Quizology.Online

Tag: royalty

  • Double, double toil and trouble—Answers

    Macbeth and Banquo meeting the witches on the heath by
    Théodore Chassériau (1819–1856).
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 14 August, King Duncan I of Scotland was killed in battle by his cousin, Macbeth, who then succeeded him. This event occurred in the what century?

     — Answer: 11th century

    Unlike the ‘King Duncan’ of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the historical Duncan appears to have been a young man. After his grandfather Malcolm’s death on 25 November 1034, Duncan succeeded him as king without apparent opposition. In August 1040, Duncan led an army into Moray, Macbeth’s domain, and was killed in action at the Battle of Bothnagowan.

    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?

     — Answer: Catherine the Great

    Catherine the Great, reigning empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, modernised the country, expanded its territory, and fostered a cultural renaissance. Despite her Enlightenment ideals, serfdom persisted, leading to rebellions. Catherine’s reign saw the founding of cities, universities, and theatres, and the establishment of Russia as a great power.

    The Lion in Winter (1968)
    Image The MovieDB

    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?

     — Answer: The Lion in Winter and Eleanor of Aquitaine

    The play is set at Christmas 1183 at Henry II of England’s castle in Chinon, France. It follows the power struggles between Henry, his wife Eleanor, their sons, and the King of France, Philip II Augustus.

    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?

     — Answer: *Napoleon *

    Ridley Scott’s 2023 film Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, depicts the French leader’s rise to power and his relationship with Joséphine. The film received mixed reviews, praised for its battle sequences and performances but criticised for its pacing and historical accuracy.

    W.E. film poster (2011).Image Sens Critique

    Five 

    Madonna’s 2011 film W.E. is a historical romance involving what 20th-century royal couple?

     — Answer: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (who became the Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

    Edward VIII’s relationship with Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, caused a constitutional crisis. Despite attempts to find a solution, including a morganatic marriage, the Church of England and most politicians opposed the union. Edward chose to abdicate the throne on 11 December 1936, prioritising his love for Simpson over his royal duties.

  • We Have All the Time in the World | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    One

    Burkina Faso, an African country, changed to that name on August 4, 1984. What was its name prior to that?

    Answer: Republic of Upper Volta

    This landlocked West African country, which had been a French colony, gained full independence in 1960 and changed its name to Burkina Faso on this day in 1984.

    Two

    On this day in 1944, following a tip from an informer the Gestapo search a warehouse and find and arrest Jewish diarist Anne Frank, her family, and four others. In what city was the warehouse located?

    Answer: Amsterdam

    Diarist Anne Frank (Annelies Marie Frank), a German-born Jewish girl, documented her life in hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in a diary. After being arrested by the Gestapo and transported to concentration camps, Anne and her sister Margot died in Bergen-Belsen, likely from typhus. Her diary, published posthumously by her father Otto, became a global bestseller and a powerful testament to the Holocaust. The warehouse, offices and secret annex are now a museum, Anne Frank House.

    Three

    An actor born today in 1955, played Dan Truman, a NASA executive, in Armageddon (1998) and Davy Crockett in The Alamo (2004). Who is he?

    Answer: Billy Bob Thornton

    Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, filmmaker, singer, and songwriter. He gained international attention for his work in Sling Blade and has since appeared in numerous films and television series, winning several awards including an Academy Award and Golden Globes. Thornton is also a musician, having released four solo albums and performing with the Boxmasters.

    Four

    The last Empress of India was born 4 August 1900 in England. What was here name, and her primary title between December 1936 and February 1952?

    Answer: Elizabeth and Her Majesty the Queen

    Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, born on 4 August 1900, reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952, as the wife of King George VI.  She held the title of Empress of India from 1936 until the dissolution of the British Raj on 15 August 1947. Following her husband’s passing, she was officially known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother to distinguish her from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

    Five

    A man described by Encyclopædia Britannica as…

    a prolifically gifted natural musician and the leading trumpeter in jazz history

    …was born 4 august 1901. Almost seven decades later he sang We Have All the Time in the World in a Bond film. Who was he?

