Image: Francois Hippolyte Debon
About This Quiz
"The British are special. The world knows it. In our innermost thoughts, we know it. This is the greatest nation on earth." - Tony Blair
Kings, queens, invasions, literature and war; these are just a few of the defining elements of English history, one that dates back thousands of years. How well do you know English history, though? Could you pass this quiz on the topic? Here's your chance to find out!
English history is quite unique in that England's presence has been influential around the entire world. Not that other countries don't have global influence, but there's something about the English, who have left their mark from England to America all the way to India and Australia. This island nation has been at the forefront of exploration and innovation; it's solved conflicts and created conflicts; it's pushed independent thought and democracy; and most importantly, England has survived. Despite changes and war, the country has survived and is still a global power today.Â
Are you an expert on English history? Do you know all of the leaders and major events that have shaped the country? If you think you do and are up for a challenge, get started with this quiz and prove your knowledge of English history!
Who was the emperor of Rome during the Roman conquest of Britain?
Nero
Claudius
Claudius was born in Gaul. This made him the first emperor born outside Italy.
Trajan
Tiberius
Which wall marked the northern end of Roman territory in Britain?
Hadrian's Wall
The construction of Hadrian's Wall began in AD 122. It helped defend against Britons who lived north of the wall.
Great Wall of Britain
Caesar's Wall
The Roman Wall
How many kingdoms were in Britain during the Heptarchy?
1
3
7
Power constantly swayed between the kingdoms. Smaller kingdoms also existed, but had little influence.
15
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Who baptized King Ethelbert?
Thomas Becket
Gregory the Great
Saint Augustine of Canterbury
Saint Augustine was the first Archbishop of Canterbury. He is widely credited with being the founder of the Catholic Church in England.
Edmund of Abingdon
King Egbert defeated Mercia at which battle in 825?
Battle of Hastings
Battle of Agincourt
Battle of Naseby
Battle of Ellandun
As Egbert rose to power in Wessex, Mercia was the dominant kingdom in England. With this victory, power shifted to Wessex.
The Battle of Ethandun between the Vikings and Alfred the Great resulted in what?
Danelaw
Danelaw was the law of the Danes. It governed parts of England under Guthrum, a Danish leader.
Unification of England
French invasion
The First Crusade
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Who was the first king to rule all of England?
John
Athelstan
When Athelstan came to power, the Vikings still had control of York. By defeating the Vikings, Athelstan was crowned King of the English.
Edmund Ironside
Harold Godwinson
Cnut the Great united England with who?
France
Ireland
Scandinavia
Cnut the Great was often referred to as Canute. His combined kingdom is known as the North Sea Empire.
Italy
At what battle did Normandy defeat England in 1066?
Battle of Agincourt
Battle of Naseby
Battle of Plassey
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings was a result of Harold Godwinson being crowned King of England. He took control after King Edward died without an heir.
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Who led the Norman conquest?
William the Conqueror
William served as the Duke of Normandy before invading England. He was a descendant of Rollo, the first Duke of Normandy.
Rollo
Edward II
Richard I
Which book consisted of a land survey enacted by William the Conqueror?
The Canterbury Tales
The Devine Comedy
Domesday Book
The Domesday Book was written in Medieval Latin. Today, the book is located in The National Archives in London.
Grettir's Saga
Which legislation took judicial power away from the Church?
Laws of the Kings
Constitutions of Clarendon
Much of English history is shaped by the power struggle between the pope and the King of England. The pope, of course, was located in Italy but used bishops to assert authority.
Magna Carta
The Salic Law
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Which Catholic martyr was killed for opposing King Henry II?
Geoffrey Chaucer​
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was the Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Henry II. He refused to recognize the king's authority over the Catholic Church.
John de Stratford
John Moore
Where was King Richard I captured?
Austria
Richard I was the son of Henry II. He was considered a great military leader during his reign.
Norway
Spain
Italy
Where was King Richard I returning from when he was captured?
Rome
Constantinople
Spain
Middle East
King Richard I led the Third Crusade into the Holy Land. He had success during the journey but failed to capture Jerusalem.
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Robert Fitzwalter led what war?
Peasants' Revolt
War of 1812
The First Barons' War
The First Barons' War was a result of disgruntled barons in England who opposed King John. These barons were supported by Louis VIII of France.
