National Heroes Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scotland

Popularised again by 'Braveheart', this Scottish patriot was brutally executed in 1306 for high treason by a king he never swore allegiance to.

Answer: France

After inspiring the French resistance to English invasion in the Hundred Years War, Joan of Arc was captured by the Burgundians and later sold to the English. She was canonized in 1920.

Answer: Russia

In a forty year reign as Tsar, Peter attempted to modernize Russia, a goal he went a long way towards achieving through the wide application of taxes (including on beards!).

Answer: Turkey

In a 15 year reign as president between 1923 and 1938, Atatürk (as he was known from 1934) secularized the education system, separated the state and religion and modernised the government and the military.

Answer: Czech Republic

Burned at the stake in 1415, Jan Hus spoke out against the hypocrisy of the upper classes and the church and became a champion for equality. His death led a movement which was pivotal in the reformation a hundred years later.

Answer: Ireland

Much is speculated about St. Patrick. It is said that he drove the pagans from Ireland (hence the metaphor with snakes), and also that he used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity when attempting to convert Irish peasants to Christianity (hence the national symbol of Ireland).

Answer: Poland

This former Gdansk shipyard worker turned activist protested against the commmunist regime and eventually became president of a new Poland in 1990.

Answer: Chile

Bolivar helped win independence for Panama, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia, all from Spain.

In the case of Chile, the honour goes to Bernado O'Higgins (1778-1842).

Answer: Switzerland

A symbol of overcoming oppression everywhere, Tell overcame the tyrant Gessler to win freedom for his people. Whether he actually existed or not is another matter!

Answer: India

Tendulkar is a cricketing icon in India. Wisden publications claim that he is the favourite sportsman of 65% of Indians (i.e. over 700 million people) and therefore, in a first-past-the-post reckoning, the most adored sportsman the world has ever known. This is despite the fact that over half the world has never heard of him!