I Rule the Land: 700 Edition Trivia Quiz

Answer: Asparuh

Asparuh (c. 640-701) was Khan of the Bulgars from 681 until his death and is credited with founding the Bulgarian Empire. He is thought to have led a group of 30,000-50,000 Bulgars from modern-day Ukraine to the Danube River. He led the conquest of Moesia from the Byzantine Empire and was able to gain a tribute from the empire.

Answer: Tiberius III

Tiberius III (birth name Apsimar) ruled the Byzantine Empire from 698 until 705. Rising to power at a time when the Empire was in conflict with the Umayyad Caliphate, Tiberius was focused on securing the eastern borders of the empire. He was deposed and imprisoned, before being executed several months later.

Answer: Ealdwulf

Ealdwulf ruled East Anglia (eastern England) from about 663 to 713, one of the longest reigns in all Anglo-Saxon history. England was threatened by plague in the early years of his rule. During his reign, East Anglia had a long period of growth and relative peace, though it also came under the influence of Mercia.

Answer: Childebert III

Childebert III (c. 678-711), called the Just, was King of the Franks from 694 until his death. By this time, the Frankish kings were largely under the control of the Mayors of the Palace (from whom the Carolingian Dynasty would descend). It has been suggested that he was still active in making some judicial decisions. The monastery of Mont Saint-Michel was founded in 708.

Answer: Cunipert

Cunipert was King of the Lombards from about 688 until 700, though he may have been a sub-ruler under the kingship of his father, Perctarit, as early as 680. He was the first King of the Lombards to mint coins with his image. He dealt with multiple rebellions during his reign, including being briefly overthrown by Alahis, Duke of Brescia, early in his reign.

Answer: Aethelred I

Aethelred (c. 645-c. 709) was King of Mercia (in central England) from 675 until 704. In the Battle of the Trent (689), he was able to largely end the influence of Northumbria on southern England. He is also described as being a pious ruler, being generous with his grants to the Church. Aethelred abdicated in 704 to become a monk at the monastery at Bardney.

Answer: Aldfrith

Aldfrith was King of Northumbria from 684 to c. 704). He was described by contemporaries as having great learning. During his reign, the two parts of Northumbria--Bernica and Deira--were considered distinct areas. He also had good relations with the Church and his reign is considered part of Northumbria's Golden Age.

Answer: Bridei IV

Bridei IV was King of the Picts from 697 to 706. He was one of the important men of the British Isles who supported the "Law of the Innocents" issued in 697. Several of the battles in which he participated were recorded by the Irish and Scottish chroniclers. He was succeeded by his brother Nechtan.

Answer: Wittiza

Wittiza (c. 687-c. 710) was King of the Visigoths (on the Iberian Peninsula) from 694 until his death (until c. 702 in conjunction with his father, Ergica). Early in his reign, Wittiza, perhaps from weakness, allowed several exiled noblemen to return. He did not follow the example of his father in issuing anti-Jewish legislation, but largely did not rescind the laws already in place.

Answer: Ine

Ine (c. 670-c. 726) was King of Wessex (southern England) from 689 until 726. During his reign, the amount of territory under control of Wessex, shrank rather than grew. In 694, he issued a code of laws which is a major historical source about England in the seventh century. He was a strong supporter of the Church and abdicated in 726 to go on pilgrimage to Rome, where he later died.