Special Sub-Topic: The History of European Royalty V Click Here To Play: The History of European Royalty V

Queen Elizabeth I Tudor of England was the patron of Sir Francis Drake and most historical texts state that Drake was knighted by the Queen. But is this true?

n. Although Queen Elizabeth I Tudor of England was indeed there at the knighting ceremony, she allowed the French ambassador to actually knight Francis Drake in order to pit the French against the Spanish by allowing a Frenchman to knight the conqueror of the Spanish Armada.

Out of the following choices, which royal princess was NOT the queen consort of two different countries?

Princess Joanna de Everux of Navarre. Eleanor of Aquitaine was the Queen of France from Jul 1137 to Jan 1152 and the Queen of England from May 1152 to Jul 1189. Eleanor of Spain was the Queen of Portugal from Nov 1518 to Dec 1521 and the Queen of France from Jul 1530 to Mar 1547. Margaret of France was the Queen of Navarre from Aug 1572 and Queen of France from Aug 1589, both reigns ending when her divorce came through in 1599. Joanna of Navarre was only the Queen of England, the second wife of Henry IV.

What does King Boris III Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Bulgaria, King Alexander I Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia, King Umberto I de Savoie of Italy and King Carlos I Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Portugal all have in common?

They were all assassinated. King Boris III Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Bulgaria died on 28 August 1943 in Royal Palace, Sofia, Bulgaria. King Alexander I Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia died on 9 October 1934 in Marseilles, France. King Umberto I de Savoie of Italy died on 29 July 1900 in Milan, Italy. King Carlos I Saxe-Coburg-Gotha died on 1 February 1908 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Duke of Braganca is the claimant to the Portuguese throne. From which king does he descend?

King Miguel I de Braganca of Portugal. After the abdication of King Manuel II Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Portugal in 1910 and his childless death in 1932, the lineage of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha strand was dead. Therefore the claim reverted back to the Braganca line, a descendant of King Miguel I de Braganca of Portugal and the title of the claimant is the Duke of Braganca. The Duke since 1976 is Duke Duarte Pio Nuno de Braganca of Braganca. Born on 15 May 1945 in Bern, Germany, he is the son of Duke Duarte Nuno de Braganca of Braganca and Princess Maria Francisca de Orleans-Braganca of Brazil. On 13 May 1995 in Lisbon, Portugal he married Isabella Ines de Castro de Heredia and together they have three children; Prince Alfonso; Princess Maria Francisca; and Prince Denis.

The Crown Princess of Norway has one daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra Glucksburg of Norway. However, she also has a natural son, whose name is ..?

Marius. Before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon Magnus Glucksburg of Norway on 25 August 2001 in Oslo Cathedral, Oslo, Norway, Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby was already a single mother to Marius Hoiby, born in 1997. There was a bit of controversy, as it was a single mother wanting to marry the Crown Prince. However, it was an increasing trend at the time, where single parenting was more acceptable and in the end there was no opposition towards the marriage. The Crown Prince has adopted Marius, but of course he has no claim to the throne.

What is so unique about King Alfonso XIII de Bourbon of Spain?

He was born a king. King Alfonso XIII de Bourbon of Spain was born on 17 May 1886 to Archduchess Maria Christina Habsburg-Lotharingen of Teschen and King Alfonso XII de Bourbon of Spain, who had died on 25 November 1885. His elder sister, Maria de les Mercedes, was the titular Queen for a few months during her mother's pregnancy and would have properly inherited the throne, if the new baby was female and not male. Alfonso XIII's marriage to Princess Victoria Eugenie von Hesse-Darmstadt of Battenberg was nearly morganic. The Princess Victoria was a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria and had been born as Her Serene Highness, a step down from Her Royal Highness. Before the marriage, Queen Victoria elevated her grand-daughter up to the appropriate rank in order for her marriage to be looked upon as equal. During their marriage, Alfonso blamed Victoria for introducing Haemophilia into the royal family and this created some distance between the two, but they never divorced.

What is the title of the last French Bourbon claimant to the French throne?

the Count of Chambord. Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonne, Count of Chambord, born on September 29, 1820, was the grandson of King Charles X of France, the posthumous son of the Duke of Berry. In 1830, Charles abdicated in favour of his grandson, whose supporters proclaimed him Henry V. However parliament instead decreed that the throne should go to a distant relative, the Duke of Orléans, who became Louis-Philippe, King of the French. The Count of Chambord, as he was generally known, remained the Legitimist claimant to the throne from the July Monarchy of Louis-Philippe to the Empire of Napoleon III. In the early 1870s, Chambord was offered the throne by the French National Assembly. However he set one demand, that France abandon its tricolour and return to the Bourbon fleur-de-lis, which the National Assembly would not grant. A temporary Third Republic was established, waiting for the childless Chambord to die By Chambord's death in August 24 1883, however, public opinion had swung behind the Republic.

