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British Battles Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
British Battles Quizzes, Trivia

British Battles Trivia

British Battles Trivia Quizzes

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13 British Battles quizzes and 156 British Battles trivia questions.
1.
  Battles in the British Isles - A Mystery Sort    
Mystery Sort
 16 Qns
I've listed 16 battles that all took place somewhere in the British Isles . These 16 fit naturally into four categories - can you work out what the categories are and allocate the battles to their correct categories?
Average, 16 Qns, Southendboy, Nov 29 24
Average
Southendboy gold member
Nov 29 24
47 plays
2.
  More than Just Hastings   top quiz  
Collection Quiz
 10 Qns
Battles on (or adjacent to) British Soil
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 is well known for the victory of William the Conqueror, whose invasion from France was the last successful invasion of Britain in the millennium.
Easier, 10 Qns, spanishliz, Jul 17 24
Easier
spanishliz editor
Jul 17 24
312 plays
3.
  The Battles on British Soil   great trivia quiz  
Classification Quiz
 15 Qns
All these battles took place on British/English soil at different times. They need to be sorted into those that were part of the Wars of the Roses, the Civil War or other - those that weren't part of those other two major conflicts.
Average, 15 Qns, rossian, Jul 05 24
Average
rossian editor
Jul 05 24
217 plays
4.
  The Auld Enemies   great trivia quiz  
Fun Fill-It
 10 Qns
Scotland v England/Britain
England and Scotland have not always got along well. Even now, relations aren't always friendly although most conflicts are on the sporting field. The battles in this quiz were rather more serious, though. Identify each battle in this narrative quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Jun 17 24
Average
rossian editor
Jun 17 24
83 plays
5.
  Anglo-Saxon History for Dummies   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
So you think Anglo-Saxon history is little more than battles, bloodshed, and bullies? Well, so what?
Average, 10 Qns, Pagiedamon, Nov 30 10
Average
Pagiedamon gold member
5559 plays
6.
  Great Battles in English History   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
This match quiz explores English battles from 878 AD down to 1916 AD. I hope you enjoy it.
Easier, 10 Qns, chessart, Jul 14 17
Easier
chessart gold member
1337 plays
7.
  The Battle of Bosworth Field   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Bosworth Field was one of the most important and decisive battles in English history. This quiz will test your knowledge of the event and the people concerned.
Average, 10 Qns, romeomikegolf, Oct 05 13
Average
romeomikegolf gold member
1835 plays
8.
  Battles on British Soil   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
There have been quite a few battles on British soil, some well known, others not. This quiz will explore ten of them.
Tough, 10 Qns, romeomikegolf, Jan 17 10
Tough
romeomikegolf gold member
1281 plays
9.
  British Battles   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 25 Qns
Identify the battle from the information given
Average, 25 Qns, se01dct, Apr 03 19
Average
se01dct
Apr 03 19
1300 plays
10.
  Why just TEN sixty-six?    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about important events in UK history happening in and around the years ending in 66. There's more to it than just the Battle of Hastings.
Easier, 10 Qns, KentQuizzer, Nov 28 15
Easier
KentQuizzer gold member
600 plays
11.
  Battles of Britain    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I have been to a few battlefields and seen some re-enactments and never fail to be interested so I thought I'd try making a quiz on them.
Average, 10 Qns, Buffy1, Jan 29 13
Average
Buffy1
3013 plays
12.
  Kings and Battles    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
History is my specialty so I thought I would write a quiz about it.
Average, 10 Qns, Cal79, Apr 13 22
Average
Cal79
Apr 13 22
2626 plays
13.
  Anglo-Scottish battles    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is on battles where a significant number of English (or Anglo-Saxons) fought a significant number of Scots - not necessarily battles between England and Scotland.
Difficult, 10 Qns, tnrees, Mar 13 09
Difficult
tnrees
406 plays

British Battles Trivia Questions

1. Which was the last battle where a British monarch led his/her troops into battle?

From Quiz
British Battles

Answer: Dettingen

Part of the War of the Austrian Succession, the Battle of Dettingen (1743) saw King George II lead the British forces (in alliance with Hanover and Austria) to victory against the French.

2. There were three major battles on British soil in 1066. Hastings was the final one, Stamford Bridge was the second. Where was the first?

From Quiz Battles on British Soil

Answer: Fulford

The Battle of Fulford took place on September 20th, 1066. It was this battle, between invading Norse and forces loyal to King Harold, which forced Harold to march north to Yorkshire. The invaders, under Harald Hardrada, set up camp at Riccall and marched towards York. The opposing armies met at Fulford and the Norsemen, aided by Tostig, the exiled brother of King Harold, were victorious. Five days later Harold and his army arrived and defeated the invaders at Stamford Bridge.

