Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. I was known as the first King of All England. I was forced into exile at the court of Charlemagne, by the powerful Offa, King of Mercia. I returned to England in 802, and was recognized as king of Wessex. I defeated the rival Mercians at the Battle of Ellendun in 825. In 829, the Northumbrians accepted my Lordship and I was proclaimed 'Bretwalda' or sole ruler of Britain. Who am I?
2. I was youngest son of King Aethelwulf. I became King of Wessex during a time of constant Viking attack. I was driven into hiding by a Viking raid into Wessex, led by the Dane, Guthorm, and took refuge in the Athelney marshes in Somerset. Later, I decisively defeated the Danes at the Battle of Eddington. A condition of the peace treaty that followed, was that Guthorm received Christian baptism and withdrew his forces from Wessex, and I recognized the Danish control over East Anglia and parts of Mercia. The partition of England, called the 'Danelaw', was formalized by another treaty in 886:
3. I was the son of Edward the Elder, and succeeded my half-brother, Aethelstan, with whom I had fought at Brunanburh. I combated the Norse Vikings in Northumbria and subdued them in Cumbria and Strathclyde. I entrusted these lands to my ally, Malcolm I of Scotland. I was killed at Pucklechurch, in Gloucestershire, by a robber. Who am I?
4. I took the throne of Denmark at the death of my father, in 1035. I was also the rightful heir to England's throne, but was prevented from coming to claim it. Meanwhile, my illegitimate half-brother, was made King in 1037. I therefore launched an expedition to claim the throne, but my half-brother died before I could arrive. Upon arrival in England, I became King. I was personally disliked and my reign was short and unsuccessful. I died of convulsions at a drinking party in June, 1042. Who am I?
5. I became the Earl of East Anglia in 1044. Upon my father's death in April 1053, I succeeded to the Earldom of Wessex. I was a very able soldier, and in 1063 commanded a brilliant campaign against the Welsh. The King on his deathbed, named me as his successor. He overlooked his grandson, the rightful heir, Edgar the Aetheling. My reign was cut short and I died in battle. Who am I?
6. My father was the Conqueror and my mother was Mathilda of Flanders. My nickname was 'Beauclerc' (fine scholar). I had a ongoing feud with my two elder brothers, one of whom was killed. The other I kept as a prisoner for 28 years. I had a number of quarrels with the Church and was threatened with excommunication in 1105. My life ended in a sorry state of affairs - at war with my son-in-law and with a rebellion on the horizon - in December 1135:
7. I was born December 24, 1167 at Beaumont Palace, Oxford. My nickname was Lackland and I always seemed to get bad Press. I stand accused of plotting against my brothers and of the murder of my popular nephew, Arthur of Brittany. History has been a touch unfair to me. I did sign the Magna Carta after all, but who am I?
8. My father was the Black Prince and my mother Joan, was the Fair Maid of Kent. In my early years, England was ruled by a council under the leadership of John of Gaunt. In 1381, Wat Tyler led the Peasants Revolt against the oppressive government. I had a troubled reign and was deposed in 1399. I was murdered while in prison, who am I?
9. My short reign is often overshadowed by that of my more famous father and two older sisters. I ascended to the throne at age nine, upon the death of my father. I was betrothed to my cousin, Mary Queen of Scots. I was frail, and died of consumption at age sixteen having never married:
10. I was never really popular, and my reign was short, within months of my accession, I was forced to crush a rebellion of Protestants who rallied around my nephew James, the Duke of Monmouth. Monmouth was captured and beheaded of course, and I appointed Judge Jeffries to preside over the 'Bloody Assizes' which executed, tortured, or sent into slavery the Protestant rebels. I became even more unpopular and was forced to flee London. I raised troops and led a revolt in Ireland, but defeat at the Boyne meant I spent the rest of my life in exile:
11. I was a pale little 54 year-old man when I arrived in Greenwich on September 29, 1714, with a full regime of German friends. My total ignorance of the English language and customs actually became the cornerstone of my style of rule: leave England to it's own devices and live abroad as much as possible. The post of Prime Minister was created during my reign and the first was Robert Walpole:
12. They say I have a madness, what, what! So many events in my reign, war in Europe with that Napolean fella, loss of the American colonies, a the second Act of Union, that brought Ireland under the umbrella of Great Britain and the end of slavery. With all that and fifteen children, (nine sons and six daughters), is it any wonder that a fella goes a little crazy, what, what?
13. I reigned for seven years and possessed an unassuming character. I disdained pomp and ceremony. I was welcomed with open arms by the British public. Perhaps my greatest achievement was The Reform Act of 1832 which extended the voting franchise to middle class land owners and became the basis for further acts which eventually enfranchised all adult subjects:
14. World War broke out not long after I came to the throne. I visited the front on a number of occasions, on one such visit my horse rolled on top of me, and broke my pelvis. I remained in pain for the rest of my life, from the injury. My reign saw the Great Depression, the rise of fascism and the embers of a new World War. Also during this time, Ireland gained independence and other countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India all took steps towards self government and independence:
15. My brother abdicated, for the woman he loved and I came to the throne. I suffered a bad stammer in my speech, and was excessively shy. I was never physically strong and the strain of the abdication and a bitter World War left me drained. I died of cancer February 6, 1952. I was once described as the 'slim, quiet man with tired eyes' but I hope, I did much to leave the monarchy in better condition than I found it:
Source: Author
deadmeat
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gtho4 before going online.
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