How Much Do You Know About Royal Bloodlines?

By: Ashley Palkovics
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Much Do You Know About Royal Bloodlines?
Image: Wiki Commons by Franz Xaver Winterhalter

About This Quiz

Most current societies have abolished absolute monarchies, but some variations of them with constitutions in place remain. These real-life royal families usually serve as figureheads and diplomatic servants of the state they reside in. We've been collectively obsessed with the lives of monarchs for generations, with history books encompassing tons of private information on what these 'celebrities' have been up to. We dress up as Cleopatra for Halloween, we watch TV shows about the Tudor Dynasty, and sometimes we even major in the study of great civilizations from the past. The fascination with royals is occasionally unexplainable, but a significant aspect of our ability to document history.

Did you know that divorce was essentially invented and introduced to the Church by King Henry VII? Or that the York family inspired parts of "Game of Thrones?" Get out your thinking cap as we dive into the world of empires and birthright. We'll look at kings and queens, sultans, emperors and empresses, and other members of the royal families who have contributed to our world history. Some bloodlines remain today, and others stay in our textbooks. They royally made an impression on the world, but it's their marriages, children and political alliances that keep them in our culture. Crack open your inner textbook, and let's see if you know your stuff!

Which historical monarch is known for the phrase "Let them eat cake!"?
Madame de Brinvilliers
Roman Empress Valeria Messalina
Marie Antoinette of France
Juliana of the Netherlands
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This monarch has done and presumably said a lot of strange things in her lifetime. Did you know that Miss Marie also constructed her own fake peasant town on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles? You could say it was the original Barbie dream house, but not much of a dream ...

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The current Monarch of Britain is ...
Elizabeth II
George V
Victoria III
Edward VII
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The current Queen of Britain is Elizabeth II, full name Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She was crowned queen on February 6th, 1952 and has remained on the throne for 67 years. The next in line for her throne would be Prince Charles.

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Which American turned royal just had a baby in May 2019?
Diana, Princess of Wales
Anne, Princess Royal
Lady Louise Windsor
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On May 6th, 2019, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He was born in Portland Hospital in London, and his mother being of mixed heritage makes him the first biracial royal baby!

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Who was the last sovereign of Russia and parent to the famous Anastasia?
Sophia Alekseyevna
Nicholas II
Ivan VI
Dmitry Yuryevich
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The last true Tsar of Russia was Nicholas II, who was murdered along with his entire family in 1918. It is theorized that his youngest daughter, Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia, survived the attack on the family and hid in secret. However, there is minimal evidence to prove if this is true.

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The "Pharaoh of the Exodus" has been considered by scholars to be ...
Ramesses II
Smendes
Merenre I
Namlot
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

He is known as "Ramesses the Great" by many Egyptians even in the 21st century. A well-celebrated pharaoh, Ramesses II lived to be about 90 and had a full life. He is considered one of the most influential and celebrated pharaohs in history and is often considered the likely candidate of being the pharaoh mentioned in the story of Moses.

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How did Diana, Princess of Wales, die in 1997?
Old age
Suicide
Car accident
Murder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Princess, who had endured increasing media criticism for her highly publicized failed marriage to Prince Charles, died in a car crash in August 1997. She was being followed and harassed by paparazzi, which resulted in a collision. Diana, her friend and her driver all lost their lives. The funeral was televised in September of that year and 32.1 million people tuned in to watch.

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The inspiration for "Dracula" is named ...
Alexandru I
Nicolae Pătrașcu
Vlad III
Constantin I
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This Romanian ruler was dubbed "Vlad The Impaler" due to his frequent torture/killing methods involving impalement. He was the Voivode of Wallachia, which was a Romanian territory during his reign in 1448. His full name is Vlad III Dracula, hence the inspiration for the later written vampire.

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The current Duchess of Cambridge is ...
Sarah Fairbrother
Wilhelmina Caroline
Auguste Luise
Kate Middleton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kate Middleton married the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, in 2012. She is the likely Queen Consort of England when the current ruler, Queen Elizabeth II, and her son, Prince Charles pass away. She met her husband while studying art history at the University of St. Andrews.

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Who was known as the "Virgin Queen"?
Elizabeth I
Mary II
Anne III
Victoria II
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While Queen Elizabeth may have never been wed, that doesn't mean she didn't have lovers. Elizabeth was dubbed the "Virgin Queen" since she produced no heirs during her reign and refused to marry despite her counsel's request to do so. She was particularly fond of a man named Robert Dudley, who married two other women during their "friendship."

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The monarchs known for supporting Christopher Columbus' expedition to the New World are ...
King Francis and Queen Mary
King Henry VII and Queen Catherine
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
King John and Queen Martha
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The King of Aragon aka King Ferdinand and his wife, Isabella I of Castile, are credited with sponsoring Christopher Columbus as he sailed the ocean blue in 1492. This power couple was also known for major economic reforms, brutal conversion or exile of Muslim/Jewish subjects, and the Reconquista.

