Augustus II the Strong (1670-1733) was elected King of Poland twice (1697-1706) and (1706-1733). Although not of enormous physical size, he was able to demonstrate his physical strength by breaking horseshoes with his bare hands. At the time he was king, the Polish monarchy was elective and the King of Poland was also the Grand Duke of Lithuania.
As king, Augustus was most successful as a patron of arts and architecture.
2. Charles XII
Answer: Sweden
Charles or Karl XII (1682-1718) was King of Sweden from 1697 to his death. As he was a minor at the time of his ascension to the throne, a caretaker government ruled on his behalf for the first several months of his reign. During most of his reign, Sweden was engaged in the Great Northern War at the conclusion of which Sweden was no longer the leading power bordering the Baltic Sea. An able military leader, Charles never married nor had children and was succeeded by his sister.
3. Cosimo III
Answer: Tuscany
Cosimo III de' Medici (1642-1723) was the Grand Duke of Tuscany in what is now Northern Italy. His reign lasted from 1670 to his death. While Grand Duke, the highly devout Cosimo issued many laws regulating the morals of his people as well as limiting the rights of Jewish subjects. During his reign, the financial health of Tuscany declined, becoming one of the poorest areas of Europe by the time of his death.
4. Frederick IV
Answer: Denmark
Frederick IV (1671-1730) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1699 until his death. During his reign he attempted to end serfdom in Denmark although he was unsuccessful. Journeys to Italy in his youth encouraged him to have several royal buildings in Denmark built in an Italian style. He was succeeded by his son, Christian VI.
5. George I
Answer: Hanover
George I (1660-1727) was Elector of Hanover or Brunswick-Luneburg (in Northern Germany) from 1698 until his death and was also King of Great Britain from 1714 until his death. As an Elector, George was one of several nobles who elected the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, though by this time, the Emperors were members of the Habsburg Dynasty. George was also known for his particularly poor relationship with his wife whom he had under house arrest for the last thirty years of her wife.
6. Leopold I
Answer: Holy Roman Empire
Leopold I (1640-1705) was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1658 until his death. A member of the Habsburg Dynasty, Leopold spent a significant portion of his reign engaged in wars with either the Ottoman Empire or France. He had been initially trained for a career in the Church until the death of an older brother and remained devout his entire life.
While Emperor, Leopold regained Habsburg control over the Kingdom of Hungary which had been ruled by the Ottomans for over a century.
7. Louis XIV
Answer: France
Louis XIV (1638-1715) was King of France from 1643 until his death--one of the longest in all of European history. The epitome of an absolutist monarch, many European kings and princes modelled their courts after his day to day life at the Palace of Versailles.
He revoked the Edict of Nantes, removing religious toleration from the Hugenot population of France. Being predeceased by his son, eldest grandson, and eldest great-grandson, he was succeeded by his second great grandson as Louis XV.
8. Peter I
Answer: Russia
Peter I the Great (1672-1725) was Tsar of Russia from 1682 until his death. Until 1696, his mentally handicapped half-brother Ivan V was co-star. Peter is known for his attempts to modernize and Westernize Russia. In one famous example, he required Russia's nobles to shave their beards or pay a fine.
He moved Russia's capital from Moscow to the newly founded St. Petersburg. Peter was succeeded as ruler of Russia by his second wife, Catherine.
9. Philip V
Answer: Spain
Philip V (1683-1746) was the first Bourbon king of Spain and a grandson of Louis XIV. An attempt to make him king of France and Spain led to the War of the Spanish Succession. Ruling from 1700 to 1724, Philip abdicated in favor of his son Louis. When Louis died several months later, Philip once again became king and reigned until his death.
10. William III
Answer: England
William III (1650-1702) was King of England from 1689 until his death, for the first five years with his wife and first cousin, Mary II (1662-1694). He and his wife were offered the English crown by Parliament after his father-in-law/uncle was deposed. William's rule was significantly less popular after his wife's death.
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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