward promised he would grant them a prince who had been born on their own soil, and promptly presented to them his young son, Edward, who had been born in April 1284. Edward was not officially invested as prince of Wales until February 1301.

Answer: Simon de Montfort

In 1260, when Henry returned from concluding the Treaty of Paris, he denounced de Montfort and overturned the Provisions of Oxford, obtaining papal support for his actions. The events of fifty years earlier repeated themselves and England slid into the abyss of civil war. Arbitration over the application of the provisions was made by Louis of France, who found in favour of the king in 1264. Hostilities broke out in April.

The baronial army was supported by the Welsh princes under Llywelyn Ap Gruffydd.

Henry's supporters were initially successful, capturing Simon de Montfort's son (also called Simon) at Northampton in April 1264, but the elder de Montfort fought back and, in the Battle of Lewes on 14 May, defeated and captured Henry. The king was forced to call a parliament at which he acknowledged the barons' demands. During the course of the next year the barons, under de Montfort, succeeded in gaining the king's assent to most of their proposals.

However, in July 1265, Henry's son, Edward (later Edward I), escaped from custody and raised an army against de Montfort.

At the ensuing battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265, de Montfort and his supporters were savagely defeated and Henry returned to power.

Answer: Henry II

Henry II bedded the young Alice of France, the intended wife for his son Richard and the daughter of his wife's first husband, Louis.

Answer: Richard III

Many historians would say that Richard III most certainly had his nephews murdered. However, there is an equally vehement set of experts who would say he did not. Whatever the truth, the princes were not seen again once Richard had had them declared as illegitimate pretenders to the throne of England.