British Royalty Part I Trivia Quiz

Answer: William I

William I was born the illegitimate son of Robert Duke of Normandy, but was soon proclaimed his heir due to the fact that there was no legitimate son. Moreover, King Harold had allegedly promised the throne to him, though under duress. With Pope Alexander II's consecrated banner of support William prepared to invade England.

After some delay he landed at Hastings. 'The rest is history', as they say.

Answer: St. Stephen's Abbey, Caen

When it came to choosing his final resting place, he opted for his homeland.

Answer: Hunting accident

There is some debate as to whether William II's death was a genuine accident or whether it was planned by Henry I.

Answer: 25

His first wife gave him two legitimate children, leaving him twenty-five illegitimate children - the record among Kings of England. One of his legitimate children was Empress Matilda (as she became). Henry persuaded the barons to accept her as his heir, but things did not work as he planned. It was a veritable a hornets' nest!

Answer: Stephen

Henry had many illegitimate children, none whom were able to succeed him and his only surviving legitimate child was a girl, Matilda. Many lords had sworn an oath of loyalty to Matilda. However, on Henry I's death Stephen proclaimed himself king, saying that his uncle had changed his mind about the succession. Stephen crowned himself king, and the same barons who had sworn fealty to Matilda supported him. Matilda reigned briefly in 1141. Her cause was taken up by her only surviving child.

Answer: Henry II

Following the death of his son Eustace, Stephen was forced to accept a treaty allowing Empress Matilda's son to succeed him as Henry II.

Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine, the ex-wife of King Louis VII of France (divorced because she couldn't produce sons). They had five sons: William, Henry the Young King, Geoffrey, Richard and John; and three daughters Matilda, Leonora and Joan. Henry the Young died before he could become king alone and his remaining brothers fought constantly with their father.

Answer: Twice

Matilda, the daughter of Henry I, married Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor, and following his death she married Geoffrey Count of Anjou. Her second marriage resulted in Henry II and two other children.

Answer: Louis VII King of France

Eleanor was fifteen when she married Louis and had two daughters, Marie and Alix, which doomed the marriage due to lack of sons. Ironic that she married Henry II and had five sons. If only Louis had been patient!

Answer: Nobody

William never married and it is alleged that William II was homosexual, although that is not a proven fact.

Answer: By marriage

She married Holy Roman Emperor Henry V, the last of the Salian line, in 1114 in Mainz, in her first marriage. As she was never crowned Holy Roman Empress by the Pope, "Empress" may have been little more than a courtesy title. Emperor Henry V died in 1125, making Matilda a widow at the age of 23!