Which Medieval King Are You?

Quiz!

1.    The previous king has just died, how good is your claim to the throne?

A)    I’m the eldest son of the previous king, 26 years old with a military career and respected by the army. So pretty good!
B)    I’m the grandson of the Former King, which is still a better claim than my uncles have with my father dead. I’m only a child so I have a council that will do the actual ruling for me.
C)    My mother fought a civil war against the former King resulting in an agreement that her son (me) would be the next king on his death.
D)    I’ve just fought a civil war and won… the former King isn’t dead…yet.

2.    As a successful monarch you need to get married and have an heir. Where are you with that?

A)    I’m already married, and we have a son.
B)    I’ve been married but my wife died of plague before we could have any children. I’m now remarried but my wife is only 6 years old…
C)    I’m married to an amazing woman who owns expansive land in France, and we have three sons. Am hoping that isn’t going to be a problem when they get older.
D)    Had a super sexy secretive marriage to one less-than-aristocratic Elizabeth Woodville, we have 10 children and for bonus points I’ve got at least three illegitimate children.

3.    Do you see yourself as a religious person?

A)    I’m currently on crusade. So yeah.
B)    I was appointed to be the King by God, everything comes from God, so I’m basically the next best thing from God.
C)    I think so but I’m having some problems with Thomas Beckett- does anyone have any ideas how to deal with it?
D)    I’ve been to church but have been very busy recently, with the civil war.

4.    A civil war is on the horizon, how do you react?

A)    I haven’t had any problems while being the King but I’ve been busy in France so am battle ready if there is a problem.
B)    I’m the King, and no one would dare to start a civil war while I’m the King. The peasants tried it when I was 14 and I handled it very well.
C)    My wife has threatened this, but I think she is kidding…
D)    I started the civil war. The former King was ineffective and we need strong stable leadership - I won by the way.

5.    What would you like the legacy of your reign to be remember as?

A)    I have a son to continue the dynasty, I have secured the crown of France and have brought a stable peace across England. My legacy would be for this to continue.
B)    My piety to God, the artwork, and buildings I have commissioned!
C)    My law courts, the lands I have secured from southern France all the way to Scotland etc…
D)    I have ended the Wars of the Roses, hopefully I’ll reign long enough to do great things!

Answers!

Mostly A’s - You are Henry V.

Cry God for Harry, England and St George! You are perfectly positioned to be a successful king- tall, handsome (apart from a battle wound on your right cheek, but that’s ok all portraits can be done from the left!), well liked, religious, a fantastic military commander.

Henry V reigned between 1413-1422, a relatively short reign in which he won recognition as a military commander and ultimately died after contracting dysentery. His legacy has been greatly influenced by Shakespeare and he is linked with British identity because of this.

Mostly B’s - You are Richard II.

Your power comes from God and don’t you know it! You are above everyone, no one can argue with you because you are the next best thing from God himself! Culture has blossomed in your Kingdom under your reign, and you are the patron to the grandfather of English Literature himself, Geoffrey Chaucer.

Richard II became King at 10 years old, during his reign of 22 years (1377-1399) he witness political turmoil, the peasant’s revolt, and war in France. His attitudes on absolute monarchy ultimately lead to his downfall and he was deposed by Henry IV in 1399.

Mostly C’s - You are Henry II.

Patron of art, of the principles of law in the English courts, religious, statesman, successful in both marriage and with many male heirs- is there anything you can’t do?! Just don’t mention your old friend, Thomas Beckett, to your knights when he is annoying you…

Henry II (reigned 1154-1189) was the son of Empress Matilda and her second husband Geoffrey Plantagenet and was the first King in the Plantagenet line. His reign saw the Kingdom of England rule lands that stretched from the Pyrenees to the Scottish border. He oversaw changes in the law system of England which saw more power given to local courts and in civil law. He is however best known for the altercation he had with Thomas Beckett and Beckett’s subsequent murder and his falling out with his three sons and his wife.

Mostly D’s - You are Edward IV.

You like to live in the moment, live fast, win battles, and have many children with your wife. Your claim to the throne may be complicated but that doesn’t stop you in drawing the Wars of the Roses to a close. Plus, you have many sons just in case you die and your brother Richard will look after them…

Edward IV (reigned 1461-1470, 1471-1483) was one of the central kings in the Wars of the Roses and deposed Henry VI. After winning the crown his court was known for being “the most splendid in Christendom” but not much is known past the civil war period as Edward died in 1483 and left his young son Edward V in the care of his brother, the then Duke of Gloucester, better known to us as Richard III.