Pi's Further History Mysteries Quiz

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte started his rise to power during the French Revolution. He became Emperor in 1804 and in subsequent years had a series of wars with other Countries which led to him becoming the dominant figure in much of Europe. In 1812 his invasion of Russia failed, and in 1814 France was invaded and he was deposed and exiled to Elba.

He made his escape and returned to France, but in 1815 was defeated by the British and allied forces at the Battle of Waterloo. He was exiled again, this time to St.

Helena, where he died in 1821.

Answer: Sherwood Forest

Sherwood derives it name from the fact that it was the royal hunting forest of the shire ('sher') of Nottingham. It was once much more extensive than its modern 1,045 acres. It is famous because of its association with the legend of Robin Hood. The earliest mentions of Robin Hood are in the rolls of several English Justices in the 13th century from Berkshire to York. He seems to have been an itinerant lawbreaker. Later ballads fill out the legend, mentioning Little John, Munch the Miller and Will Scarlett and portray him as a hero to the poor. Friar Tuck and Maid Marian don't appear until the late 15th century.

Calpurnia09

Answer: Davy Crockett

David 'Davy' Crockett was born in Tennessee on 17th August, 1786. He was of mixed English, Irish, Scottish and French ancestry. He had little formal education and ran away to fend for himself when he was only thirteen, then returned at sixteen and worked to pay off his father's debts. In 1813 he joined the Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Riflemen and fought in the Creek War where his abilities as a scout, hunter and woodsman were appreciated. By 1818 he was the lieutenant-colonel of the 57th Regiment of Tennessee Militia.
He was elected to Congress in 1826. His disagreements with the ruling party saw him lose his seat at the next election, but he was returned again in 1832. By late 1835 he had decided to settle in Texas and left with a party of thirty men, telling his family that they could join him later. Early in 1836 he, along with 65 men, signed an oath to serve the Provisional Government of Texas for six months. It was while he was with the garrison at the Alamo that General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna laid siege, on 23rd February. Things did not go well for the men stationed there and during a dawn attack on 6th March, most of the defenders were killed, including Davy Crockett. The Alamo is now the stuff of legend and there have been songs, books, films and documentaries about the famous battle.

Calpurnia09

Answer: Edward VIII

The Duke of Windsor, which was the title Edward VIII assumed after his abdication, was King of England and its dominions from 20th January to 11th December, 1936 but never took the coronation oaths. Before he became king he had been involved in a succession of affairs with older married women.

A few months into his reign he caused a constitutional crisis by announcing that he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorcee who was seeking to dissolve her marriage to her second husband. Edward knew that the government of Stanley Baldwin would resign if he went ahead with the marriage which would have meant an election in which his status as politically neutral would have been compromised.

At the time it was unacceptable for a member of the royal family to marry a divorced person and maintain their ability to reign or be an heir to the throne.

As head of the Church of England, which at that time did not accept divorce, it put him in an impossible position. He decided to abdicate and marry Mrs Simpson rather than be king.

Some see this as a great love story but others see Edward as a selfish man who put his own desires before his duties. Considering his admiration for Adolf Hitler it is as well that he was not on the throne at the time of WWII.

Answer: Edward VII

Edward VII was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He married the beautiful Danish Princess Alexandra, by whom he had six children. Edward was renowned as a womaniser and had numerous mistresses, many of whom are said to have his children also. He enjoyed gambling and eating, and the good life in general.
He was 59 when he became king in 1901, and despite his somewhat dissolute life as Prince of Wales, he became a surprisingly accomplished diplomat and head of state.

Invinoveritas

Answer: King Arthur

King Arthur is, of course, the subject of endless legendary tales. Some date back to the 9th century and earlier, but the most famous ones are probably those written by the 15th century writer Sir Thomas Mallory. We do not know if Arthur existed at all; if he did, he was probably a fifth century British war lord who was fighting off the Saxon invaders at the time that the Romans were leaving Britain to its own devices. There is no primary documentary evidence of his existence, and he would certainly have been nothing like the man in the legends. The Knights of the Round Table and Camelot are pure invention, but what wonderful stories they are - exciting and inspiring in equal measure. And people are still writing stories about him today.

Invinoveritas

Answer: Harry S Truman

Harry Truman became the 33rd President of the United States upon the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt in April of 1945. He had served in World War I and was elected a county judge in 1922 which signaled the start of his political career. He ran as a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in 1934 and served in the Senate until he became Vice President of the United States in 1945. During his Vice Presidency, which lasted only 82 days, Roosevelt rarely had any contact with him. Consequently, he had been generally kept in the dark about significant projects such as the Manhattan Project.

In August 1945, to end the war against Japan, he authorized the use of the atom bomb. Despite controversy surrounding this decision, he remained steadfast in his belief that he did the right thing and saved many lives that would otherwise have been lost had the war continued.

He died in 1972, aged 88.

Answer: Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso, under the tutelage of his father, an established artist in his own right, entered art school in Barcelona at age 13. He followed this by attending Madrid's Royal Academy. However, as he wasn't much given to following formal art instruction, he quit and began working on his art. By 1900 he was living in Paris and fraternized with the important artists of the day.

He is renowned for his complicated relationships with many women, all of whom seem to have been represented in his art in some way.

He fathered four children by three women. His second marriage, to Jacqueline Roque in 1961, was his last - they remained together until his death in 1973. His output of artistic works is legendary with estimates of upwards of 50,000 pieces having been created during his lifetime.

His Blue Period, between 1901 and 1904, symbolizing a period of great depression in his life, remains one of his best known.

Answer: Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde was born in Dublin in 1854, the son of a surgeon and a poet. He led a privileged life and studied at Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford. His friendship with "Bosie", Lord Alfred Douglas, son of the Marquess of Queensberry, began in 1891 and by 1893, they were in the full throes of a romantic relationship.

In 1895, the Marquess publicly accused Wilde of committing the crime of sodomy. Wilde responded with an action against the Marquess, the outcome of which ended badly for Wilde.

He was convicted of 'gross indecency' (that is, homosexual acts) and sentenced to two years' hard labour. Thus began his decline in health and in society, resulting in his death in Paris in November of 1900. He was 46 years old. His influence on literature is unparalleled.

Answer: Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher became leader of the Conservative party in 1975, making her the first woman to lead a British political party. She won the 1979 General Election making her the first woman to be a British Prime Minister. She went on to become the longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th century.

She was reputedly merciless with those who opposed her, and was often said to have "handbagged" them. After a leadership challenge in 1990 she resigned as both Prime Minister and party leader and was replaced by John Major.