The first question is related to today’s date, August 14th. It is about two monarchs who featured prominently in a work by William Shakespeare. The other questions are also about real monarchs who have been portrayed in fiction.
The first page of Shakespeare’s Macbeth from the First Folio. Image Wikipedia
One
On 14 August, King Duncan I of Scotland was killed in battle by his cousin, Macbeth, who then succeeded him. This death and succession occurred in the what century?
Two
In the 1995 made-for-television movie, Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Sophie, a young Prussian princess who marries an immature future Tsar. The film’s title is what Sophie eventually becomes known as. What is the film’s title?
Three
Katharine Hepburn won the best actress Oscar for her role as Henry II’s queen in this 1968 film. What was the film and what was the queen’s name?
Four
In this 2023 film, Catherine Walker plays an Archduchess of Austria who becomes the French Queen, while Vanessa Kirby is an Empress Consort and first wife of the title character. What is the film?
Five
Madonna’s 2011 film W.E. is a historical romance involving what 20th-century royal couple?
Phoebe Ann Mosey was born this day in 1860. Named ‘Little Sure Shot’ by Sitting Bull, she was a star in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. What was her stage name?
— Answer: Annie Oakley
Oakley never failed to delight her audiences, and her feats of marksmanship were truly incredible. At 30 paces she could split a playing card held edge-on, she hit dimes tossed into the air, she shot cigarettes from her husband’s lips, and, a playing card being thrown into the air, she riddled it before it touched the ground
Opha May Johnson (2 Feb 1900 – Jan 1976) was the first woman to enlist in the United States Marine Corps. This is a photo of her shortly after enlisting, c. 1918. Image Wikipedia
Women were permitted to enlist in the United States Marine Corps for the first time on August 13th. In which decade of the 20th century did this occur?
— Answer: 1910s (1918)
Women first enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1918, Private Opha May Johnson being the first woman to enlist. Although deactivated after the First World War there was a significant increase during World War II. The Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948 made women a permanent part of the Marine Corps.
Opha May Johnson monument, St. Paul’s Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Image WikipediaAlfred Hitchcock’s birthplace. Image Wikipedia
Four
Alfred Hitchcock, the renowned film director and producer, was born today in 1899. In which city was he born?
— Answer: London, UK
Alfred Hitchcock, an English-born American director, was renowned for his suspenseful films and TV programmes, characterised by a macabre sense of humour and a bleak view of humanity.
On 13 August 1624, Cardinal Richelieu was appointed principal minister in France. Who was the monarch who made this appointment?
— Answer: Louis XIII
Cardinal Richelieu (1585–1642) served as the chief minister to King Louis XIII of France from 1624 to 1642. His primary objectives, which he largely achieved, were the establishment of royal absolutism in France and the end of Spanish-Habsburg dominance in Europe.
Alfred Hitchcock, c. 1960s. (Question 4) Image Wikipedia
One
What Cold War event led to 13 August 1961 being known as Barbed Wire Sunday?
Two
Phoebe Ann Mosey was born this day in 1860. Named ‘Little Sure Shot’ by Sitting Bull, she was a star in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. What was her stage name?
Three
Women were permitted to enlist in the United States Marine Corps for the first time on August 13th. In which decade of the 20th century did this occur?
Four
Alfred Hitchcock, the renowned film director and producer, was born today in 1899. In which city was he born?
Five
On 13 August 1624, Cardinal Richelieu was appointed principal minister in France. Who was the monarch who made this appointment?
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.
Joseph Bonaparte, king of Spain, in coronation robes, 1808. Image Wikipedia
On 15 June 1808 Joseph Bonaparte became King of…
Spain—Bonapartist Spain, established in 1808 by Napoleon, was a Napoleonic client state. Napoleon forced the ruling Spanish Bourbons to abdicate and installed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, on the Spanish throne.
Magna Carta, 1215. Image British Library/Encyclopædia Britannica
Today in 1215, King John of England placed his seal on a charter of liberty and political rights. What is this charter known as?
Magna Carta—a royal charter of rights, was agreed to by King John of England in 1215 to make peace with rebel barons. It promised protection of church rights, baronial rights and limitations on feudal payments.
The Civil War Unknowns Monument, c. 1866. Designed by Montgomery Meigs. Arlington National Cemetery. Image Wikipedia
On 15 June 1864, the creation of a national cemetery on the former Arlington Estate was authorised by the US Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs. This estate had previously belonged to whom?