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Which of the following is NOT one of King Henry VIII's wives?
Henrietta Maria
Anne Boleyn
Catherine Parr
Jane Seymour
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While Henrietta Maria of France WAS a monarch, she didn't come along until several generations after Henry VIII's reign. She married Charles I in 1625. Catherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VII, married him in 1543 and were together until his death in 1547. At least she survived ...

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Who was the mother of Elizabeth I of England?
Catherine of Aragon
Anne of Cleves
Jane Seymour
Anne Boleyn
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Elizabeth I is the first and only daughter of Anne Boleyn, Henry VII's second wife. Her mother was beheaded for "treason," which was more a pretext for Henry to further marry and find someone who could produce a male heir. She also established the English Protestant Church during her reign.

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The only female ruler of the Habsburg Empire was named ...
Maria Anna
Maria Theresa
Maria Carolina
Maria Elisabeth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The last of the House of Habsburg, this monarch assumed the throne in 1745 after the death of her father Emperor Charles VI. Her husband was Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. Despite people thinking she would give her control of Austria to her husband and eldest son, Maria Theresa instead chose to rule solely over the country.

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Who mothered nine children and gained the title "Grandmother of Europe"?
Queen Elizabeth
Queen Helena
Queen Mary
Queen Victoria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

She was the first of many to spend her rule in Buckingham Palace, but her real legacy is found within her nine children. They were all wed to royal families across Europe, giving Queen Victoria of England the title mentioned above. Along with those children went terrible blood-clotting disease that affected the extended families for several generations.

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The House of Bourbon's "Sun King" is from what country?
England
Belgium
Austria
France
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Louis the Great" aka Louis XIV of France was king of his country for 72 years, the longest reign of a European monarch in recorded history. His wife was Maria Theresa of Spain, and they had six children with only one making it to adulthood. That child later served as the Dauphin of France.

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Who is the only remaining Emperor in the world?
Emperor Bao Dai of Vietnam
Emperor Zhu Wen of China
Emperor Yohannes I of Ethiopia
Emperor Akihito of Japan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The leader in technology, creator of anime and perfecter of sushi, Japan is also the home of the only Emperor in the world. The country operates as a constitutional monarchy in more recent history, with current Emperor Akihito serving mainly as a figurehead.

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The Emperor of Japan during WWII was ...
Emperor Akihito
Emperor Hirohito
Emperor Taishō
Emperor Nagasaki
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Did you know that after the war, this Emperor decided to pursue his childhood love of marine biology? Hirohito did a lot of labwork while he was at the Imperial Palace. He submitted several papers and discovered various marine species to contribute to the scientific record.

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How old was the powerhouse Catherine de' Medici when she married her husband Henry II?
26
17
14
19
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Catherine de' Medici is characterized as a vicious, power-hungry ruler who had multiple forms of French influence via her sons Francis II, Henry III and Charles IX. Her first son passed shortly after assuming the French throne. She then was regent of Charles IX, and after the death of her husband, she used Henry III for control over the throne.

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How did Egyptian ruler Cleopatra die in 30 BC?
It is still a mystery.
She was killed.
An accident
Suicide
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whether or not this part is true is up for debate, but it is believed that Cleopatra killed herself by having an asp bite her and letting the venom take her life. This was in response to her defeat and humiliation from the Final War of the Roman Republic.

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Mary Queen of Scots married which man first?
William Maitland of Lethington
James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Francis II of France
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Dauphin of France, Francis II, was reportedly very much in love with Queen Mary. Despite their documented infatuation, Mary's husband died two years after their marriage (age 16). She then returned to Scotland where she later married Henry Stuart, then James Hepburn. She was executed several years later by her longtime rival, Queen Elizabeth of England.

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Of the following, who was executed by their husband Henry VII?
Catherine Parr
Jane Seymour
Anne of Cleves
Catherine Howard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Catherine Howard was the fifth wife of Henry VIII. They were only married two years before she was ordered to be executed. She had been caught in an affair with two individuals, and all three of them were sentenced to death.

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Who is the earliest recorded Sultan of the Ottoman Empire?
Mustafa III
Ibrahim
Mehmed III
Osman I
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also known as Osman Gazi, this Sultan was the first monarch of the Ottoman Turks in 1299. He founded the Ottoman Dynasty and ruled over the country until his death in 1323. A ceremonial sword used in Ottoman coronation ceremonies was called the "Sword of Osman."

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What title did Eleanor of Aquitaine have?
Regent of Spain
Queen of France
Princess of Wales
Duchess of Austria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While Eleanor may have been the Duchess of Aquitaine by her own right, she later became the queen consort of France (and later England). She was a member of the House of Poitiers, one of the wealthiest and most influential families in southwestern France. She married King Louis VII of France in 1137 but had their marriage annulled to wed the Duke of Normandy (later King Henry II of England).