    Answer: Louis Armstrong

    Louis Armstrong, a highly influential American jazz trumpeter and vocalist, was born in New Orleans and rose to prominence in the 1920s. He shifted jazz’s focus from collective improvisation to solo performance and became an international icon by the 1950s. We Have All the Time in the World” was featured on the soundtrack of the James Bondfilm _On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

  • We Have All the Time in the World

    These are all linked by today’s date, August 4th.

    One

    Burkina Faso, an African country, changed to that name on August 4, 1984. What was its name prior to that?

    Two

    On this day in 1944, following a tip from an informer the Gestapo search a warehouse and find and arrest Jewish diarist Anne Frank, her family, and four others. In what city was the warehouse located?

    Three

    An actor born today in 1955, played Dan Truman, a NASA executive, in Armageddon (1998) and Davy Crockett in The Alamo (2004). Who is he?

    Four

    The last Empress of India was born 4 August 1900 in England. What was her name, and her primary title between December 1936 and February 1952?

    Five

    A man described by Encyclopædia Britannica as…

    a prolifically gifted natural musician and the leading trumpeter in jazz history

    …was born 4 August 1901. Almost seven decades later he sang We Have All the Time in the World in a Bond film. Who was he?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Gallimaufry II | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    Camilo José Cela.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which Spanish Nobel laureate wrote the novels The Family of Pascual Duarte, The Hive and Christ Versus Arizona?

    • Camilo José Cela
    • Mario Vargas Llosa
    • Patrick Modiano

    Answer: Camilo José Cela

    Camilo José Cela y Trulock, a Spanish novelist and poet, was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature for his prose. He was associated with the Generation of ’36 movement.

    National Museum of Cameroon, Yaoundé.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    Yaoundé is the capital of which French-speaking West African country?

    Answer: Cameroon

    Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, is the second-largest city with a population of over 2.8 million. Founded as a German trading post in 1887, it became the French colonial capital in 1922 and the seat of government for independent Cameroon in 1960.

    King George VI and Queen Elizabeth acknowledge the crowds at Toronto City Hall during the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Camilla is Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III. Who was the last person to be Queen consort of these realms?

    Answer: Elizabeth (Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon wife of George VI and later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother)

    Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married Prince Albert, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. When King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936, Prince Albert became King George VI, and Elizabeth, as his wife, became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth. She was also the last Empress of India. After her husband’s death in 1952, her daughter Elizabeth became queen regnant, or queen in her own right. She reigned as Elizabeth II, and to avoid confusion, her mother was styled as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

    Captain Archibald Haddock.
    Image Tintin.com

    Four

    …is Tintin’s friend, but what is his full name?

    Answer: Archibald Haddock

    Captain Archibald Haddock, introduced in The Crab with the Golden Claws, is Tintin’s best friend and a seafaring captain. Initially depicted as alcoholic, he becomes more respectable and heroicand quickly evolved into a loyal companion to Tintin. Hergé developed Haddock’s character, giving him a rich ancestry and a home, Marlinspike Hall, to provide a base for future adventures. Haddock’s name was suggested by Hergé’s wife, and his character was based on aspects of Hergé’s friends, adding humour to the Tintin stories.

    Women’s lacrosse.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Women’s Lacrosse World Cup has been held eleven times, with the United States winning nine of these championships. The remaining two championships were won by which country?

    • Australia
    • Belgium
    • Canada

    Answer: Australia

    The World Lacrosse Women’s Championship, held every four years, is the international championship of women’s lacrosse. Sponsored by the Federation of International Lacrosse since 2009, it was previously sponsored by the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations. Australia’s victory over the United States in two finals means the US has been represented in all eleven championship finals.

  • Gallimaufry II

    gallimaufry
    noun
    a hodgepodge; confused medley; jumble.

    Today’s questions have no theme and some are multiple choice but others are not.

