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Anglo Saxon Kings Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Anglo Saxon Kings Quizzes, Trivia

Anglo Saxon Kings Trivia

Anglo Saxon Kings Trivia Quizzes

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10 quizzes and 110 trivia questions.
1.
  Order of Anglo-Saxon Kings of England    
Ordering Quiz
 15 Qns
Although there were 20 Anglo-Saxon Kings of England before William the Conqueror happened along, this template only allows for 15. Can you put them in their correct order? You may proceed, my goodly people.
Average, 15 Qns, Creedy, Dec 05 23
Average
Creedy gold member
Dec 05 23
123 plays
2.
AngloSaxon Kings  History Channel Vikings
  Anglo-Saxon Kings & History Channel "Vikings"   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
The cast of "Vikings", that has aired on the History Channel, has included the roles of two Anglo-Saxon kings as part of the story line. Let's assess the historicity of these individuals as presented on the show.
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Feb 23 17
Average
ponycargirl editor
316 plays
3.
  Harold, the Last Saxon King   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Harold II was England's defender and slain hero during the Norman Conquest of 1066. His legacy has been enshrouded in mystery and myth.
Tough, 10 Qns, pagiedamon, Oct 15 21
Tough
pagiedamon gold member
Oct 15 21
938 plays
4.
  Emma of Normandy   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
She was the wife of two kings, and mother of two more. See what you know about this amazing queen who lived in pre-Conquest England.
Average, 10 Qns, pagiedamon, May 03 10
Average
pagiedamon gold member
727 plays
5.
  Alfred the Great    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This should be a fairly easy multiple-choice quiz with some facts about the only English king called 'the Great'. Enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, Aethelflaed, Jun 21 03
Average
Aethelflaed
1785 plays
6.
  Ethelred the Unready   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Ethelred the Unready is usually rated as one of the weakest of the Anglo-Saxon kings. What happened during his tumultuous reign, and how did it change English history?
Average, 10 Qns, Onionsauce, Jul 06 10
Average
Onionsauce
244 plays
7.
  Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
All you have to do is pick the name of the king or queen that goes with the description. Some are easy, others a bit less so. It's just a bit of fun; hopefully you'll enjoy it and learn some interesting facts too!
Tough, 10 Qns, Aethelflaed, Jan 02 12
Tough
Aethelflaed
958 plays
8.
  Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Æthelred's reign was plagued by Scandinavian raiders, traitors and bad decision making mainly on the advice of men who were out for their own gain. Here are a few of the personalities who were involved.
Difficult, 10 Qns, Yorkie1, Dec 03 06
Difficult
Yorkie1
306 plays
9.
  Ruling England 1 - Early Cerdic Dynasty    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The first of a series on the British Monarchy. Beginning with the Cerdic dynasty - the Kings of the West Saxons. Hope you find them interesting. I learned a great deal from 'Re-assessing Anglo- Saxon England' by Eric John, and http://www.encyclopedia.co
Tough, 10 Qns, chiara_langley, Jan 18 06
Tough
chiara_langley
286 plays
10.
  Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Continuing a series on the British monarchy, here are questions on most of the monarchs of the late Cerdic dynasty.
Tough, 15 Qns, Chiara_Langley, Feb 07 06
Tough
Chiara_Langley
286 plays
trivia question Quick Question
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?

From Quiz "Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2"





Anglo Saxon Kings Trivia Questions

1. Etherlred is usually known as "the Unready", but his descriptive name was actually "Unraed". What does this mean?

From Quiz
Ethelred the Unready

Answer: ill-advised

The churchmen who wrote the chonicles of the time were labeling Ethelred as one who listened to bad counsel, but the name was also a word play on his first name. That's what makes Ethelred the Unready stand out in the list of Anglo-Saxon kings.

2. Emma of Normandy was first wed to which Anglo-Saxon monarch?

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Aethelred the Unready

Emma married Aethelred the Unready ("Ill Counseled") in 1002. When she came to England, she was Aethelred's second wife. His previous wife had given him at least eight children, some of whom may have been close to her in age at the time of the marriage!

