I Rule the Land: 1200 Edition Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peter II

Peter II (1178-1213), known as the Catholic, was King of Aragon (and Count of Barcelona) from 1196 until his death. He was the first King of Aragon to be crowned by the Pope, and swore to defend the Catholic faith. He participated along with the other Christian Kings of the Iberian Peninsula in fighting against the Almohad Muslims in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212).

He died fighting against invaders who had attacked Toulouse (in southern France), an area which he had controlled.

Answer: Alfonso VIII

Alfonso VIII (1155-1214), known as the Noble, was King of Castile (and Toledo) from 1158 until his death. Various nobles contended to be regent during Alfonso's minority. He helped to negotiate the Treaty of Cazola (1179) which helped to define which portions of the Iberian Peninsula would be eligible for "reconquest" by each of Christian Kingdoms. Late in his reign, he would call for a Crusade against the Almohad Muslims who occupied the southern peninsula.

Answer: Canute VI

Canute VI (1163-1202) was King of Denmark from 1182 until his death. Early in his reign, he put down a peasant uprising with such violence that his own advisor, Bishop Absalon, begged him to show mercy. He was able to defy the Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, and not show homage as Canute's father had done. Contemporary sources described Canute as earnest and extremely religious.

Answer: John

John (1166-1216), known as Lackland, was King of England and Lord of Ireland. The name of Lackland refers to his expected lack of inheritance as a fifth son of Henry II and also to his loss of most of the French lands accumulated by the English crown since the time of William the Conqueror.

A dispute with Pope Innocent III led to John being excommunicated from the Catholic Church for several years as well as all of England being placed under an Interdict for a period of time. Due to what were seen as his excesses, the English Barons forced him to agree to "Magna Carta" (Great Charter), which spelled out their rights that he was forced to accept (only later would it be seen as also applying to the general population).

Answer: Philip II

Philip II (1165-1223) was the leader of his nation from 1180 until his death. When he ascended the throne, he referred to himself as King of the Franks as his predecessors had done, but beginning about 1190, he called himself King of France. Court chroniclers referred to him as Augustus for his effectiveness in extending the areas where the French crown exercised direct control.

He participated in the Third Crusade with Frederick Barbarossa and Richard the Lion-Heart.

Answer: Sverre

Sverre Sigurdsson (c. 1145/1151-1202) was King of Norway from 1184 until his death. A rebel leader against the previous king, Sverre spent much of the later part of his reign excommunicated. Historical sources suggest that because Sverre was shorter than average he directed his troops in battle from horseback rather than on foot. Just as he had rebelled before he came to the throne, Sverre had to deal with several rebellions during his reign.

Answer: Sancho I

Sancho I (1154-1211) was King of Portugal from 1185 until his death. Once he was knighted, he served as second-in-command for his father, Afonso I. He was able to temporarily secure control of the city of Silves for Portugal. Otherwise, he was focused on political and administrative matters.

Answer: William I

William I (c. 1142-1214), known as the Lion, reigned as King of Scotland from 1165 until his death. He unsuccessfully aided the sons of Henry II of England in their 1173 revolt against that monarch, leading to his temporary imprisonment. He founded Arbroath Abbey in 1178. He was able to contribute much to Scotland, administratively.

Answer: Stefan

Stefan Nemanjiĉ (1165-1228), known as the First-Crowned, was Grand Prince of Serbia from 1196 to 1217 and then King of Serbia from 1217 until his death. He did much to promote the Orthodox Church in Serbia. He was later involved in the turmoil over the succession to the Bulgarian throne. Two of his sons would later succeed him as King of Serbia.

Answer: Sverker II

Sverker II (c. 1167-1210), known as the Younger, was King of Sweden from 1195/1196 to 1208. He was a strong supporter of the Swedish Church. A large part of his reign was consumed by war, both with the peoples to the east of the Baltic sea and also civil war within Sweden. He would later be killed in an attempt to retake the Swedish crown.