3. Who was the most prominent person to die at the Battle of Alnwick (13th November 1093)?

From Quiz Anglo-Scottish battles

Answer: Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland.

In November 1093, Malcolm Canmore led an army into Northumbria and began to besiege Alnwick. Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria did not have a sufficient force at his command to oppose the Scottish army in open battle but did set out to try and relieve Alnwick. Mowbray arrived there with his forces and caught the Scottish army by surprise. The English knights attacked and both Malcolm and his son Edward were killed. Alnwick was unlucky for Scottish monarchs. On 12 July 1174, William I of Scotland, known as William the Lion, was captured by a small English force led by Ranulf de Glanvill. Henry II was occupied in fighting against his sons, so William saw his opportunity and invaded Northumbria in 1173 and again in 1174. In the second invasion William had an army that included a contingent of Flemish mercenaries and was said to have numbered eighty thousand men, but this is almost certainly an exaggeration. He attacked Prudhoe Castle but after a siege of three days William moved north to besiege Alnwick. William divided his army into three columns and one of these, under the command of Duncan, Earl of Fife, attacked Warkworth and set fire to the church with a large number of refugees inside. William blundered and allowed his army to spread out. On the night of 11th July, a party of about four hundred mounted knights, led by Ranulf de Glanvill, set out from Newcastle. They reached Alnwick shortly after dawn after becoming lost in heavy fog. There they found William's encampment with the Scottish king only protected by a bodyguard of perhaps sixty fighting men. The English force charged; the fighting did not last long. William's horse was killed beneath him and he was captured. Those of his followers who had not been killed surrendered. The Scots were leaderless and wandered back to Scotland.

4. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes swaggered over to Britain soon after the Romans left in the 5th century. These groups had a similar language and loved a good fight. Why did they most likely come?

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon History for Dummies

Answer: The rich land

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes the uncertain years after the Roman withdrawal, when the Britons searched in vain for help against their enemies. In 449 A.D., the chronicle states: "Then came the men from three powers of Germany; the Old Saxons, the Angles, and the Jutes". These men apparently migrated to Britain because they had heard of the "worthlessness of the Britons, and the richness of the land".

5. Apart from a few minor skirmishes, Bosworth Field was the final battle of which war?

From Quiz The Battle of Bosworth Field

Answer: The Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses was a dynastic struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster. Each family had a rose as part of their crest. The white rose was for York, and the red rose was Lancaster.

6. Who was the first Angevin king of England?

From Quiz Kings and Battles

Answer: Henry II

Henry II brought the three lions symbol to England. His mother Matilda used her power and influence to help him become king. She had previously disputed her brother Stephen's claim to the throne, causing civil war. Stephen and Matilda were cousins.

7. Which English King lost his crown and his life at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485?

From Quiz Battles of Britain

Answer: Richard III

It was said that Richard's crown was found hanging from the branches of a hawthorn bush and presented to the victor, Henry Tudor.

8. Which Archbishop of Canterbury was halfway through his eight-year term of office in 1166?

From Quiz Why just TEN sixty-six?

Answer: Thomas Becket

Thomas Becket had been Lord Chancellor before becoming Archbishop of Canterbury. After disagreements with Henry II and a period of exile in France, he returned in 1170 but was then murdered in Canterbury Cathedral by the king's supporters.

9. This little-known battle during the Korean War prevented the Chinese breaking through to Seoul, but meant the loss of almost an entire regiment - the Glosters.

From Quiz British Battles

Answer: Imjin River

The Glosters lost approximately 600 men (of a strength of about 750) and succeeded in slowing down the Chinese advance for three days; long enough for the UN forces to realign and prevent the capture of Seoul. During the battle Drum Major Buss was ordered to play "any call except retreat" to confuse the Chinese, who were using trumpets to co-ordinate their attacks.

10. In the year 1405 there was, reputedly, a battle on British soil which is now called the Battle of Stalling Down. In which modern county is Stalling Down?

From Quiz Battles on British Soil

Answer: South Glamorgan

Stalling Down is a few miles to the east of the market town of Cowbridge. There is some dispute as to the details of the battle. Some historians say it took place in 1403. There are also questions as to whether a certain Owain Glyndwr (Glendower) was present. Whenever the battle took place it was a massive defeat for the English forces led by King Henry IV.

11. There were three battles of Dunbar. What were the results?

From Quiz Anglo-Scottish battles

Answer: First and third English victories, second successful Scottish Defence.

