The Norman Dynasty Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rollo

Rollo was a Viking. In the 9th century he invaded the north of France with a small band of men. The king of France at the time, Charles the Simple, offered Rollo the Duchy and he accepted. All the subsequent Dukes of Normandy are descended from him.

Answer: 1027

The first was Richard II the Fearless, who died early in the year. Next was his eldest son Richard III who died a few months after inheriting. After Richard III came his younger brother Robert I the Magnificent, who was the father of William the Conqueror.

Answer: Herleva

She and William's father were not married and she was the daughter of a local tanner called Fulbert. William was tormented for illegitimacy for the rest of his life.

Answer: Christmas Day

William was crowned William I King of England in Westminster Abbey on 25th of December while there was a riot happening outside the Abbey.

Answer: Richard

Richard was the Duke of Bernay. He was killed by a stag in the New Forest in 1083, which is where his nephew in 1099 and his brother in 1100 were also killed. If he had lived he would have become the king of England and not his younger brother, William Rufus.

Answer: Rufus

William was the third but favourite son of his father, William the Conqueror. William's oldest brother Robert rebelled against his father and so he was only given Normandy when his father died. William on the other hand succeeded in England. William had a red complexion and red hair - hence the nickname.

Answer: Henry

Henry succeeded his older brother William Rufus in 1100 on the death of the latter while hunting in the New Forest. The death was described as an accident but there have been persistent rumours that Henry arranged the death: he was hunting at the same time and upon hearing the news he immediately secured the treasury and had himself crowned a few days later.

Moreover, the death could not have happened at a more opportune moment for Henry as his eldest brother, the heir, was away on crusade and was not there to contest the succession.

Henry died thirty-five years later. He left only one legitimate heir, Matilda. (In addition, he fathered an estimated twenty illegitmate children - the record for any king of England).

Answer: Adela

Adela was the youngest daughter of William the Conqueror and one year older than Henry I. She was married to Stephen, Count of Blois and they had many children, king Stephen being one of them. As her older sisters did not have any children and her oldest brother Robert's son was dead, Stephen was the rightful king apart from his cousin Matilda, the daughter of Henry I.

Answer: The Anarchy

The Anarchy is the name given to the twenty year war between Stephen and his cousin Matilda. Matilda was the only surviving legitimate child of Henry I. All the barons had sworn she was the heir to the throne three times during king Henry's reign, but when he died Stephen usurped the throne and the Anarchy followed. Eventually it led to Stephen recognising Matilda's son Henry as the heir, who later became Henry II the first Plantagenet king. Stephen died in 1154 and was succeeded by Henry.

Answer: Gilbert de Clare

Gilbert was the 8th Earl of Gloucester and the 7th Earl of Hertford. He was descended through an illegitimate son of Duke Richard the Fearless of Normandy. On his death in 1314 the male line of the Norman Dynasty became extinct.