Scandalous Royals (Newspaper Headlines) Quiz

Answer: John of Gaunt

John of Gaunt was Edward III's fourth son. His first wife was Blanche of Lancaster, his second a political match with Constance of Castile. He then married his long term mistress Katherine Swynford and had their children legitimized. The love story between John and Katherine was immortalized in Anya Seton's book 'Katherine'.

Answer: Lady Arabella Stuart

Lady Arabella Stuart was a claimant to the throne as she was the great granddaughter of Henry VIII's elder sister Margaret and her second marriage. Due to her proximity to the throne she was refused permission to marry William Seymour who also had a weak claim to the throne.

She went ahead and married him anyway which resulted in her being sent to the Tower of London. She died there in 1615 after allegedly going mad.

Answer: Bishop Odo

Bishop Odo was the half brother of William the Conqueror and he was Bishop of Bayeux. He was an extremely wealthy man. After joining a conspiracy to dethrone his nephew William Rufus who was at the time William II of England he returned to Bayeux. It is widely believed that he commissioned the famous 'Bayeux Tapestry'.

Answer: Thomas Seymour

Confusing? Thomas Seymour was the uncle to Edward VI as his sister Jane (Edward's mother) was Henry VIII's third wife. On the death of Henry VIII he married the old King's widow Katherine Parr. She subsequently died in childbirth. Thomas was executed on the orders of his nephew the King (Edward VI) and his own brother Edward Seymour (Protector of the Realm) after he apparently, amongst other crimes, tried to seduce Elizabeth I the King's half sister.

Answer: Katherine of Valois

Katherine of Valois was daughter of the French King Charles VI and wife to Henry V. After Henry died she had a love affair with Welshman Owain Tudor. After her death Owain was executed on Edward IV's orders. Although his execution was not directly related to his relationship with Katherine it did make him extremely unpopular. Katherine and Owain had children and it is through their son Edmund (father of Henry VII) that the great Tudor dynasty was founded.

Answer: James Duke of Monmouth

James Scott, Duke of Monmouth was the illegitimate son of Charles II and Lucy Walter. After his father's death he claimed the throne against his Uncle James II. They fought at the Battle of Sedgemore which he lost. He was executed in 1685.

Answer: Mary Tudor

Mary Tudor was favourite sister to Henry VIII. She was married off to the aged King of France Louis XII. Louis died a few months later and Mary sure that she was to be married off again braved her brother's displeasure by marrying the love of her life Henry's great friend Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk.

Although Henry was furious and punished them his love for his sister and friend meant they were finally forgiven, unlike many in Henry's reign!

Answer: Caroline of Brunswick

Caroline of Brunswick was the wife of George IV. Their marriage was a VERY unhappy one. After conceiving an heir, a daughter Charlotte, George tried everything to get rid of her. In 1820 The House of Lords tried her for adultery with a man called Bergami. The case was never proven. Caroline died not long after in 1821. She was never crowned.

Answer: Margaret Pole Countess of Salisbury

Margaret Pole was the daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, Edward IV's brother. Through this she was a member of the Yorkist branch of the Plantagenet dynasty. It could be said that Margaret and her line had more right to the throne than the Tudor's.

It was this proximity to the throne more than any real act of treason that led her to the scaffold in the reign of Henry VIII. She was nearly 70 when she was executed (which was old in those days). The tale of her running around the scaffold is unlikely but it was reported that she didn't make an easy death.

She was beatified in 1886.

Answer: Tostig Godwinsson

Tostig was the brother to Harold Godwinsson, who was Harold II of England. Their father was Godwin The Earl of Wessex. Tostig was the Earl Of Northumberland until this was revoked, he then looked throughout the courts of Europe for an ally. When his brother came to the throne he (Tostig) allied with Harold Hardrada of Denmark and invaded England.

He was finally killed in The Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Although Harold had been successful this time he was killed soon after in the infamous Battle of Hastings.

Answer: Charles Edward Stuart

Charles Stuart or 'Bonnie' Prince Charlie as he was known was the grandson of the deposed King James II. After carrying on the ambition of his father 'The Old Pretender' (James Stuart), towards the throne of England, he met The Duke of Cumberland in the Battle of Culloden. After he was firmly defeated he escaped dressed as a maid aided by Flora MacDonald.

Answer: Isabella of France

Isabella of France was married to Edward II. It was widely believed that Edward was homosexual and it has been said that Isabella was greatly humiliated by the King's male friendships, the most notable being that with Piers Gaveston. Isabella became lovers with Roger Mortimer and went and lived in France. On their return they aided the barons to depose Edward II in favour of his son Edward III. Edward II was murdered in Berkley Castle most likely on the orders of Isabella and Roger who had set themselves up as regents to the young King Edward III.

It is not known exactly how he was murdered but a popular theory is that he had a red hot poker inserted into certain parts of his anatomy.

Answer: Mary Queen of Scots

Mary Stuart's second husband was Lord Darnley who was also her cousin. They had a son James who later went on to become King James VI of Scotland and James I of England. Not long after he murdered Mary's secretary Riccio, Darnley too was killed. Mary was implicated along with the Earl of Bothwell who she later went on to marry.

Answer: George Duke of Clarence

George, Duke of Clarence was the brother of Edward IV. He was executed in February 1478 for treason. His execution has a touch a mystery as it was not carried out in public. It was rumoured that he was drowned as and exhumation of his body discovered there was no visible damage.

The fact that he was drowned in a butt a malmsey wine is not proven and may refer to his love of drinking rather than his actual method of execution.

Answer: Arthur of Brittany

Arthur was the son of Geoffrey of Brittany who was in turn the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Geoffrey of Brittany died before Arthur was born and was the heir to the English throne after Richard the Lionheart. On Richard's death the younger brother John became King of England although for many the youth Arthur was a more popular choice. Arthur was imprisoned by his Uncle John and it is alleged that Arthur was murdered (possibly by the hand of John himself) and his body thrown in the Seine River.