Tag: Europe

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.

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?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

1. 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.

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2. 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.

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3. 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.

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4. 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).

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5. 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.

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, June 11th.

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. Which actor born 11 June 1959, links these: Prince Regent to House to Roper. Who is he?
   • Hugh Laurie
   • John Laurie
   • Mike Laurie
5. Born this day in 1847, who became the first woman honoured by a statue in Parliament Square, London, UK?
   • Millicent Fawcett
   • Millicent Fenwick
   • Millicent S. Ficken

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.