Robert E. Lee, Confederate General-in-Chief—Arlington National Cemetery, the largest in the United States National Cemetery System, is one of two maintained by the United States Army. Spanning 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia, it holds the remains of over 400,000 people. Arlington National Cemetery was built on land confiscated from the private ownership of Confederate States Army general Robert E. Lee’s family by the US federal government. This land was the Arlington Estate. The confiscation occurred due to a tax dispute over the property.
Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset (1519-36). Image Wikipedia
Henry Fitzroy, born on this day in 1519, was the illegitimate son of which English king?
Henry VIII—the Fitzroy surname is Norman French for ‘son of the king’. He was the son of Henry VIII’s mistress Elizabeth Blount, younger half-brother to Mary I and elder half-brother to Elizabeth I and Edward VI.
On 15 June 1888 a crown prince became emperor. Due to the death of his predecessors 1888 is the Year of the Three Emperors. What empire had its Year of the Three emperors in 1888?
German Empire—The Year of the Three Emperors, 1888, saw the rapid succession of three German Emperors: Wilhelm I, Friedrich III, and Wilhelm II. The mnemonic drei Achten, drei Kaiser (three eights, three emperors) is still used to remember this year.
Wilhelm I Friedrich IIIWilhelm II
The Year of the Three Emperors, 1888. Left to right Wilhelm I (reign 18 January 1871 – 9 March 1888) Image Wikipedia Friedrich III (reign 9 March – 15 June 1888) Image Wikipedia Wilhelm II (reign 15 June 1888 – 9 November 1918) Image Wikipedia
Historical Highlights connected with today’s date, June 15th.
On 15 June 1808, Joseph Bonaparte became King of…
Italy
Spain
The Two Sicilies
Today in 1215, King John of England placed his seal on a charter of liberty and political rights. What is this charter known as?
Domesday Charter
Magna Carta
Reculver Charter
On 15 June 1864, the creation of a national cemetery on the former Arlington Estate was authorised by the US Quartermaster General Montgomery Meigs. Who previously owned this estate?
Jefferson Davies, President of the Confederate States
Robert E. Lee, Confederate General-in-Chief
Thomas Jonathan ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, Confederate General
Henry Fitzroy, born on this day in 1519, was the illegitimate son of which English king?
Edward V
Henry VII
Henry VIII
On 15 June 1888, a crown prince became emperor, making 1888 the Year of the Three Emperors. Which empire had its Year of the Three Emperors in 1888?
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.
Portrait of Henry VIII, c1540-1547.Catherine of Aragon c. 1525.
Henry VIII of England married for the first time on 11 June 1509, his bride, Catherine of Aragon, was his…
Sister-in-law—Catherine of Aragon, who was married to Arthur, Prince of Wales, became a widow at 16 when Arthur died of sweating sickness. After her father-in-law, Henry VII’s, death, Catherine married his second son, now King Henry VIII, in a private ceremony in 1509, becoming Queen of England.
Memorial at Le Mans. Image Wikipedia
The deadliest ever accident in motor sport occurred on this day in 1955. It happened during…
24 Hours of Le Mans—The 1955 Le Mans disaster, the most catastrophic event in motorsport history, occurred when a Mercedes-Benz crashed into the spectator area, killing at least 82 people. The official inquiry blamed the track layout rather than the drivers.
In 173, the Roman army was encircled by the Quadi, who had broken a peace treaty. Emperor Marcus Aurelius defeated them in a thunderstorm. This ‘miracle in the rain’ is depicted at the start of the film Gladiator (2000). During what war or wars had the actual battle taken place?
Marcomannic Wars—Gladiator (2000) depicts Marcus Aurelius seizing victory in the Marcomannic Wars. In reality, the war was ongoing when he died. Commodus secured peace with the two Germanic tribes allied against Rome, the Marcomanni and the Quadi, immediately after his father’s death.
Hugh Laurie and House executive producers Katie Jacobs and David Shore, 2009. Image Wikipedia
Which actor born 11 June 1959, links these: Prince Regent to House to Roper. Who is he?
Hugh Laurie—An English actor, comedian, singer, musician, and writer. He gained recognition as part of the comedy duo Fry and Laurie, and later starred as Dr. Gregory House in the medical drama series House (2004-2012). He has also appeared in films, released blues albums and written a novel. Pertinent to the question, as well as House his roles include George, Prince Regent in Blackadder III (1987) and Richard Onslow Roper in The Night Manager (2016).
Millicent Fawcett. Image Wikipedia
Born this day in 1847, who became the first woman honoured by a statue in Parliament Square, London, UK?
