Mighty Monarchs X (Birth and Death) Trivia Quiz | People

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 892 AD this Earl of Orkney defeated and killed his enemy, Maelbrigte, the Earl of Moray. After decapitating his rival and strapping the head to his saddle, the Earl of Orkney rode off in triumph. While riding, the tooth of the head began to rub against his leg causing a slight open wound. The wound quickly became infectious and he died soon after of blood poisoning. Which Earl of Orkney is the only recorded monarch to have been killed by the dead?

Answer: Sigurd I Riki, the Mighty

"Bitten" to death by the dead!?

2. This King of Persia reigned from 309-379 AD and proved to be one of the greatest kings of the Sassanian dynasty. One interesting fact - he was crowned "in utero" (before birth)! Which famous king of Persia was it?

Answer: Shapur II

Shapur II led the Sassanian dynasty to the height of its power and prestige. The dynasty lasted till 642 AD when Persia was conquered in the very early stages of the expansion of Islam.

3. This monarch was tied into a sack and trampled to death after being defeated and captured by the Mongols (led by Hulagu, grandson of Genghis Khan). Which individual was it?

Answer: Musta'sim, the Caliph

From Jan 18-Feb 5, 1258 AD the Mongol hordes laid siege to Baghdad, capital of the Caliphate. After the city's surrender, Musta'sim personally presented himself to Hulagu (Feb 10). The Mongol leader ordered him to have the entire population of Baghdad assemble outside the city walls. Approx. 80,000-2,000,000 people were reportedly massacred. Only then did the Mongols enter the city and systematically destroy the once great metropolis (Feb 13-20). Shortly after the Caliph met his gruesome fate.

4. On Mar 16, 455 AD this Emperor of the Western Roman Empire was murdered by Optila and Thraustila, associates of Aetius, in revenge for their masters own murder. Aetius, Master of Soldiers (commander-in-chief of the western armies), had earlier been murdered personally by this emperor for alledged treason (Sep 454 AD). Which emperor was it?

Answer: Valentinian III

Aetius had been virtual ruler of the Western Roman Empire (c. 433-454 AD) and even had his son, Carpileon, betrothed to the emperor's daughter (453 AD). Petronius Maximus (Prefect of Rome and Praetorian Prefect of Italy) and Heraclius (Chamberlain and chief eunuch to the emperor) were successful in poisoning Valentinian's mind against the powerful Aetius.

After disposing of Aetius someone reportedly told Valentinian - 'with your left hand you have cut off your right hand.' Aetius was at the time the only man with the power and influence to save the Western Roman Empire from the barbarians at its frontiers. Petronius Maximus briefly seized the throne after the emperor's death only to be murdered himself later in the year.

5. On May 10, 1483 AD Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was named 'Protector and Defender of the Realm' (regent for his nephew the 12 yr old king) and shortly after was crowned Richard III, King of England (Jun 26). Soon after the coronation this young king and his younger brother disappeared from the pages of history. Which young king of England was it?

Answer: Edward V

Edward V (r. Apr-Jun 1483 AD) had succeeded his father, Edward IV (r. 1471-1483 AD). Richard III (r. 1483-1485 AD) was the brother of Edward IV and opposed the influence the young king's mother, Queen Elizabeth, and her family (Wydvilles) had. He claimed to have placed his young nephews in the Tower of London to protect them from the evil influence of their mother.

The 'Princes of the Tower' were Edward (born Nov 2, 1470 AD) and his brother Richard (born Aug 17, 1473 AD). At birth Edward had been given the title 'Prince of Wales' (traditionally given to the designated heir to the throne since 1301 AD). Richard was given the title of 'Duke of York' at birth which in turn became a traditional title bestowed on the second son.

This means when Charles, Prince of Wales, succeeds his mother, Elizabeth II (r. 1952-present), his son William will become the new Prince of Wales and his son Henry may become the new Duke of York if the title is vacant.