    Captain ?
    Image Tintin.com

    One

    Which Spanish Nobel laureate wrote the novels The Family of Pascual Duarte, The Hive and Christ Versus Arizona?

    • Camilo José Cela
    • Mario Vargas Llosa
    • Patrick Modiano

    Two

    Yaoundé is the capital of which French-speaking West African country?

    Three

    Camilla is Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as she is the wife of King Charles III. Who was the last person to be Queen consort of these realms?

    Four

    The picture at the top of the post is of Tintin’s friend, but what is his full name?

    Five

    The Women’s Lacrosse World Cup has been held eleven times, with the United States winning nine of these championships. The remaining two championships were won by which country?

    • Australia
    • Belgium
    • Canada

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • A trivial pursuit | Answers

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

    Alfred Deakin.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Alfred Deakin became prime minister for the third time on the 2 June 1909. In what country was he premier?
      • Australia—Alfred Deakin, Australia’s second Prime Minister, was a key figure in Federation and early Australian politics. He served three terms, leading the Protectionist Party and later the Liberal Party, and is remembered for his influence on the “Australian settlement” and the establishment of a two-party system.
        Coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, June 1953.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, today in 1953, took place at…
      • Westminster Abbey—The coronation of Elizabeth II as Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony, televised for the first time, included an oath, anointing, and crowning.
    3. On this day in 1962, during the FIFA World Cup, police had to intervene multiple times in a match to stop violence between Italian players and those from…
      • Chile—The Battle of Santiago, a 1962 FIFA World Cup match between Chile and Italy, was known for its violence, including two red cards, numerous punches, and four police interventions.
        Painting of two alleged witches being tried in Salem, Massachusetts as part of the infamous witchhunts.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. Today in 1692, the first person to be tried for witchcraft in Salem went on trial and was found guilty. Who was she?
      • Bridget Bishop—Bridget Bishop was accused of witchcraft by five young women and tried in the first case of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Multiple witnesses testified against her, claiming she harmed them through apparitions and physical attacks. Despite a jury finding a third nipple on her, Bishop was ultimately convicted of witchcraft based on the sheer number of accusations and her perceived dishonesty in court. She was sentenced to death and hanged.
        Surveyor 1.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. On 2 June 1966, Surveyor 1 became the first US spacecraft to soft-land on another world when it touched down in Oceanus Procellarum on…
      • Moon—Surveyor 1, the first US lunar soft-lander, successfully landed on the Ocean of Storms (Oceanus Procellarum) on 2 June 1966. It transmitted 11,237 photos of the lunar surface to Earth, providing valuable data for the Apollo Moon landings.

  • A trivial pursuit

    Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, June 2nd.

    Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Alfred Deakin became prime minister for the third time on the 2 June 1909. In what country was he premier?
      • Australia
      • Barbados
      • Canada
    2. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, today in 1953, took place at…
      • St Paul’s Cathedral
      • Westminster Abbey
      • Windsor Castle
    3. On this day in 1962, during the FIFA World Cup, police had to intervene multiple times in a match to stop violence between Italian players and those from…
      • Australia
      • Belgium
      • Chile
    4. Today in 1692, the first person to be tried for witchcraft in Salem went on trial and was found guilty. Who was she?
      • Abigail Abbott
      • Bridget Bishop
      • Catherine Chaplain
    5. On 2 June 1966, Surveyor 1 became the first US spacecraft to soft-land on another world when it touched down in Oceanus Procellarum on…
      • Mars
      • Mercury
      • Moon

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Today’s miscellany | Answers

