Mikhail Gorbachev succeeded Konstantin Chernenko as leader of Soviet Union in 1985 and introduced policies of glasnost and perestroika (openness and restructure) as well as removing the Communist Party's constitutional role in governing the state, which eventually led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
In 1991, with the Soviet Union crumbling and Boris Yeltisn being elected President of the Russian Republic, Gorbachev stepped down as leader.
2. Stjepan Mesić
Answer: Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia was formed after World War I, and due to the many races that made up this new country was always a hotbed of tension. This was eased somewhat when Josip Broz (Tito) came to power after World War II. He is sometimes seen as a relatively benevolent dictator who managed to keep the different ethnic groups from fighting each other and also improved the quality of life for most citizens.
When he died in 1980, ethnic tensions grew once again culminating in horrific wars of independence in 1991 between the countries of Kosovo, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mesić was President of Yugoslavia between June and December 1991.
3. Ian Smith
Answer: Rhodesia
Ian Smith was Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 1964 to 1979 and led the government that declared independence from UK in 1965 as well as leading government forces in the Bush War against Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union and Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union. Finally, in 1979 after 15 years of civil war, Smith reached a settlement with the militants and the country was renamed Zimbabwe Rhodesia and multiracial elections were permitted leading to Bishop Abel Muzorewa becoming Prime Minister of the new country.
However Mugabe and Nkomo refused to recognise the settlement and in early 1980 fresh elections were held leading to Robert Mugabe being elected Prime Minister and the country becoming Zimbabwe.
4. Egon Krenz
Answer: East Germany
In October 1989 Krenz succeeded Erich Honecker as the leader of East Germany, as the Cold War was thawing. The actions of GDR citizens in bringing down the Berlin Wall on November 9th 1989 signaled the death of communism in East Germany and Krenz remained in office for less than a month after the event.
In 1997, Krenz was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for war crimes but was released after serving four years.
5. Václav Havel
Answer: Czechoslovakia
In 1989, in response to the fall of communism around the globe, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia announced that it would relinquish power and dismantle the one-party state in what has now become known as "The Velvet Revolution".
Following this transition, Havel became President of Czechoslovakia and in summer 1990, the country held its first democratic elections in 44 years. Havel served as president until 1992, when Czechoslovakia was peacefully dissolved into Czech Republic and Slovakia and became first President of the Czech Republic, a post he held until 2003.
6. Anson Jones
Answer: Republic Of Texas
The Republic of Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836 and existed as an independent country until annexation to the United States in 1845. During that time, the country had four presidents of which Jones, serving from 1844-46, was the last. He became known as the "Architect of Annexation", and hoped to be called to the United States Senate, but was not chosen.
This played on his mind so much that in 1858, he committed suicide by gunshot after receiving no votes for a vacant senate seat.
7. Wilhelm II
Answer: Kingdom Of Prussia
Wilhelm II, grand child of Queen Victoria, succeeded Frederick III in 1888 as King of Prussia, a German state which also included parts of present day Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic. The state of Prussia was finally dissolved after World War II.
8. Abeid Karume
Answer: Zanzibar
Jamshid bin Abdullah became Sultan of Zanzibar in 1963, the same year that Zanzibar was granted its independence from the United Kingdom. He was overthrown in the Zanzibar Revolution of 1964 and Karume was appointed president. Just three months later Zanzibar merged with neighboring Tanganyika to form the new nation of Tanzania and Karume became vice president to the new country's president Julius Nyerere, former President of Tanganyika.
9. Mehmed VI
Answer: Ottoman Empire
Mehmed VI was the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and reigned from 1918 to 1922. The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest historical empires and at its height included what is now Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Macedonia, Romania, Syria, parts of Arabia and the north coast of Africa.
At the end of World War I, the empire was dismantled by the Allied forces and Mehmed VI went into exile on Malta and later the Italian Riviera. Probably the most famous Ottoman ruler was Suleiman the Magnificent who ruled 1520-66.
10. Palden Thondup Namgyal
Answer: Kingdom Of Sikkim
Sikkim was was an independent monarchy from the 17th century until 1975, when it became a state in the north of India, bordered by Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal. As part of the Himalayas, the state of Sikkim is home to Kangchenjunga, India's highest mountain. Palden Thondup Namgyal was crowned in 1965 and his American born wife, Hope Cooke, whom he had married in 1963 became the Gyalmo (Queen Consort) of Sikkim.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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