The English Civil War
The First Barons' War resulted from King John ignoring what?
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta took a significant amount of power away from the king. Though King John refused to stand by it, future kings would use parts of the document when dealing with wealthy landowners.
The Declaration of Arbroath
Laws of the Kings
The Salic Law
King John was excommunicated for what?
Invading France
Refusing an appointed archbishop
King John was excommunicated by Pope Innocent III. The two would eventually make up, as Innocent became an adamant supporter of the king and helped him with his struggle against Philip II of France.
Not fighting in the Crusades
Killing a priest
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Which treaty set boundaries between England and Scotland?
Treaty of Redon
Treaty of London
Treaty of York
Signed in 1237, the Treaty of York ended the expansion of the Kingdom of Scotland. The border that was created is relatively the same today.
Treaty of Greenwich
What prevented land from passing to the Church?
Intercursus Magnus
Convention of Nymegen
The Salic Law
Statutes of Mortmain​
The Statutes of Mortmain was signed by Edward I of England. It ensured the king could collect taxes for feudal services.
Who wrote the Canterbury Tales?
Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales consists of 24 stories. The book depicts pilgrims who try to win a prize by telling the best story.
William Shakespeare
Oscar Wilde
Virginia Woolf
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Which Scottish leader famously defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge?
Robert Burns
William Wallace
William Wallace was eventually captured by the English. He was executed for treason by being hanged, drawn and quartered.
Charles Stuart
Lord Macbeth
Which treaty gave Scotland its independence?
Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton
The treaty established Robert the Bruce as the rightful ruler in Scotland. The peace wouldn't last, however, as the Second War of Scottish Independence occurred a few years later.
Treaty of the Hague
Treaty of London
Treaty of Greenwich
Which pandemic hit England in the 14th century?
The Antonine Plague
Cholera
The Plague
The Plague most likely started in Central Asia and spread through rodents. It killed millions of people throughout Europe.
The Plague of Justinian
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Who did England fight in the Hundred Years' War?
Germany
Spain
Italy
France
The Hundred Years' War saw a rise in the use of gunpowder. It was also the birth of nationalism for many in France and Britain.
Who led the Peasants' Revolt in 1381?
Henry Percy
Wat Tyler
The Peasants' Revolt had some success, particularly early in the fighting. However, after Wat Tyler was killed, the rebellion fell apart.
Robert Kett
Christopher Blount
The War of the Roses pitted the House of Lancaster against which House?
House of York
The House of Lancaster won the war. Richard III, the last Yorkish king, was killed during the Battle of Bosworth Field.
House of Denmark
House of Wessex
House of Anjou
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Which king declared himself head of the Church of England?
James II
Henry VIII
Henry had six wives throughout his life. Part of his split from the Catholic Church was due to his desire to divorce his first wife.
William IV
James VI
What was the first permanent English colony in the New World?
Jamestown
Jamestown was founded under King James I. However, it was financed by the Virginia Company, which hoped to find resources to exploit.
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
New Cambriol
Who is most associated with the English Renaissance?
George Orwell
Oscar Wilde
J.R.R. Tolkien
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is regarded as one of the greatest writers in history. His poetry and plays are still read and performed today.
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Who was Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England?
Winston Churchill
Walter Raleigh
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell helped transform England into a republic. However, he still maintained a significant amount of power, and many would call him a dictator.
Thomas Paine
The English Civil War pitted the Parliamentarians​ against who?
Royalists
The English Civil War pitted Parliament against King Charles I. The war resulted in the death of Charles I and the banishment of his son Charles II to France.
Kingsmen
Saxons
French
Which treaty led to the Kingdom of Great Britain?
Treaty of Greenwich
Treaty of the More
Treaty of Redon
Treaty of Union
The Treaty of Union united England and Scotland under one government. The union went into effect in 1707.
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How many colonies rebelled against Britain in the American War for Independence?
4
8
13
The American Revolution resulted in the creation of the United States. The 13 colonies would eventually become 50 states, as the U.S. became a global power in future decades.
20
Who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom throughout WWII?
Thomas Paine
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was one of the most influential figures in modern British history. His words of encouragement inspired Britain during Germany's onslaught in the early years of World War II.
John Lennon
Francis Drake
You Got:
/35
Francois Hippolyte Debon