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The Korean King credited with creating the Hangul alphabet is ...
Taejo
Sejong
Chungnyeol
Gongyang
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Korean king of the Joseon dynasty, Sejong the Great is best known for his contributions to the advancement of education and science. He developed and perfected the Korean alphabet, known as Hangul. This ruler is also considered one of the most impactful kings to have ruled Korea to date.

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Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, married which Russian Emperor?
Ivan VI
Paul I
Peter III
Alexander III
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Peter III was only the Tsar for six months and was entirely overshadowed by his Queen Catherine the Great. They were married in 1745 and had two children together (Emperor Paul and Princess Anna). Catherine has historically claimed that Paul was not fathered by Peter, though there is no solid proof of this claim. Both of them took multiple lovers during their marriage.

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Sweden has been ruled by which family since 1818?
The Romanov Family
The Bernadotte Family
The Paulisch Family
The Palkovics Family
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jean Bernadotte was elected to the Swedish crown in 1810 and assumed the throne in 1818. He earned a reputation as being one of the most helpful guys, and then one of the nicest kings! As of 2019, Sweden operates under a constitutional monarchy with the next in line for the throne being Crown Princess Victoria.

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Who did Peter the Great share the throne with in a co-tsar-ship during a period of his reign?
Ivan V
Peter I
Nicholas II
Feodor III
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Peter's half brother, Ivan, was the actual heir of the throne, but he was very sickly and weak. The council appointed and ratified Peter as Tsar, but it was blocked and then changed to a dual rule between both Peter and Ivan from the Miloslavsky family. Ivan did minimal work as Tsar, and Peter assumed sole sovereign power at the age of 24 when his brother died.

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Which king of Denmark is the inspiration for the name "Bluetooth" technology?
Eric I Evergood
Olaf I Hunger
Christopher I
Harold Gormsson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Known for his unification of tribes and kingdoms, Harold "Bluetooth" Gormsson was chosen as the inspiration for Bluetooth technology's name. His nickname came simply from a rotting tooth that may have appeared blue to others. If you look at the Bluetooth symbol, you can see it's the combination of his initials H & B = ᚼ ᛒ

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Who was the last king of the House of York in England?
Edward III
Henry VI
Richard III
Vlad II
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Did you know this monarch was involved in "The War of the Roses," which was the inspiration of George R. R. Martin's series "A Song of Ice & Fire" (also known as "Game of Thrones")? Richard III's reign was around the end of the Middle Ages of England. He is an integral character in the history of England, so much so that he's been characterized in all forms of media and adaptation.

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Akbar the Great ruled over which empire?
The Prussian Empire
The Mughal Empire
The Mongolian Empire
The Egyptian Empire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Akbar I, also known as "Akbar the Great," ruled over his empire from 1556 to 1605. He was known as a man of the people, and a generally harmonious ruler. Akbar was good at getting his follows to pledge loyalty to him, and strove to unite his people under one well-functioning state of the union.

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Which member of the British Royal Family had a dating show on FOX based on their likeness?
Meghan Markle
Prince William
Prince Harry
Prince Charles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Like most of the dating reality shows on FOX, this one is a bit crazy. In May 2014, the show "I Wanna Marry "Harry" aired on television. The premise of the show was that 12 women were under the guise that they would be competing for the affections of Prince Harry in a Bachelor-esque style. However, the person playing "Harry" was simply a lookalike who would reveal his true self at the end. Only four episodes aired.

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Where is Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, from?
Australia
Denmark
America
Austria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mary Elizabeth Donaldson was born in Tasmania, Australia in February of 1972. She met her prince charming, Frederik of Denmark, during the Summer 2000 Olympics, which were hosted in her country. They met in a pub, got engaged in 2003, and married that subsequent year.

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The first Korean Empress of the Yuan Dynasty in China was ...
Empress Wu Zetian
Empress Gi
Empress Lü Zhi
Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Empress Gi was originally a concubine for Toghon Temür, but he fell in love with her and pursued her as his second wife. The court disapproved of this status change, and the motion was blocked until she gave birth to his successor. She was then promoted to the position in 1340. She became an incredibly powerful player in Yuan.

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Who was the last King of Hungary?
Charles I
Ferdinand I
Leopold II
Béla I
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

His Apostolic Majesty King Charles I ruled various domains across the states. He was the last King of Hungary, Emperor of Austria and King of Bohemia. In the Catholic church, he is known as "Blessed Karl of Austria," which is another spelling of his name that is very common.

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The last Scottish monarch to rule during the third restoration of the Stuart Family was ...
King James VII
King William II
Queen Anne
King Charles II
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Stuarts have ruled Scotland for generations, but eventually, Scotland merged with England and became the United Kingdom. They are now ruled over by a constitutional monarchy alongside the Brits. Their Queen is currently Elizabeth II.

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Wiki Commons by Franz Xaver Winterhalter