What is the title of the eldest son of King Carl XVI Gustaf Bernadotte of Sweden and Silvia Renate Sommerlath?

the Duke of Varmland. HRH Prince Carl Phillip Bernadotte of Sweden, the Duke of Varmland, was born on 13 May 1979 in the Royal Palace, Stockholm, Sweden. As the eldest son, he was, in fact, born the Crown Prince. However, a change in the Laws of Succession was enacted shortly after his birth and the law was backdated, stripping him as the Crown Prince and his sister took over as the Crown Princess.

King Edward I Plantagent of England has a distinguishing common attribute with a certain 20th century figure. Who is it?

Adolf Hitler. Everyone knows of Adolf Hitler's eternal dislike of Jews and his enforcement of identification by the 'Yellow Star', however, there are few who know that Edward I is guilty of exactly the same thing. Not only did he make the Jews wearing their yellow stars, he overtaxed them to fund his war in Wales, arrested the Heads of the Jewish families and had them executed, and also exiled the entire Jewish community when he was through.

How did King Alexander I Schleswig-Holstein of Greece die?

A bite from his pet monkey. King Alexander I Schleswig-Holstein of Greece was born on 1 August 1893 in Tatoi, Athens, Greece and he was the second son of King Constantine I Schleswig-Holstein of Greece and Princess Sophie Dorothea Hohenzollern of Germany. His father was forced to abdicate in favour of his second son, instead of the first as he was deemed unfit to rule. He married Aspasia Manos on 4 November 1919 in Athens, Greece and, unfortunately, died on 25 October 1920 of a bite from his pet monkey. Constantine resumed the throne until his own death on 11 January 1923 in Palermo, Sicily, and the crown passed to his eldest son, King George II Schleswig-Holstein of Greece.

Who was the first King of Romania from the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen?

King Ferdinand I. King Ferdinand I Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen of Romania was born on 24 August 1865 in Sigmaringen Castle, Germany to Prince Leopold Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen of Germany and Princess Antonia Marie Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Portugal. He married on 10 January 1890 in Sigmaringen Castle, Germany to Princess Marie Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Edinburgh, the daughter of Duke Alfred Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna Romanov of Russia. He died on 20 July 1927 in Sinaia, Romania and was succeeded by his eldest son.

What was the name of the last King of the Netherlands?

King William III Alexander von Nassau of the Netherlands. King William III Alexander von Nassau of the Netherlands was born on 19 February 1817 in Brussell, Belgium was the eldest son of King William II Frederick von Nassau of the Netherlands and Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna Romanov of Russia. He married Princess Sophie Frederica von Wurttemberg of Wuttemberg on 18 June 1839 in Stuttgart, Germany and together they had three sons; Prince William; Prince Maurice and; Prince Alexander; all who died before their father and mother. The Queen died on 3 June 1877 in the Hague, the Netherlands without providing an heir. The King remarried to Princess Emma Waldeck-Pyrmont of Waldeck on 7 Janaury 1879 when he was 62 and she was 21. She became pregnant quickly after the marraige and gave birth to a daughter. The elderly King quickly changed the Laws of Succession to allow females to succeed the throne and he died on 23 November 1890 when his daughter was just 10.

To which Royal House did Queen Isabella I of Castile and Leon belong to?

the House of Trastamara. Queen Isabella I Trastamara of Castile and Leon was born on 22 April 1451 in Madringal, Castile, Spain to King Juan II Trastamra of Castile and Leon and his second wife, Princess Isabella Avis of Portugal. However, she was not really destined to be Queen. Her half-brother, King Enrique IV Trastamara of Castile and Leon's only child was undoubtedly illegitimate, a result of an affair of his Queen, Princess Joanne Avis of Portugal. Isabella rallied support behind her and deposed her niece after the death of her father and captured the crown. The new Queen Isabella had a choice of two potential husbands; King Alfonso V Avis of Portugal or King Fernando II Trastamara of Aragon. Isabella chose the latter and together they were both known as the 'Catholic Kings'. Their children include Infanta Princess Catherine Trastmara of Aragon and Queen Juanne Trastamara of Castile and Leon. Queen Isabella died in November 1504 in Chateau de la Mota, Madine del Campo, Spain.

