European History, 1648-1789 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peace of Westphalia

The Peace of Westphalia allowed the official practice of Calvinism within the Holy Roman Empire, as well as giving the component principalities and duchies effective sovereignty. The Peace of Münster ended the Eighty Years War between the Dutch Republic and Spain, which ran parallel to the Thirty Years' War.

The Peace of Augsburg was signed in 1555, which granted Lutheran princes the right to profess their faith. The Peace of Pavia was signed between the Duchy of Savoy and Spain in 1617.

Answer: Mazarin

Cardinal Jules Mazarin was born in the Kingdom of Naples. Of the incorrect choices, only Richelieu was a cardinal. Richelieu himself served as France's chief minister for Louis XIII, Louis XIV's father. Jean-Baptiste Colbert was an influential financial adviser to Louis XIV, and was the promoter of French mercantilism. Vauban was a military engineer and marshal who strengthened France's borders.

Answer: Charles II

Charles II was born in 1661, and his messed up genetics led to the extinction of the Spanish Habsburg line. Philip V was his first cousin once removed, to whom he left the kingdom in his will and started the Spanish Bourbon line. Charles III was Philip V's eldest surviving son by his second wife Elizabeth Farnese. Leopold I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1658 to 1705, and was a relative of Charles II through being an Austrian Habsburg.

Answer: 1649

Charles I was executed on the 30th of January, 1649. He had failed in his attempts to rule England (and Scotland) as an absolute monarch, and was deposed and executed. 1648 marked the end of the Thirty Years' War. 1660 was the year of the restoration of the English monarchy, and 1659 was the year Richard Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell's son and successor, resigned as Lord Protector.

Answer: War of the Spanish Succession

The War of Spanish Succession was sparked by fears of a union of France (Europe's foremost land power) and Spain (which had the largest colonial empire at that time) under a single monarch. Despite initial Allied victories, France rallied and ensured Philip V's accession to the Spanish throne, yet with many territorial and economic concessions and Philip renouncing any claim to the French throne.

The War of the Austrian Succession was to contest the accession of Maria Theresa to the Habsburg German possessions, something forbidden under Salic law.

The War of the Polish Succession was an attempt by the Bourbons to counter Austrian influence, and ended with territorial concessions for the Bourbon monarchies, yet with the Austrian-backed August III of Saxony gaining the Polish throne.

The War of the Mantuan Succession was a part of the Thirty Years' War and saw a French victory.

Answer: George I

George I was the Elector of Hanover from 1698 until his death, and was Queen Anne's most senior Protestant living relative upon her death. His reign saw a decrease in the power of the British monarchy. Frederick II, also known as the Great, was King in Prussia from 1740 to 1772, then King of Prussia from 1772 until his death in 1786. Frederick William I was his father, who reigned from 1712 to 1740. Louis XV was the King of France from 1715 to 1774.

Answer: Great-grandson

Upon Louis XIV's death in 1715, he had outlived his son, Louis the Grand Dauphin (died 1711), and his grandson Louis the Duke of Burgundy (died 1712). Louis XV's long and decadent reign began when he was 5, in a time where power shifted away from France.

Answer: Seven Years' War

The Seven Years' War was sparked by the Diplomatic Revolution: Austria had managed to ally itself with its old rival, France, as well as with Russia, in an attempt to curb the power of a rapidly rising Prussia. Ultimately, Frederick the Great's military acumen as well as Britain's naval superiority contributed to their victory, which saw the loss of most of the French colonial empire in North America and the affirmation of Prussia as Europe's fifth great power.

Answer: Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

Despite successes in the 17th century, Poland-Lithuania had become a rather weak state by the mid-18th century, especially with the rise of Prussia. There were three partitions. The first (in 1772) allowed Prussia to acquire the entire Prussian territory, thus allowing Frederick to style himself King of Prussia.

The second (in 1793) did not have Austria participating. The failed revolution of Thaddeus Kosciuszko led to the third and final partition in 1795, which ended the existence of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Poland did not re-emerge as a sovereign state till 1918.

Answer: France

The immediate cause of the French Revolution was the financial woes of King Louis XVI, who had supported the American Revolutionary War in an effort to weaken Britain. The French Revolutionaries eventually toppled the monarchy and established a republic. Fearing similar revolutions, the monarchies of Europe assembled against France, starting the War of the First Coalition.