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Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2 Trivia Quiz

Continuing a series on the British monarchy, here are questions on most of the monarchs of the late Cerdic dynasty.

A multiple-choice quiz by Chiara_Langley. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Chiara_Langley

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
223,950

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
8 / 15

Plays
286

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Cenfus and Aescwine were the Kings of West Saxons who followed Cenwalh and Seaxburgh. How were they related to one another? Hint

They were not related

Aescwine was the father of Cenfus

Cenfus was the father of Aescwine

They were brothers

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Question 2 of 15

2. Who was the father of Centwine, King of the West Saxons? Hint

Seaxburh

Cenfus

Cenwalh

Cynegils

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Question 3 of 15

3. Caedwalla, King of the West Saxons from 685-688, conquered most of the South of England, including Wessex, Sussex and Kent. Where did he die? Hint

Winchester

Canterbury

Rome

Rochester

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Question 4 of 15

4. Ine was King of the West Saxons from 688, and was on the throne of Wessex for no less than thirty-eight years. Which of these did he NOT achieve during his lengthy reign? Hint

Establishing a Parliament

Building a Minster at Glastonbury

Establishing a code of laws

Founding a hospice for poor English pilgrims

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Question 5 of 15

5. While he had a productive reign in many ways, Ine the West Saxon king did not leave an heir. This led to a dispute for the throne. Who succeeded in becoming the next King of Wessex? Hint

Geraint

Oswald

Aethelheard

Ethelbald

6. When the next king of the West Saxons, Cuthred, came to the throne, the King of Mercia was overlord of Wessex. Cuthred was able to defeat this King and return Wessex to independence. Who was the Mercian king in question? Hint

Aethelred

Aethelbald

Cynric

Aethelhun

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Question 7 of 15

7. Sigeberht, Monarch of Wessex from 756, was accused of which crime? Hint

Murder

Fratricide

Incest

Regicide

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Question 8 of 15

8. Cynewulf came to the throne of the West Saxons from which Sigeberht had been forcibly ejected. His luck did not last for long, however - he was publicly murdered. Who was the killer? Hint

Aelthelfleda, Cynewulf's wife

Cyneheard, brother of the deposed Sigeberht

Offa, King of Mercia

Beorhtric, Cynewulf's successor

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Question 9 of 15

9. Beorhtric, king of the West Saxons, married a daughter of which other king? Hint

Offa of Mercia

Cynebert of Cornwall

Uhtred of Northumberland

Cynegud of Sussex

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Question 10 of 15

10. King Egbert is known for conquering almost all of England and Wales major territories - in fact some view him as the first King of England. Which was the first territory he conquered? Hint

Sussex

Kent

Cornwall

Surrey

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Question 11 of 15

11. King Ethelbald of the West Saxons married Judith Martel, after deposing his father Ethelwulf. Why was this marriage later annulled? Hint

He wanted to marry his mistress

He discovered 'she' was male

Consanguinity

She was unable to bear children

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Question 12 of 15

12. After the West Saxons were uneventfully reigned by Ethelred, Ethelbald's brother, Alfred came to the throne. Alfred is popularly known as the first King of England, and achieved a great deal during his reign. For what military advancement is he known? Hint

Invention of the longbow

First use of ships in fleet

Development of the trebuchet

Division of the Fyrd

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Question 13 of 15

13. Edward became the King of the West Saxons on the death of his father, Alfred. Whom did he succeed to the throne of Mercia in 918? Hint

Aethelwald, his cousin

Ethelfleda, his sister

Ethelred, his uncle

Alfred, his father

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Question 14 of 15

14. Athelstan came next to the throne of Wessex (and England). What was Athelstan's relation to his predecessor? Hint

Athelstan was Edward's son

Athelstan was Edward's nephew

Athelstan was Edward's brother

Athelstan was Edward's stepson

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Question 15 of 15

15. A number of the Kings of the West Saxons also held the title Bretwalda, which roughly translated means 'Lord of Britain'. From which language does this term originate? Hint

Latin

Welsh

Old Norse

Anglo-Saxon

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Cenfus and Aescwine were the Kings of West Saxons who followed Cenwalh and Seaxburgh. How were they related to one another?

