Scotland: Edinburgh Castle Trivia Quiz

Answer: True

True. The castle was built on an extinct volcano. The site provided the perfect vantage point to look for an oncoming attack an the natural rockface provided an excellent form of defence.

Answer: 9th Century BC

An archeological dig in the 1980's suggested the site had been settled during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age though the information found is not significant enough to come to an conclusion on the scale or nature of the settlement at this time.

Answer: David I

David was St Margaret and Malcom III's youngest son and became King in 1124. The Chapel is said to be dated to around that time, although it was previously believed that Margaret herself had worshipped in the Chapel.

Answer: 4

Edward I gained control of the castle in 1296 after a three day seige.

On 14 March 1314, a surprise night attack led by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray, recaptured the castle for the Scots.

Edward III supported the claim of Edward Baliol, son of the deposed John Baliol, and the English forces helped him take the castle in 1334

William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, reclaimed the castle for the Scots in 1341 by disguising himself and his men as merchants in order to enter the castle. They stopped the doors from shutting by placing a cart in the middle allowing a larger force nearby to enter. The garrison of 100 Englishmen were all killed

Answer: David II

David II was the only surviving son of Robert the Bruce. He died suddenly on 22nd February 1371 aged 47. He left no male heirs and the crown passed to his nephew, Robert II, grandson of the Bruce by his eldest daughter, Marjory.

Answer: Mons Meg

The large cannon was constructed at Mons (now in present day Belgium) by Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgandy. Contemporary records cite the cannon simply as "Monss". Meg does not appear to have been added to the name until the 17th Century.

It was removed from active service in the 1540's and was installed in Edinburgh Castle to act as a saluting gun. She was fired in 1558 to celebrate the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to the French Dauphin; and again in 1681, as a birthday salute for the future King James VII.

She was taken to the Tower of London in 1754 but at the persuasion of Sir Walter Scott, George IV allowed her to return to Scotland in 1829.

Answer: True

James was the only child born to Mary, Queen of Scots. He was crowned King aged just one, at the Church of Holy Rood in Stirling, in 1567 after his mother was forced to abdicate.

He later went on to become James I of England after the death of Elizabeth I.

Answer: Charles I

Charles stayed at the castle prior to his coronation as King of Scots.

Answer: 1745

Bonnie Prince Charlie failed to capture the castle despite defeating General Cope's army at Prestonpans in September of 1745.

Answer: 1861

The gun was established in 1861 as a time signal for ships in the Firth of Forth, and complemented the time ball, which was installed on the Nelson Monument in 1852, but which was useless during foggy weather.

It has become one of Edinburgh's popular tourist attractions.