3. Æthelred's mother's retainers murdered the young king Edward at the royal residence at Corfe Castle on 18th March 978, there by placing Æthelred on the throne of England. Who was Æthelred's mother?

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Ælthryth

Ælthryth or Elfrida was queen consort of King Edgar, who had died in 975. Ælthryth believed that her son Æthelred (only 10 years old in 978), had a better claim to the throne than her step-son Edward, as both Æthelred's parents had been crowned and consecrated. It is alleged that she plotted the murder, and according to Henry of Huntingdon, actually did the deed herself ... He states that Edward "was treasonably slain by his own family ... it is reported that his stepmother, that is the mother of King Æthelred, stabbed him with a dagger while she was in the act of offering him a cup to drink.". Æthelred was consecrated king a fortnight after Easter at Kingston. However, later in the year " a cloud red as blood was seen frequently with the appearance of fire usually about midnight ... and at the first streak of dawn it vanished". The omens were not good for Æthelred.

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

From Quiz Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2

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.

5. Who is the only English king to be universally accorded the designation 'the Great'?

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Alfred

Yes, it's Alfred, who ruled from 871-99. He was an inventor, sailor, military strategist, translator and philosopher - but he never burnt any cakes. Sorry!

6. Which group of raiders and settlers did Alfred have to defeat to remain king?

From Quiz Alfred the Great

Answer: Vikings

The Battle of Edington in 878 was the only defeat of a whole Viking army by an English king. Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia had all been overrun.

7. Ethelred became king of England at the age of ten when someone murdered his older half-brother. Who was responsible for the regicide of Edward the Martyr?

From Quiz Ethelred the Unready

Answer: Ethelred's mother

When King Edgar died, the ruling council was at odds over which son should succeed his father. When the older son, Edward, from the king's first marriage, was chosen, Edgar's second wife, Elfrida, did not take the decision well. She invited the teenaged Edward to visit her at Corfe Castle, then had several henchmen shoot him with arrows as he approached. Later, St. Dunstan gave this as the reason the Ethelred's reign was so cursed.

8. For much of Harold's adulthood, the king of England was Edward the Confessor. What was Harold's relationship to Edward?

From Quiz Harold, the Last Saxon King

Answer: Brother-in-law

Edward the Confessor was married to Harold's sister, Edith. The marriage was a most unusual one for several reasons. First, Edward hated Edith's father, Earl Godwin, so it is strange that he married his enemy's daughter. Second, Edward had shown an inclination to become a monk and perhaps remain chaste forever. Certainly, there were many (unsubstantiated) rumors that Edward and Edith's marriage was not consummated, and Edith never bore him any children. Finally, Edward was, in all probability, old enough to be Edith's father! (Barlow, "Edward the Confessor," 1979). He is also the patron saint of kings - and of difficult marriages. (See Wikipedia, "Edward the Confessor").

9. Emma gave birth to Edward the Confessor in 1003 AD, producing the requisite heir. Who were the other known children from her first marriage?

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Alfred and Goda

Emma's first son became king and was known as Edward the Confessor. Alfred died a horrible death (his eyes were "put out") at the hands of Canute's son Harold Harefoot. Her daughter Goda married twice: first, Drogo of Mantes, count of the Véxin; second, Eustace II, count of Boulogne.

10. In 981 the Viking raiders returned to England. There were only small scale raids, but in 991 a larger force defeated Byrhtnoth ealdorman of Essex at the battle of Maldon. Who was the Viking leader at Maldon?

