Scotland: Stirling Castle Trivia Quiz

Answer: Alexander I

Alexander I died at Stirling Castle in 1124. The earliest record of there being a fortress at Stirling is when Alexander I dedicated an existing chapel with in the castle.

David I was the youngest son of Malcolm III and founded an Abby below the castle in 1140.

William I did die at Stirling but not until 1214 and Alexander II was William's son.

Answer: Cambuskenneth Abbey

Cambuskenneth Abbey was originally known as The Abbey of St Mary or The Abbey of Stirling. King David asked the group of Augustinians to found an abbey in this spot and it had great wealth due to the royal patronage. King James III and his wife are buried there where the High Altar used to stand.

The Church of Holy Rude is located just down the hill from the castle itself. Its name was first given to a church on the site in the 1130s. Holy Rude means "Holy Cross". James VI was crowned in this church as King of Scotland in 1567.

The Chapel of St Michael's was rebuilt in 1412 on a sight most likely partially under the present Chapel Royal. Not much else is known about it.

Answer: Stirling Bridge

William Wallace and Andrew Murray led the Scots to victory at Stirling Bridge. Murray died shortly after the battle due to his injuries. Wallace's monument stands at the spot where it is said Wallace and his men lay waiting for the English to start crossing the bridge.

Bannockburn was fought in 1314 and saw the end of the Wars of Independence though there would always be rivalry between the Scots and the English. Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, won the day and gained Scotland's freedom.

Flodden and Sauchieburn were not fought until the 1400s with Flodden being a humiliating defeat for the Scots against the English.

Answer: True

Robert the Bruce had been leading a guerrilla war against the English so the the only remaining stronghold in the hands of the English was Stirling Castle. His brother, Edward Bruce, was besieging the castle. Edward made a deal with the constable of the castle that if English forces had not come to relieve the castle by 24th June, then the castle would be handed over to the Scots.

Robert was displeased with this as he had been trying to avoid a head on confrontation which was now made unavoidable. King Edward II of England departed from Berwick on the 10th June 1314 with and army of 20,000, the largest English army to invade Scotland.

On the 23rd June, the vanguard of the English army attacked the 7,000 strong Scottish army at the ford over the Bannock Burn. The were repulsed by the anti-cavalry spikes of the Scottish army. The main battle, however, was fought on the 24th June. The ground was boggy and ill-suited to the traditional English cavalry charge and the English archers fled when faced with the Scottish cavalry charge. King Edward only just escaped but many English knights did not.

This battle was the inspiration for the Scottish National Anthem "Flower of Scotland" and was the turning point for the Scots who had long been fighting against English rule. In 1328, Edward III renounced the English claims over Scotland.

Answer: 8th Earl of Douglas

8th Earl of Douglas was once a friend and ally of King James II but began plotting against the King for revenge of another act of murder, of the 4th Earl earlier in the reign of James II. James met with the Earl perhaps to try reason with him but the King lost his temper and stabbed the 8th Earl of Douglas leaving courtiers to finish the work.

4th Earl of Crawford plotted with the Earl of Douglas against the King along with John, Lord of the Isles.

The 7th Earl of Douglas died in 1443.

Answer: 1488

The battle was fought over the same ground as the Battle of Bannockburn, but this time it was fought between James III's forces and forces led by his 14 year old son, the Duke of Rothesay.

Answer: King's Old Building

The King's Old Building, which used to be called "King's House", is built on the highest part of the castle rock. It is situated, also, on the very edge of the cliffs that line the side of the west side of the castle rock.

The Chapel Royal was also built round about this time by James IV but more likely at a later date though the one you see today is the renovated version of the one built by James IV.

The North Gate is the oldest part of Stirling Castle having been built in the 14th Century.

The Great Hall was also built by James IV but between the later dates of 1501-1504. The exact date of construction is unknown.

Answer: Mary Queen of Scots

Mary was crowned Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle in 1543 when she was only 9 months old. Her father James V had died on the 14th December 1542 only 6 days after his daughter was born. He is quoted as saying "It cam wi' a lass and it will gang wi' a lass" fearing that the Stuart line would end with his daughter.

Marie or Mary of Guise was James V's second wife and mother of Mary, Queen of Scots.

James VI was Mary's son, born at Edinburgh Castle in June 1566 though he was baptised at Stirling Castle in December of the same year.

Answer: False

Charles I was James VI's second son, born in 1600. His older brother Henry was christened in the Chapel Royal in 1594. He died in 1612 of typhoid though, leaving Charles as heir to the thrones of Scotland and England.

Answer: Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the renovated Great Hall in 1999. The castle has now been renovated to look as it would have done during the early reign of Mary, Queen of Scots.