Everyone knows about Queen Elibzaeth I Tudor of England's first favourite, Robert Devereux, the Earl of Leicester. However, after his disgrace, Elizabeth adopted another favourite. Who was it?

Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex. The Earl of Essex was actually the Earl of Leicester's step-son and the Queen's cousin. Essex's downfall was attributed to his treason against the Queen for collaborating with the leader of the Irish rebellion, Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone, in 1595. On 28 August, Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex, left Dublin with his army and marched towards the boarders of Tyrone's territory; but he then accepted an invitation from Tyrone to meet him to discuss peace terms. They met on 7 Sept and they agreed to make an immediate truce and Tyrone would be granted a pardon if he submitted to the Queen's authority. Essex than returned to England in defiance of Elizabeth's command and when he arrived at court on 28 Sept, Elizabeth was friendly; then she changed her mind and on 2 Oct dismissed him from all his offices and ordered the Privy Council to publish a statement listing his offences. After being under house-arrest for over a year, Essex led the final rebellion of Elizabeth's reign, where he planned to detain the Queen and seize control of London. However, upon hearing of Essex's plans, Elizabeth denounced him as a traitor and the people of London did not rise in his support and the rebellion was suppressed. Essex was found guilty of treason and was executed on 25 February 1601.

The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English in 1588 is renouned as the greatest achievement during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I Tudor of England. Which duke was in command of the Aramada, at the time of the defeat?

the Duke of Medina Sidonia. Preparations for the Armada were being hurried forward at Lisbon and Cadiz and the Spanish fleet would be ready to sail to invade England in the summer of 1587; and Walsingham urged the Queen to send Sir Francis Drake to attack the Armada, whilst they were still in port at Cadiz. Drake entered the Cadiz port on 29 April 1587 and upon learning that 30 ships of the Armada were in the harbour, he attacked them at once. The losses at Cadiz prevented the Armada from sailing that summer and out back the expedition for at least six months and the earliest possible invasion of England was now January 1588. However, the delay was to last longer as it wasn't until May 1588 that the Armada sailed out of Lisbon under the command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia.

Name the order of the royal houses of Portugal.

Henriques, Avis, de Braganca, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The House of Henriques from 1146 under King Alfonso I henriques of Portugal to 1384 under Queen Beatriz I Henriques of Portgal. The House of Avis from 1384 under King John I Avis of Portugal to 1580 under King Henry I Avis of Portugal. The House of de Braganca from 1580 under King IV de Braganca of Portgual to 1853 under Queen Maria II de Braganca of Portugal. The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha from 1853 under King Pedro V Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Portugal to 1910 under King Manuel II Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Portugal, when a republic was declared and the royal family exiled.

Which former country ruled by a monarchy, exiled their royal family and barred the male descendents from entering the country?

Italy - de Savoie. After the dissolution of the monarchy and the exile of the royal family, Italy then passed a law which banned all male descandents of the House of Savoie from entering the country. This law was only recently lifted and the Duke of Savoy, his wife and son were allowed to return to Italy. The Duke had not seen his country since he was 10 years old.

King Edward I Plantagent of England is most commonly known as 'the Longshanks'. However, there is another nickname in which he is known. Which one is it?

the Hammer of the Scots. After his successful campaign in Wales, Edward's attention now turned to Scotland. It was his dream, not only to be the King of England, but to be the King of Britain. Initially, he established a puppet King, who would pay homage to him each year. However, the monarch supported by Edward, was not supported by his people and he was overthrown. Again a civil war ravished the country and left it vulnerable to attack and attack Edward did.

What is the name of the current Grand Duke/Duchess of Luxembourg?

Grand Duke Henry I Albert von Nassau of Luxembourg. Grand Duke Henry I Albert von Nassau of Luxembourg is the eldest son of Grand Duke Jean I Benoit von Nassau of Luxembourg and Princess Josephine Charlotte Saxe-Coburg-Gotha of Belgium and he was born on 16 April 1955 in Betzdorf Castle, Luxembourg. On 14 May 1981 he married Marie Theresa Mestre in Notre Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg. Together they have five children; Hereditry Prince Guillaume, born 11 November 1981; Prince Felix, born 3 June 1984; Prine Louis, born 3 August 1986; Princess Alexandra, born 16 February 1991; and Prince Sebastian, born 16 April 1992. On 7 October 2000, Grand Duke Jean I abdicated his grand-ducal throne and allowed his son to succeed him.