6. After conquering Wales Edward I (Longshanks), King of England, issued the Statute of Wales (Mar 19, 1284 AD) bringing Wales under the direct rule of the English crown. To placate the still unruly Welsh nobles he promised them a royal prince that he would raise in Wales and as a Welshman. His first son was born at Caernarvon Castle (Apr 1284 AD) and officially received the title 'Prince of Wales' in Feb 1301 AD. Which individual was the first to receive the title?

Answer: Edward II

Edward II (r. 1307-1327 AD) is generally viewed as a weak king. He could never compare to his legendary father, Edward I (r. 1272-1307 AD). He was eventually deposed by his own wife, Isabelle, and her lover, Roger Mortimer, Earl of March (Jan 16, 1327 AD).

He was succeeded by his son, the legendary Edward III (1327-1377 AD). It is believed that shortly after his abdication he was killed in his prison cell (Berkeley Castle) by having a red-hot iron shoved into his 'backside' (Sep 1327 AD)

7. The skin of this defeated and captured Roman Emperor was treated with vermilion (a bright red dye used as pigment) and displayed in a Persian temple as a warning to any future visiting Roman dignitaries. Which emperor was it?

Answer: Valerian

Valerian (r. 253-260 AD) was captured at the Battle of Edessa (Jun 260 AD) by Shapur I, King of Persia. He was held in captivity and constantly put on humiliating display (he was Shapur's foot stool!) for about two years. Only after death was he skinned.

8. In a fit of rage this Czar (Tsar) of Russia accidently killed his son (and heir) when he struck him in the head with the iron staff he always carried. Which czar was it?

Answer: Ivan IV

One day in 1581 AD Ivan IV, the Terrible (r. 1530-1584 AD), was physically attacking his pregnant daughter-in-law, Yelena, when his son, also named Ivan, came running in to aid his wife. The old czar, blindly striking out, hit his son in the head fracturing his skull.

He died a few hours later. Yelena soon lost the baby and died herself. Ivan IV, already unstable, sank further into despair and madness. In Russia the heir to the throne was called the Czarevich (Tsarevich).

9. The skull of this dead Byzantine Emperor was turned into a special drinking vessel by Krum, Khan of the Bulgars, in 811 AD. Which emperor was it?

Answer: Nicephorus I

Nicephorus I (r. 802-811 AD) and his imperial army were massacred at the Battle of the Verbitza Pass (Jul 24, 811 AD). See Mighty Monarchs V (Bulgars) for more interesting questions and find out how the emperor Basil II (r. 976-1025 AD) earned the name 'Bulgaroctonus' (the Bulgar-Slayer).

10. The birth of a male heir ultimately led to the "revolution" that overthrew this king of England in 1688 AD. Which individual was it?

Answer: James II

James II (r. 1685-1688 AD) was a devout Catholic and was accused of trying to return the Anglican Church to Catholicism. Many of his Protestant subjects hoped that he would be succeeded by his daughter Mary (a devout Protestant). With the birth of a son (Jun 1688 AD) the king could arrange a Catholic succession. James II fled into exile in France (Dec 1688 AD) and thus started the Jacobite movement. Jacobites (Jacobus means James) were the supporters of James II and his male heirs as the rightful kings of England, who periodically rose in rebellion (always unsuccessfully) to support their 'king.' The claimants were: James III, known as 'the Old Pretender,' was involved with the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715-1716 AD (more commonly known as 'the Fifteen').

His son, Charles III, known as 'the Young Pretender,' was involved with the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-1746 AD (more commonly known as 'the Forty-five'). Charles is the famous 'Bonnie Prince Charlie.' Henry IX succeeded his brother as the claimant (1788 AD) but by then the Jacobite movement was over.

Source: Author hund

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Mighty Monarchs X (Birth and Death) Quiz

Mighty Monarchs X covers a few interesting births and alot of deaths associated with various monarchs throughout history. Enjoy and good luck!

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