Millicent Fawcett—The statue of Dame Millicent Fawcett, a prominent leader in the women’s suffrage movement, was erected in Parliament Square to commemorate the centenary of women’s suffrage in the UK. The statue, created by Gillian Wearing, depicts Dame Millicent at age 50, holding a banner with a quote from a speech she made after Emily Davison’s death. The statue creates another first: the sculptor, Gillian Wearing, being the first woman to create a statue that stands in Parliament Square.
Henry VIII of England married for the first time on 11 June 1509, his bride, Catherine of Aragon, was his…
Half-sister
Sister-in-law
Stepsister
The deadliest ever accident in motor sport occurred on this day in 1955. It happened during…
24 Hours of Le Mans
Indianapolis 500
Mille Miglia
In 173, the Roman army was encircled by the Quadi, who had broken a peace treaty. Emperor Marcus Aurelius defeated them in a thunderstorm. This ‘miracle in the rain’ is depicted at the start of the film Gladiator (2000). During what war or wars had the actual battle taken place?
Alemannic Wars
Marcomannic Wars
War of Radagaisus
Which actor born 11 June 1959, links these: Prince Regent to House to Roper. Who is he?
Hugh Laurie
John Laurie
Mike Laurie
Born this day in 1847, who became the first woman honoured by a statue in Parliament Square, London, UK?
What number is represented by these Roman numerals: MCMLXXV?
75—
The name of the Japanese Island Iwo Jima literally means …
Sulfur Island—Iwo Jima, a volcanic island in the Ogasawara Archipelago, is administered by Tokyo despite its 1,200 km distance. The island, known for its strategic importance during World War II, was the site of a pivotal battle and is now home to a Self-Defence Force base. Its area has increased due to ongoing volcanic activity.
Cate Blanchett, 2024. Image Wikipedia
Who is the only actress in Oscar history to be nominated twice for playing the same role in two films?
Cate Blanchett—was nominated twice for playing the same role in two films, namely Elizabeth I in Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007).
Khnum. Image Wikipedia
The deity Khnum was originally associated with the…
Cataracts of the Nile—Khnum, an ancient Egyptian deity, was revered as the creator of human bodies and the life force. He was believed to shape them from clay on a potter’s wheel. Khnum’s worship spanned from the First Dynasty to the Greco-Roman period. He was typically depicted with ram horns, representing fertility and rebirth, and later evolved to feature the down-turned horns of Ammon.
Gerhard Schroeder, 2005. Image Wikipedia
In 2000, Angela Merkel succeeded who as Chancellor of of Germany?
Gerhard Schröder— Angela Merkel won the CDU/CSU nomination to challenge Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in the 2005 federal elections. After a close election, Merkel formed a grand coalition with the SPD, becoming Chancellor on 22 November 2005, with a focus on reducing unemployment.
On 8 June 1968, James Earl Ray, who was later convicted of the assassination of Martin Luther King, was arrested at…
London Heathrow Airport, UK—James Earl Ray, convicted of assassinating Martin Luther King Jr., fled to London after the murder and was captured there. In 1999, after a civil trial in Memphis, a jury found Loyd Jowers liable for the assassination, concluding it was a conspiracy involving US government agencies.
Today in 452, an invasion heading towards Rome, devastated the northern provinces of Italy. The invasion was lead by…
Attila the Hun—ruler of the Huns from 434 to 453, led an empire in Central and Eastern Europe. He invaded the Eastern and Western Roman Empires, attempting to conquer Constantinople and Gaul, but died before conquering Rome. Ivan the Terrible and Vlad the Impaler lived a millennium after Attila.
Maximilien Robespierre. Image Wikipedia
On 8 June 1794, during the French Revolution, a new religion was inaugurated, which was celebrated with festivals across France. It was called the Cult of the…
Supreme Being—a deistic religion established by Maximilien Robespierre during the French Revolution, was intended to replace Catholicism and the Cult of Reason. It was banned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.
Mount Everest. Image Wikipedia
On this date in 1924, British mountaineers Andrew Irvine and George Mallory went missing. Which expedition were they on?
British Mount Everest Expedition—The 1924 expedition, the second attempt to reach the summit, saw two summit attempts by Edward Norton and the disappearance of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine on the third attempt. Mallory’s body was found in 1999, but Irvine’s remains were only discovered in 2024.
Descendants of Matthew Quintal and John Adams, the mutineers on Bounty, 1862. Image Wikipedia
On 8 June 1856, a group of people arrived on Norfolk Island to be resettled from Pitcairn Island. These were descendants of the mutineers from the…
Bounty—In 1856, 193 Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian partners, resettled on Norfolk Island due to Pitcairn’s overpopulation. They established farming and whaling industries, and the island’s population continued to grow despite some families returning to Pitcairn.
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