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Olaf Tryggvasson

Olaf Tryggvasson led a fleet of 93 ships which ravaged the East coast from Sandwich to Ipswich. He then turned back South to the river Blackwater near Maldon in Essex, where he defeated Byrhtnoth of Essex, after which he received 10,000 pounds of silver, and again in 994 this time accompanied by Swein Forkbeard, he attacked London, Essex, Kent, Hampshire and Sussex and received 16,000 pounds in silver. In 995 he returned to Norway where he sized power and became King. In 1000 Olaf was ambushed by a fleet led by Swein Forkbeard and defeated at the battle of Svolder, Olaf is said to have thrown himself overboard when his ship the 'Long Serpent' was overwhelmed and he saw that all was lost.

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

From Quiz Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2

Answer: Cynegils

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

12. Cerdic, the first ruler of the West Saxons, was most probably from a from which group of peoples?

From Quiz Ruling England 1 - Early Cerdic Dynasty

Answer: Germanic

Cerdic was from a Germanic tribe which hailed from the north-west of Germany. He landed in England in 495AD, and captured a significant portion of of the south-west of mainland Britain. On his death he was succeeded by his son, Cynric.

13. A bit harder: this late tenth-century king ruled in a time of peace and codified many laws. He was also the first Anglo-Saxon king to himself have his wife consecrated a queen. Her name was Aelfthryth - but what was his?

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Edgar

Edgar was nicknamed 'the Peaceable', and many kings tried to be just like him, including Cnut.

14. What position did Alfred hold in his family?

From Quiz Alfred the Great

Answer: youngest

Alfred had four elder brothers and in a more peaceful time, might never have become king.

15. Emma had to adopt a Saxon name to please the English people. What name was she called by in England?

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Aelfgifu

Emma was given the Anglo-Saxon name Aelfgifu, which was most ironic as her second husband Canute's mistress was also named Aelfgifu.

16. Æthelred married twice, his second marriage would have consequences for the future of England. Who was Æthelred's second wife?

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Emma

Emma, sister of Richard II Duke of Normandy married Æthelred in 1002. Æthelred and Emma had three children, one of them the future king Edward the Confessor. On Æthelred's death she married king Cnut, their son Harthacanute ruled England for two years 1040-1042. Through his great-aunt, William Duke of Normandy would have one avenue to his claim of the crown of England.

17. 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?

From Quiz Late Cerdic Dynasty: 2

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.

18. This woman married two kings and two of her sons ruled after her. She was a powerful intriguing beauty who played a key role in the political scene in the first half of the eleventh century. She was not English by birth - but what was her name?

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Emma

Yes it's Emma, who married Aethelred the Unready, and later, the Danish conqueror Cnut who displaced him. Crafty! Her two ruling sons were Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor. Aelfgifu of Northampton was Cnut's first wife who ruled Norway as his regent for a time, and gave birth to his son Harald Harefoot. A praise poem called the 'Encomium of Emma the Queen' is our main source for her life - and a great read too!

19. Where was a statue of Alfred erected on the millennial anniversary of his death in 1899?

From Quiz Alfred the Great

Answer: Winchester

Winchester was the capital of Alfred's ancestral kingdom of Wessex. It stayed the home of the royal treasury for centuries.

20. For many years Ethelred tried to solve his problems with the Danes by paying them off. What were these bribes called?

From Quiz Ethelred the Unready

Answer: Danegeld

On six different occasions Ethelred handed over payments to the Danes. The total probably amounted to 160,000 pounds of silver.

21. While his father lived, Harold was Earl of East Anglia. After his father's death, however, what earldom did Harold receive?

From Quiz Harold, the Last Saxon King

Answer: Wessex

After Earl Godwin's death, Harold was 'promoted' to the earldom of Wessex. Wessex was a particularly important earldom, as it had been the ancient seat for the Saxon kings in the past. Wessex was a rich and plentiful region, and Harold's appointment to this region consolidated his position as the most powerful man in England, save only the king. (Clemoes, "The Anglo Saxons," 1959)

22. This Dane had participated in raids on England in the early 990's, but in 1003 and again in 1013 he came as the king of Denmark. Who was he?

