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Fun Trivia: R : Royalty & Monarchs

Special Sub-Topic: Prince Rupert of the Rhine


Prince Rupert's title (the name of the quiz) is how he is best known to history. But what was his actual family name?

    Wittelsbach. Prince Rupert's mother was a Stuart by birth being the sister to King Charles I. She is also known as Elizabeth of Bohemia. Hanover is a later name of the British royal family which also has connections with the family as Prince Rupert's youngest sister Sophie married Ernest Augustus of Hanover and George I was a part of this line of descendants.

How old was Prince Rupert when he went on his first campaign of war and was ordered back by his mother?
    13. Although accounts vary, most indicate that he was just 13 when he went on his first campaign. Some accounts say he was 12.

In 1638 Prince Rupert was taken as a prisoner of war for three years. Where was he held?
    Linz. Prince Rupert was held by Ferdinand III for three years at a castle in Linz. He was allowed some freedom and kept himself busy with sketchings and inventions amongst other things.

On his first visit to England Prince Rupert was awarded the degree of Master of Arts. Which university awarded him this degree?
    Oxford. At that time England had only two universities - Oxford and Cambridge. (In the 19th century a series of new foundations began, starting with University College, London (UCL) in 1826, King's College, London in 1829 and Durham in 1832.

Prince Rupert became famous for his part in the English Civil War where he fought for his uncle. Who was his uncle?
    Charles I. Even in the 21st century, Charles I remains on the most controversial kings in British history. For many, he epitomizes arbitrary government and is the king who tried to impose absolutism on England (and Scotland). In the eyes of some, especially in the 'High Church' party of the Church of England, he is a martyr. Most would agree that after his execution in 1649 the monarchy was never quite the same again, even during the Restorian period (1660-1688). At the time his execution was regarded in most of Continental Europe as little short of an act of sacrilege; it was "murdered majesty".

Prince Rupert took his trained dog with him to England during the English Civil War. The animal was said to be his familiar, but what was its name?
    Boy. Not a particularly imaginative name. Taught numerous tricks and loved dearly by his owner, he was tragically killed at the Battle of Marston Moor when he followed his master into battle. He was killed by a Parliamentarian pikeman.

Prince Rupert's dog was not the only animal that accompanied him during the English Civil War. What other animal came along for the trip?
    A trained monkey. Not much is known about the monkey. It was a female and like Boy was trained to do tricks but I have no idea what happened to her or what her name was. Any ideas? Do let me know as I am curious about useless bits of trivia like that.

What career did Prince Rupert take up after the English Civil War?
    Piracy. He took up piracy on the high seas and became a thorn in the side of the Commonwealth when he made a target of their ships.

Prince Rupert was the sole survivor of a ship wreck during the Commonwealth years. What was the name of the doomed ship?
    Constant Reformation. Two very obviously wrong answers there. The not so obvious Royal Charles which was a famous ship at the time of the Restoration and carried Charles II back to his people.

While Prince Rupert was lucky enough to survive the loss of his ship one of his brothers was not so lucky. Which one drowned at sea in the year 1653?
    Maurice. His closest brother and the one who was by his side in England during the war was lost when the Defiance sank, no survivors were ever found.

Prince Rupert helped develop and introduce to England a method of engraving prints. What was the name of the technique?
    Mezzotint. I did have the name of the man who actually invented this form of engraving but appear to have lost it. I will add it here when I find it again. Needless to say Prince Rupert was not solely responsible for the method but he did do a lot to introduce it to England.

Prince Rupert needed to go under the surgeon's knife during the Restoration Era. The name of the surgery was trepanning. What did this involve?
    Holes drilled in the skull. It sounds very barbaric, but he survived this surgery.

Like many others in Restoration England Prince Rupert took as his mistress an actress. What was her name?
    Peg Hughes. Margaret 'Peg' Hughes was his mistress. Nell and Moll were both mistresses of Charles II. Frances Bard is believed by many to have been Prince Rupert's wife although it was not common knowledge during his lifetime.

What was the name of Prince Rupert's only known daughter?
    Ruperta. His mistress, Margaret ('Peg') Hughes, was Ruperta's mother.

Prince Rupert was made Constable of one of these castles during the Restoration Era. Which?
    Windsor. It was the famous Windsor Castle which is of course open to the public like many others in the country today. However, any of the remodelling done by Prince Rupert was lost long ago.


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