The Ultimate English Monarchs Quiz | Royalty & Monarchs

Answer: Henry VIII

They were Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (executed), Jane Seymour (died in childbirth), Anne of Cleves (divorced), Katherine Howard (executed) and Katherine Parr (who managed to outlive Henry).

Answer: King John

The original Magna Carta, given at Runnymede in 1215, made very extensive concessions to the barons. It established a committee of 25 nobles which had the power to overrule the King and seize Crown property if he failed to comply. This section was removed when the charter was reissued in 1216 in the reign of Henry III.

In the 17th century the Magna Carta was reinterpreted as a document guaranteeing the liberties of the subject, and this is how it has widely regarded since then.

Answer: Charles I

Answer: Victoria

Answer: Edward I

Edward fought and won several battles against the Scots in an attempt to maintain English control over Scotland.

Answer: Jane Grey

Jane Grey was a cousin of Mary I. When Edward VI was dying, the Earl of Northumberland made a daring plan to seize power by marrying Jane to one of his sons, and thus rule the country through them. When Edward finally died, Jane was proclaimed Queen. Mary Tudor raised an army which defeated Northumberland's forces, and within nine days Jane was deposed and put in the Tower of London. Because Mary was Catholic, and determined to restore 'the faith' to England, Jane (who was devoutly Protestant) became a focus for rebellion. Mary was eventually persuaded to have her executed, even though she knew very well that Jane herself had no desire to be Queen. Jane Grey was beheaded February 12th, 1554.

Answer: Henry VI

The date was either 21 or 22 May 1471. Henry's murder was almost certainly ordered by Edward IV, and rumoured to have been carried out by the future Richard III, although this seems unlikely.

Answer: Queen Anne

Queen Anne endured at least 17 pregnancies and several miscarriages. Only one son survived past his first year, dying at the age of 11. Anne is thought to have suffered from lupus, which would explain her inability to give birth to healthy children, her skin problems, arthritis and weight gain in later life. When she died the throne passed to her cousin, George I of the House of Hanover.

Answer: Matilda

Matilda was the daughter of Henry I, and in Anjou when her father suddenly died in France. Stephen was a nephew of the king. On hearing the news, he immediately took ship for England and had himself proclaimed King before Matilda even heard her father was dead. Civil war followed, but the nobles would not all support Matilda because she was a woman and because of her allegedly domineering personality.

After Stephen's eldest son died, King Stephen agreed that Matilda's son Henry would become king on his death.

Answer: William II

William II (Rufus) was considered to be homosexual because of his refusal to marry during the thirteen years of his reign. He was also not known to have kept any mistresses, although he did have several favorites among his male retainers.

Richard I (The Lionheart) almost certainly was bisexual, marrying only for political advantage. He rarely saw his wife after the wedding, and is reputed to have had an affair with King Phillip of France, among others.

Edward II was deposed because of his reputed affairs with Piers Gaveston and Hugh Despenser. At any rate, both of these men were made very powerful and wealthy by Edward, much to the chagrin of the nobles, and his wife, Isabella the Fair. She eventually deposed him, setting their son Edward III on the throne in his place. Edward II died in very mysterious circumstances at Berkeley Castle.

Richard II was reputed to have been bi-sexual. He did have two wives, both of which he was very fond of, although the second was only 10 years old when he died. He was known to have had two favorite noblemen, Robert de Vere and Michael de la Pole. Richard was moody and often unstable, and he managed to offend most of his supporters. He was eventually deposed by his cousin, the future Henry IV, and died while imprisoned in Pontefract Castle, most likely after being poisoned.

James I had a series of young male favorites after he became King of England, although it is not now clear whether these were sexual relationships or due to the King's premature senility, which made him needy and cloying with family members as well.

William III was uncomfortable in the company of women, although he was married and had at least one mistress. However, it is unclear whether his relationship with this mistress was a sexual one. After the death of Mary II, he spent more and more time in the exclusive company of men, and he did have more than one 'confidential personal assistant'. However, William III did categorically deny being homosexual, so it may all have been rumour and innuendo in his as well as the other cases.