1. Which monarch of Britain had an active dislike for their children (especially the Prince of Wales), and after the death of their spouse, suffered from severe or even clinical depression? George II Edward III George III Queen Victoria

2. Which King of France had to cope with a mother who was insane, a wife who was a nyphomaniac, children that were probably not his, a major war, and the thought that he was made of glass? Charles VI Louis VII Charles VII Francis I

3. Was Queen Mary I of England fond of exposing herself? Yes No

4. Why did Princess Alexandra of Bavaria insist on going through doors sideways? She believed she was extremely fat (she wasn't) and could not go straight through a door because she would get stuck She was afraid of the ghost of her abusive father, so she always sidled into rooms sideways to check if he was there before entering She thought that the Devil would get her if she went into rooms face-first She believed that she had swallowed a piano, and there was no other way to get through doors

5. Many Kings have been famous for their quick tempers. Which Czar of Russia flew into a rage and conked his son and heir on the head, killing him instantly? Ivan IV Peter III Peter the Great Alexander II

6. Which King of Scotland asked to be buried in a dunghill, and suggested for his epitaph, "Here lies the worst of Kings and the most miserable of men"? Robert II Robert III James II James IV

7. Which pharaoh of Egypt was a religious fanatic who is thought to have instituted the world's first monotheistic religion based on his own beliefs and moved the capital city deep into the desert, away from the rich and powerful priests of Thebes? Amenhotep III Rhames II Tutmosis I Akhenaten I

8. Which English King came to the crown at the age of ten, is now thought to have had paranoid schizophrenia and was eventually deposed and probably murdered by his cousin? Edward II Henry VI Richard II Henry III

9. Which King of Sweden persistently wooed Elizabeth I of England for years without success, was prone to sudden violent rages, was eventually deposed by his half-brothers and finally died as the result of eating poisoned pea soup? Gustav I Karl II John III Eric XIV

10. Which King of Prussia was an alcoholic who enjoyed beating up his hapless subjects and children and collected 2,000 tall grenadiers for the Potsdam Guards? Frederick II Frederick William I Frederick William III William I

11. Most history buffs know that Henry VI is thought to have suffered from porphyria, which in his case took the form of a catatonic state. At the time it was said (by her enemies) that a sudden shock involving his Queen, Margaret of Anjou, had brought on his illness. What did the most popular rumour say this shock was supposed to have been? He discovered that Margaret had poisoned his Uncle, Humphrey of Gloucester Her father had invaded English holdings in France Henry realized that Margaret had been unfaithful to him Margaret had agreed to give the town of Berwick back to Scotland in exchange for miltary support

12. Which King of Bavaria was obsessed with the composer Wagner, built beautiful fairy-tale castles and once tried to sell his kingdom? Otto III Ludwig II Wilhelm IV Frederick II

13. Which Empress of Russia was a dypsomaniac cross-dresser? Catherine II Anna Catherine I Elizabeth

14. Which extremely fertile King of England was plagued with seven dissolute sons, six frustrated spinster daughters, rebellious subjects and intermittent madness? Answer: (First name and a roman numeral)

15. Queen Isabella of Castile had a daughter who went insane. What was her name? Maria Isabella Katherine Juana

16. Which Queen of Portugal suffered from extreme grief, took to dressing in children's clothes, and believed that she was in Hell? Isabella II Catarina I Elanora I Maria I

17. Henry II (r. 1154-1189) of England was in many ways an ideal King - energetic, strong, judicious, fair, and an excellent general. However, he was also possessed of a blinding temper that could and did get him into serious trouble at times. Which churchman did Henry accidentally order to be killed while in one of his rages? William Chantry, Abbot of Westminster Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury Abbe Sugar, Bishop of Rouen Henry Fitzwilliam, Archbishop of York

18. Which Spanish King had the disadvantage of an enormous libido compounded by religious fanaticism, leading to extreme guilt every time he exercised his "marital rights"? Phillip II Carlos II Phillip V Juan I

19. Which Czar of Russia pickled the head of his wife's suspected lover and placed it in a glass jar on her bedside table, then later had his own son tortured to death? Nicholas I Ivan the Terrible Peter the Great Alexander II

20. In 1867 Walter Bagehot noted that "in 1802 every hereditary monarch [in Europe] was insane." Was this a true statement? No. None of the European monarchs were insane at that time It was not entirely true. In 1802 some actually were insane, some later developed mental illnesses, and others were just mentally deficient Yes, every one of them was barking mad. It was a true statement for 1801, but not 1802