Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The third son (I know I said this quiz was about second sons, but I forgot about Eleanor and Henry's child that died from a seizure at two years old) of King Henry II of England ended up claiming the throne himself. The crown didn't come easily, however. He endured many hardships along the way, including leading a revolt against his father. Who was he?
2. Edmund Crouchback was brother to the far more famous King Edward I, also known as "Hammer of the Scots" and "Edward Longshanks." There aren't any famous plays or movies about this obscure and neglected second son. Who was his father?
3. We all know of Charlemagne. His second son was born by his second wife. This second son didn't inherit his father's empire; in fact his father outlived him. Who was Charlemagne's second-born male child?
4. Henry IV reigned as King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1399-1413. The first son he sired, Henry V, ascended the throne. We know all about him and his famous victory at Agincourt. But do you know who the second son of Henry IV was?
5. It was this second son of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn that became the last independent prince of Wales before Edward I (who apparently didn't keep his hammer strictly reserved for the Scots) decided Wales shouldn't be independent any longer.
6. Harold Godwinson was a second son. He died at the Battle of Hastings and was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. Who was his father?
7. Saladin, as we call him in the West, is known for giving the Crusaders of the 12th century way more than they bargained for. He was sultan over many lands, including Egypt, Syria, and Mesopotamia, to name a few. He also fathered many sons. Who was his second?
8. Fulk, King of Jerusalem from 1131-1143, had two sons by his second wife Melisande. Both of them went on to be King of Jerusalem. Which was his second son?
9. Henry I, King of the Franks from 1031-1060, was himself a second son. Who was his father?
10. Once more, a second son who became king. His older brother was also king. Géza II, King of Hungary and Croatia, sired quite a few children. At war with the Byzantine Empire, Hungary needed a king who was strong and wealthy. This second son turned out to be just what they needed.
Source: Author
Obscenic
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bloomsby before going online.
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