The first battle on April 27 1296 (also known as Spottsmuir) was the only one in the campaign by King Edward I of England to punish John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France. Edward sent one of his chief lieutenants, John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey (Balliol's father-in-law) with a strong force of knights to besiege the Earl of March's castle at Dunbar. March was with the English, but his wife, Marjory Comyn, sister of the Earl of Buchan, did not agree with her husband and allowed the Scots to occupy the castle. All the combatants seem to have been mounted. The Scots occupied a strong position; the English advanced and were disordered by crossing a gully. This provoked the Scots to charge but the English reformed and routed them. According to once source the forces were probably in the 100s and casualties were not heavy but another source says the Scots lost 10000. During this campaign Robert the Bruce was fighting for the English. The second action was from 13 January 1338 to 10 June 1338. Dunbar was successfully defended by Agnes Randolph, 4th Countess of Moray (c.1312-1369) known as Black Agnes because of her olive skin complexion. She was the spouse of Patrick, 9th Earl of Dunbar and March and daughter of Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray. The English commander was William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury, one of the best generals of the time. Salisbury began with a bombardment by catapults, which sent huge rocks against the castle ramparts. Lady Agnes responded by having her maids dress in their Sunday best and dust the battle damage away with their handkerchiefs. Upon the next assault with a battering ram, she dropped a huge boulder captured from an earlier English attack which smashed the ram. At one point the English captured her brother John Randolph, 3rd Earl of Moray and paraded him in front of the castle with a rope round his neck, and threatened to hang him if she did not surrender. She told them to go ahead, since this would make her the proprietor of the Earldom of Moray. John survived this piece of brinkmanship. The third battle (on 3rd September 1650) was described as Cromwell's greatest victory. He had defeated a Scottish invasion of England in 1648. The Scots had played a significant part in battles in England such as Marston Moor (although at that time they were on the same side as Cromwell). His 12,000 men defeated David Leslies 22,000 (or 14,000 English and 27,000 Scots according to another source) but Cromwell had the advantage that the Kirk controlled the army and promotion was based on religion rather than military merit. The Scots lost 3,000 casualties and 1,0000 prisoners.

12. On which day was the Battle fought?

From Quiz The Battle of Bosworth Field

Answer: August 22, 1485

1455 was the year of the first battle of the war. This took place at St Albans. There was a second Battle of St Albans six years later. March 1461 saw the Battle of Towton, just a month after St Albans. April 14th 1471 was the Battle of Barnet and saw the death of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick aka 'The Kingmaker'.

13. Which two battles took place in 1066?

From Quiz Kings and Battles

Answer: Hastings and Stamford Bridge

Stamford Bridge was a matter of days before Hastings. Harold Godwinson had beaten the Viking king Harald Hardrada. This situation where there were three potential successors arose because the previous king, Edward the Confessor left no heir. In those times there were no rules of succession to cover such an occurrence.

14. One of the best known battles took place in 1066. Which one was it?

From Quiz Battles of Britain

Answer: Hastings

The English lost but had just come from beating the Vikings at Stamford Bridge ten days before.

15. Which philosopher and theologian is thought to have been born in the Scottish borders in 1266?

From Quiz Why just TEN sixty-six?

Answer: Duns Scotus

John Duns, known as "Duns Scotus", was a major philosopher and theologian in the Middle Ages. He spent time in Oxford and Paris, and died in Cologne in 1308.

16. This war saw the only ship (formerly the USS Phoenix) sunk by a nuclear submarine.

From Quiz British Battles

Answer: The Falklands War

The ARA General Belgrano was sunk by HMS Conqueror in 1982. Previously the ship had served in the US Navy during World War II.

17. In the year 1513 the largest battle, in terms of men deployed, between England and Scotland took place. By what name is this battle known?

From Quiz Battles on British Soil

Answer: Flodden

Flodden, or Flodden Field, was the last great battle between England and Scotland with over 60,000 men taking the field. Henry VIII had taken an army to France and James IV of Scotland, as an ally of the French, decided to march into England in a bid to force Henry to come back. The English forces, under the Earl of Surrey, were armed with longbows and the Scots with long pikes, a recent acquisition from the French. The pike is not a good weapon against infantry and the Scots were cut to ribbons. King James and many of his nobles lost their lives at Flodden, and this ended the last serious Scottish threat to England for several decades.

18. The Anglo-Saxons are (sometimes unjustly) thought of as a bunch of illiterate brutes. They did, however, leave behind a rich literary tradition. What type of literature did they NOT create?