Answer: Cenfus was the father of Aescwine

Both of these Kings had very brief reigns, and the information we possess about them is sketchy, to say the least. It's thought that Aescwine made his mark by successfully repelling the forces of Wulfhere of Mercia, at the Battle of Bedwin.

2. Who was the father of Centwine, King of the West Saxons?

Answer: Cynegils

It is likely that Centwine ended his reign by abdicating and entering the priesthood.

3. Caedwalla, King of the West Saxons from 685-688, conquered most of the South of England, including Wessex, Sussex and Kent. Where did he die?

Answer: Rome

After a successful career as a conqueror, Caedwalla suddenly abdicated in 686 to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. This was most probably as he feared for his life after being wounded. He managed to fulfil his aim of being baptized in Rome, then died a short while later.

4. Ine was King of the West Saxons from 688, and was on the throne of Wessex for no less than thirty-eight years. Which of these did he NOT achieve during his lengthy reign?

Answer: Establishing a Parliament

The hospice was in Rome, where Ine ended his days.

5. While he had a productive reign in many ways, Ine the West Saxon king did not leave an heir. This led to a dispute for the throne. Who succeeded in becoming the next King of Wessex?

Answer: Aethelheard

Aethelheard may have been the brother-in-law of Ine, but we can not be sure of this.

Answer: Aethelbald

Cuthred had an unhappy reign. His son, Cynric, was murdered and Cuthred was subject to a number of rebellions, notably one led by Aethelhun, an ealdorman.

7. Sigeberht, Monarch of Wessex from 756, was accused of which crime?

Answer: Murder

Sigeberht was unpopular with the Kingdom's more powerful nobles, who accused him of murder, drove him out of Wessex and had him killed.

8. Cynewulf came to the throne of the West Saxons from which Sigeberht had been forcibly ejected. His luck did not last for long, however - he was publicly murdered. Who was the killer?

Answer: Cyneheard, brother of the deposed Sigeberht

The fact that Cyneheard chose to take his revenge in this way suggests that Cynewulf may well have been partly responsible for the murder of Sigeberht.

9. Beorhtric, king of the West Saxons, married a daughter of which other king?

Answer: Offa of Mercia

Beorhtric married Offa's daughter, Eadburh. His reign is also memorable as it featured the first known Viking raids in England.

10. King Egbert is known for conquering almost all of England and Wales major territories - in fact some view him as the first King of England. Which was the first territory he conquered?

Answer: Cornwall

The West Welsh, who at this point mainly resided in Cornwall, submitted to Egbert in 815. The other territories mentioned here came under his rule in around 825.

11. King Ethelbald of the West Saxons married Judith Martel, after deposing his father Ethelwulf. Why was this marriage later annulled?

Answer: Consanguinity

Judith was born in 840 AD. She married Ethelwulf, Ethelbald's father, in 856 AD. She married Ethelbald in 858 AD following his father's death. The marriage was annulled in 860 on the grounds of consanguinity (as he was her stepson).

Answer: Division of the Fyrd

The Fyrd was Alfred's force of fighting men. He arranged for one half to be fighting while the other 'rested' and prepared to take over - this ensuring that he had ready, active men to hand at all times. Longbows have been used by various tribes around the world for thousands of years.

The trebuchet was invented in China around the 3rd century BC. Alfred did a great deal to develop the usage of ships in battle, but he was by no means the first to do so.

13. Edward became the King of the West Saxons on the death of his father, Alfred. Whom did he succeed to the throne of Mercia in 918?

Answer: Ethelfleda, his sister

Ethelfleda ruled Mercia for five years, after the death of her husband, Aethelred.

14. Athelstan came next to the throne of Wessex (and England). What was Athelstan's relation to his predecessor?

Answer: Athelstan was Edward's son

Athelstan was raised in Mercia. It's likely that this was an attempt to give the Mercians a reason to be loyal to the Kings of the Wessex line.

15. A number of the Kings of the West Saxons also held the title Bretwalda, which roughly translated means 'Lord of Britain'. From which language does this term originate?

Answer: Anglo-Saxon

The first Bretwalda from the line of Essex was Ceawlin.

Source: Author Chiara_Langley

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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