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Swein Forkbeard

Swein Forkbeard was the son of Harald Bluetooth. Swein had raided in England in the early 990's but in 1003 he attacked England allegedly in response to the St Brice's Day massacre, in which his sister Gunhild was killed. Wessex and East Anglia bore the brunt of his attack, so much damage was done that a famine occurred and in 1005 the Danes were forced to return to Denmark. Further attacks were carried out by his Jarls, 1006-07 and 1009-12. Swein came back to England with his army in 1013 and eventually conquered England forcing king Æthelred to flee to Normandy. Swein was declared king of England on Christmas day 1013, but on February 3rd 1014 he died. His son Harald, succeeded him as king of Denmark, the other son Cnut, who was with him in England, was proclaimed king of England by the Danish fleet but was forced to return to Denmark when Æthelred returned in the spring of that year.

23. This eleventh-century king was poorly counselled by his nobles, as his nickname tells you. It also makes him one of the most notorious of the Anglo-Saxon kings. Who was it?

From Quiz Anglo-Saxon Kings and Queens

Answer: Aethelred the Unready

I'm sure you knew that! Alfred's nickname means 'truth-teller', 'Edgar's 'the Peaceable' and Edmund's refers to his armour, extensive for the time. For the uninitiated, 'unready' really comes from the Old English 'unraed' and means 'no counsel' or more specially "unadvised". Another interesting fact about Athelred is that he managed to clock up about fifteen children between his two wives.

24. During Ethelred's reign, a few churchmen and scholars foretold the end of the world. What made them think Judgement Day was upon them?

From Quiz Ethelred the Unready

Answer: The approach of the year 1000 AD

Most people in Ethelred's day had no idea what year it was, but the Monks who wrote the chronicles did. Ever since the Veneralble Bede, they had been noting dates with Anno Domini (Year of our Lord), so they grew wary as the big One Triple-Oh approached. Some Bible texts appeared to hint that Christ's rule on Earth would last a thousand years, so some churchmen thought their time was up.

25. Harold, during his supremacy as a great earl and warrior, managed to have a rich family life. What is NOT accurate regarding his domestic situation?

From Quiz Harold, the Last Saxon King

Answer: His mother hated him

Harold had a "Danish wife," Edith Swanneck, for nearly twenty years. Danish wives were not accepted by the church, and were relegated to mistress status by the clergy. Rich or powerful men, then, could "marry" one woman for the sake of love, and another for politics or property. Harold and Edith had at least six children. By many accounts, Harold enjoyed a cordial relationship with most members of his family. (Walker, "Harold," 1997)

26. Who were Emma's children by Canute?

From Quiz Emma of Normandy

Answer: Hardicanute and Gunhilda

Hardicanute became King of Denmark upon his father's death. He later also became King of England. He ruled for a very short period, was thoroughly hated, and died at a wedding feast. Gunhilda married Henry III, King of Germany. He was the son the Holy Roman Emperor, Conrad II.

27. Sometimes the Danes had to fight hard for their victory, as against Byrhtnoth at Maldon. An East Anglian ealdorman earned the praise of the Danes for the hard fight he put up against them. Who was this Anglo-Danish ealdorman?

From Quiz Æthelred: Friends, Family and Foes

Answer: Ulfcytel

In 1004, after plundering Norwich the Danes had moved to Thetford, meanwhile Ulfcytel had gathered what forces he could and ordered the raiders ships to be destoyed (an order that was not carried out). The Danes plundered and burned the town of Thetford, the next morning they were surprised to see Ulfcytel blocking their path, battle ensued and both sides took heavy casualties, but the Danes won the day and returned to their ships. "As the enemy said themselves, that they never met with worse hand-play in England than Ulfcytel brought them." (Extract from the 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle'). He fought another hard battle at Ringmere in 1010 with the same result. Ulfcytel was killed at the battle of Ashingdon in 1016. He was given the name Snillingr (the valiant), and East Anglia is referred to as Ulfcytel's land in the Norse 'Heimskringla'.

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