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon History for Dummies

Answer: Treatises on gender equality

The Anglo-Saxon canon of literature combines an intriguing mixture of paganism and Christianity, often seamlessly intertwined. The Anglo-Saxons brought with them an ancient oral tradition, a few examples of which were recorded for posterity by monks and other literate men. The great epic poems include "Beowulf" and "Widsith". They also left behind manuscripts, ecclesiastical works, sermons, prose, riddles, and biographies. Alas, they were not much concerned with gender equality, as they held the belief that men and women were born with distinct and different roles.

19. The victor at Bosworth was a man born in Wales who was proclaimed King shortly after the battle. Who was he?

From Quiz The Battle of Bosworth Field

Answer: Henry VII

Henry VII was born Henry Tudor in 1457 at Pembroke Castle. Henry VI was on the throne at the beginning of the Wars of the Roses. Richard III was, of course, the vanquished King at Bosworth Field. Edward was his brother, and father of the Princes in the Tower.

20. When was the Battle of Bannockburn?

From Quiz Kings and Battles

Answer: 1314

The English were defeated by the Scots. This is usually attributed, in part, to the incompetence of Edward II. It is also attributable to the comparatively strong leadership of Robert the Bruce. The Scots were ultimately on to a loser, as Edward's successor Edward III proved to be a much better leader.

21. In 1314 the Scots defeated Edward II's English army at the Battle of Bannockburn. Who led the Scottish army?

From Quiz Battles of Britain

Answer: Robert Bruce

Legend tells us that Robert gained inspiration to persevere with his fight against the English from watching a spider try over and over again to build a web.

22. The year 1366 was part-way through which very long-running conflict?

From Quiz Why just TEN sixty-six?

Answer: Hundred Years' War

The "Hundred Years' War" was a series of wars between England and France. It actually lasted 116 years from 1337 to 1453. There was a period of relative peace around 1366.

23. Winston Churchill once said of this battle, "Before XXX we never had a victory. After XXX we never had a defeat."

From Quiz British Battles

Answer: El Alamein

The First Battle of El Alamein saw the Allies stall the Axis advance before the decisive Allied victory of the second battle in 1942.

24. For thirty years in the 15th century the Wars of the Roses raged on British soil. Bosworth Field was the site of the last real battle, but where was the first?

From Quiz Battles on British Soil

Answer: St Albans

St Albans saw two battles during the conflict between the Houses of York and Lancaster, the second battle taking place in 1461. In 1455 Richard of York led an army of around 3,000 men towards London. The Lancastrian King Henry VI mustered his army and started to move north. The opposing forces met at St Albans. The battle was a relatively minor affair with only a small number of casualties. The result was a victory for the Yorkists.

25. Flodden is one of the two battles most people have heard of (along with Bannockburn). Where was it fought?

From Quiz Anglo-Scottish battles

Answer: Northumberland (England).

It was fought on 9 September 1513 and was a crushing English victory over the Scots. To honour his alliance with France and divert troops James IV of Scotland crossed the border (22 August 1513) with an army of about 30,000. Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey gathered an army of about 20,000 to oppose him. Surrey issued a challenge to James, who agreed to wait until September 9 to fight. The battle began in the late afternoon. English longbows and 2.5-metre bills (a combination of spear, a hook and a blade developed from a farm tool) proved superior to the Scottish 4.5-metre pike. By nightfall James was dead, together with at least 10,000 of his subjects, including many VIPs.

26. Amidst the strangely-named rulers of Anglo-Saxon England, like Offa and Ethelberht, arose a sensibly-named king called Alfred. He defended England from invaders and issued helpful laws. What other triumph is laid at his feet?

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon History for Dummies

Answer: The revival of culture and learning

Alfred the Great was very interested in education, culture, and the fine arts. He translated many texts into the vernacular. A major example of this was his rendering of "The Consolation of Philosophy of Boethius". Additionally, he invited scholars to his court, promoting a love for learning and wisdom.

27. When was Charles I executed?

From Quiz Kings and Battles

Answer: January 30th 1649

It was a cold day. Charles wore two shirts because if he shivered it might look as though he were afraid. Oliver Cromwell became Britain's leader following the death of Charles.

28. The Jacobite army was heavily defeated at Culloden in 1746 by King George II's army. Who led the Jacobite forces?

From Quiz Battles of Britain

Answer: Charles Edward Stuart

Culloden was one of the last battles fought on British soil. Whitehaven 1778 and Fishguard 1797 both came after Culloden.

29. Which English conflict, underway in 1466, involved opponents known for their red and white symbols?

From Quiz Why just TEN sixty-six?

Answer: Wars of the Roses

The "Wars of the Roses" was a series of wars for the English throne between the Houses of Lancaster and York running from 1455 to 1485. The name was based on the heraldic white rose of Lancaster and red rose of York.

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