What is the interesting fact about the marriage of King Ferninand II Trastamara of Naples and Sicily and Princess Giovanna Trastamara of Naples and Sicily?

Princess Giovanna is King Ferninand's Aunt. King Ferninand II Trastamara of Naples and Sicily was born on 26 August 1469 to King Alfonso II Trastamara of Sicily and Princess Hippolyta Sforza of Milan. He was married to Princess Giovanna Trastamara of Naples and Sicily, his aunt, in 1496 and he died on 7 September 1496. Between most incestous marraiges in the royal houses, it is usually an Uncle marrying a Niece. This round it was an Aunt marrying a nephew.

Name the order of the English royal families.

Normandy, Plantangenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Hanover, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Windsor. The House of Normandy from 1066 under William I to 1154 under Stephen I. The House of Plantangent from 1154 under Henry II to 1399 under Richard II. The House of Lancaster from 1399 under Henry IV to 1460, then 1470-71. The House of York under Edward IV from 1460-70, then 1471-1483 to 1485 under Richard III. The House of Tudor from 1485 under Henry VII to 1603 under ELizabeth I. The House of Stuart from 1603 under James I to 1649, at the proclamation of a republic. Restoration in 1660 under Charles II and came to an end with Anne I in 1714. The House of Hanover from 1714 under George I to 1901 under Victoria I. The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha from 1901 to 1910 under Edward VII. The House of Windsor from 1910 under George V to the present day under Elizabeth II.

Name the order of the royal families of Navarre.

Jimeno, de Blois, Capet, de Everux, Trastamara, de Foix, de Albert, de Bourbon. The House of Jimeno ruled from 970 under King Sancho III Jimeno of Navarre to 1234 under Queen Blanche Jimeno of Navarre. The House of de Blois from 1234 under King Theobald I de Blois of Navarre to 1305 under Queen Joan I de Blois of Navarre. The House of Capet from 1305 under King Louis X Capet of France and Navarre to 1349 Queen Joan II Capet of Navarre. The House of de Everux from 1349 under King Charles II de Everux of Navarre to 1458 under Queen Blanche II de Everux of Navarre. The House of Trastamara from 1458 under King Juan II Trastamara of Aragon and Navarre to 1479 Queen Leonor I Trastamara of Navarre. The House of de Foix from 1479 under King Francis I de Foix of Navarre to 1512 under Queen Catherine I de Foix of Navarre. The House of de Albert from 1512 under King Henry II de Albert of Navarre to 1572 under Queen Joan III de Albert of Navarre. The House of de Bourbon from 1572 under King Henry IV de Bourbon of France and Navarre to 1793 King Louis XVI de Bourbon of France and Navarre.

What is the surname of the Austrian royal family after the marriage between Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I, Duke of Lorraine?

Habsburg-Lotharingen. Queen Maria Theresa Habsburg of Hungary and Bohemia was the daugther of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI Habsburg and Princess Elizabeth Brunsiwck-Wolfenbuttel of Brunswick and was born on 13 May 1717 in Vienna, Austria. She was married to Duke Francis de Lorraine of Lorraine on 12 February 1736 in Vienna, Austria. Together, they had sixteen children, including two Holy Roman Emperors, one Queen of France, one Duchess of Parma, one Grand Duke of Modena, one Princess of Saxony and one Queen of Naples and Sicily. All bore the name of Habsburg-Lotharingen.

What was the title the Kings of Prussia bore before they were elevated to the Prussian throne?

the Elector of Brandenburg. The last Elector of Brandenburg was Frederick William I the Great; born 6 February 1620, not to be confused with Frederick II the Great; born 24 January 1712. The first King of Prussia was King Frederick I William Hohenzollern of Prussia, born 11 July 1657 in Konigsberg, Prussia.

What is so unique about King Charles XIV John Bernadotte of Sweden?

He was adopted by the heirless King and succeeded the throne. The old King Charles XIII von Holstein-Gottorp of Sweden had only been the father of one child, who died soon after birth and there was no other clear heir. So he preceeded along the notion of adopting someone who become the next King of Sweden. In 1810 he was, unexpectedly, elected heir to King Charles XIII of Sweden, partly because a large part of the Swedish Army, in view of future complications with Russia, were in favour of electing a soldier, and partly because Bernadotte was very popular in Sweden, owing to the kindness he had shown to the Swedish prisoners during the late war with Denmark. Bernadotte thereupon informed the King that he would not refuse the honour if he were duly elected. The candidature of Bernadotte gradually gained favour there, and, on August 21, 1810, he was elected Crown Prince and suceeded on 5 February 1818.