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

    Tom Thumb.
    Image B&O Railroad Museum
    1. 24 May 1840, saw the maiden journey of Peter Cooper’s Tom Thumb locomotive. On which of these did this take place?
      • Baltimore and Ohio Railroad—Tom Thumb, the first American-built steam locomotive, was designed by Peter Cooper in 1829 to demonstrate steam power to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Though it lost a race to a horse-drawn carriage, the demonstration convinced the railroad to adopt steam locomotives.
        Lys Assia.
        Winner of the Inaugural Eurovision Song Contest, 1956. (Photo 1957)
        Image Wikipedia
    2. Today in 1956, the first Eurovision Song Contest took place. Which of these cities hosted it?
      • Lugano, Switzerland—The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition organised by the European Broadcasting Union. Participating countries submit original songs to be performed live and voted on by other countries, with the song receiving the most points declared the winner. The contest, inspired by the Sanremo Music Festival, has been held annually since 1956, making it the longest-running international music competition on television.
        Queen Victoria.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819, when did she become Queen?
      • 20 June 1837—Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901, oversaw significant industrial, political, and scientific changes in the United Kingdom and the expansion of the British Empire. After the death of her husband, Prince Albert, she withdrew from public life but later regained popularity, before dying at the age of 81.
        Joan Baez and Bob Dylan.
        Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C., 28 August 1963.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. Born this day in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, which singer-songwriter penned the lines “You don’t need a weatherman / To know which way the wind blows”?
      • Bob Dylan—These lines are found at the end of the second verse of Bob Dylan’s Subterranean Homesick Blues (see lyrics quoted below), released in 1965 as a single and later on the album Bringing It All Back Home. It was Dylan’s first Top 40 hit in the US and is ranked 187th on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
        John Wesley.
        Portrait by George Romney.
        Image National Portrait Gallery, London/Wikipedia
    5. Aldersgate Day, 24 May, is observed by which of these faith groups?
      • Methodists—Methodism, founded by John Wesley and his brother Charles, originated as a movement within the Church of England in the 18th century, emphasising sanctification and the transformative power of faith. Known for its focus on evangelism, charity, social justice, and a rich musical tradition, Methodism has spread globally through missionary work, with about 80 million adherents. The Wesley brothers began the “Holy Club” at the University of Oxford, where they lived a disciplined religious life, earning the nickname “Methodist” for their systematic approach. In 1735, they traveled to America as ministers but returned to England feeling spiritually unfulfilled. Seeking guidance, John Wesley experienced a pivotal evangelical conversion at a Moravian service in Aldersgate on 24 May 1738, feeling his “heart strangely warmed” and gaining assurance of salvation through Christ. This experience, along with Charles’s similar conversion, marked a monumental moment in the history of Methodism, ensuring its lasting impact on church history.

    Subterranean Homesick Blues

    WRITTEN BY: BOB DYLAN 

    Johnny’s in the basement
    Mixing up the medicine
    I’m on the pavement
    Thinking about the government
    The man in the trench coat
    Badge out, laid off
    Says he’s got a bad cough
    Wants to get it paid off
    Look out kid
    It’s somethin’ you did
    God knows when
    But you’re doin’ it again
    You better duck down the alley way
    Lookin’ for a new friend
    The man in the coon-skin cap
    By the big pen
    Wants eleven dollar bills
    You only got ten

    Maggie comes fleet foot
    Face full of black soot
    Talkin’ that the heat put
    Plants in the bed but
    The phone’s tapped anyway
    Maggie says that many say
    They must bust in early May
    Orders from the D.A.
    Look out kid
    Don’t matter what you did
    Walk on your tiptoes
    Don’t try “No-Doz”
    Better stay away from those
    That carry around a fire hose
    Keep a clean nose
    Watch the plain clothes
    You don’t need a weatherman
    To know which way the wind blows

    Get sick, get well
    Hang around a ink well
    Ring bell, hard to tell
    If anything is goin’ to sell
    Try hard, get barred
    Get back, write braille
    Get jailed, jump bail
    Join the army, if you fail
    Look out kid
    You’re gonna get hit
    But users, cheaters
    Six-time losers
    Hang around the theaters
    Girl by the whirlpool
    Lookin’ for a new fool
    Don’t follow leaders
    Watch the parkin’ meters

    Ah get born, keep warm
    Short pants, romance, learn to dance
    Get dressed, get blessed
    Try to be a success
    Please her, please him, buy gifts
    Don’t steal, don’t lift
    Twenty years of schoolin’
    And they put you on the day shift
    Look out kid
    They keep it all hid
    Better jump down a manhole
    Light yourself a candle
    Don’t wear sandals
    Try to avoid the scandals
    Don’t wanna be a bum
    You better chew gum
    The pump don’t work
    ’Cause the vandals took the handles

    Copyright © 1965 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1993 by Special Rider Music

    bobdylan.com

  • Today’s miscellany

    Queen Victoria.
    Image Wikipedia

    Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, May 24th.

    1. 24 May 1840, saw the maiden journey of Peter Cooper’s Tom Thumb locomotive. On which of these did this take place?
      • Albany and Pennsylvania Railroad
      • Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
      • Cambridge and Connecticut Railroad
    2. Today in 1956, the first Eurovision Song Contest took place. Which of these cities hosted it?
      • London, UK
      • Lugano, Switzerland
      • Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
    3. Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819, when did she become Queen?
      • 20 June 1837
      • 21 May 1838
      • 22 July 1839
    4. Born this day in 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota, which singer-songwriter penned the lines “You don’t need a weatherman / To know which way the wind blows”?
      • Bob Dylan
      • James Taylor
      • Neil Young
    5. Aldersgate Day, May 24th, is observed by which of these faith groups?
      • Baptists
      • Methodists
      • Quakers

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • From Paris to Kashyyyk | Answers

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

    First distribution of the Legion of Honor crosses at the church of Les Invalides on July 14, 1804.
    Jean-Baptiste Debret, Ca. 1812
    Image Wikipedia
    1. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
      • Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802—The National Order of the Legion of Honour, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is France’s highest national order of merit, applicable to both military and civil achievements. It is open to all citizens and foreigners, regardless of birth, religion, or rank, and has been maintained by all French governments with minor changes. The order consists of five classes and is led by the President of France as Grand Master. Its insignia includes the head of the Republic and the motto Honour and Country.
        Sam Smith, 2015.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
      • Sam Smith—Samuel Smith, an English singer and songwriter, rose to prominence in 2012 with a feature on Disclosure’s Latch. Smith’s song Writing’s on the Wall became the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, earning Smith a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
        Map of North America.
        Guillaume Sanson, Rome, 1687.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
      • Northwest Passage—The Northwest Passage (NWP) is a sea lane connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean. It passes near the northern coast of North America, traversing waterways within the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. Franklin’s search for the Northwest Passage began on May 19, 1845, with two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, carrying 128 men. Last seen in July 1845, their fate remained unknown until 1859 when a search found skeletons and a written account on King William Island. The ships wintered at Beechey Island in 1845-46 and became trapped in ice in Victoria Strait in September 1846. By April 1848, Franklin and 23 others had died, and the remaining 105 survivors deserted the ships, resorting to cannibalism. Postmortems suggested botulism, scurvy and lead poisoning contributed to their decline. In 2014, the Erebus was discovered off King William Island, and in 2016, the Terror was found in Terror Bay, well-preserved and suggesting the crew had prepared for winter before leaving.
        St George’s Chapel, Windsor. St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
        The Nave is dominated by this Great West Window, often claimed to be the third largest in the UK. The chapel dates from 1475 and is built in the richest Perpendicular Gothic style. The whole building is Cathedral size, at over 315ft (96m) in length.
        Image Jack Pease/Wikipedia
    4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
      • St George’s Chapel—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on 19 May 2018 in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The ceremony, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, included elements of African-American culture.
        Peter Mayhew, 2015.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a being from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
      • Peter Mayhew—Peter Mayhew, a British-American actor, is best known for portraying Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series from 1977 to 2015. Born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, Surrey, Mayhew was diagnosed with gigantism at the age of eight and later developed Marfan syndrome. This genetic tissue disorder caused his peak height to reach 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m). He was cast as Chewbacca by director George Lucas, who sought a tall actor for the role. He modelled his performance on observing animals at London Zoo and continued working as a hospital orderly during filming.
    Chewbacca.
    Image Star Wars Universe