Whose reign?

In whose reign did these historic events take place? Test your knowledge of Plantagenet and Tudor history with this fun quiz.

Q1) In whose reign did Christopher Columbus "sail the ocean blue" and reach the New World?

Richard III

Henry VII

Edward IV

Henry VIII

Correct! It was on 12 October 1492.

Wrong! It was in 1492, so the reign of Henry VII.

Q2) In whose reign was Anne Askew tortured and executed?

Henry VIII

Mary I

Edward VI

Elizabeth I

Correct! She was burnt at the stake on 16th July 1546.

Wrong! It was in Henry VIII's reign. She was burnt at the stake on 16th July 1546.

Q3) In whose reign did the Prayer Book Rebellion take place?

Elizabeth I

Henry VIII

Mary I

Edward VI

Correct! It took place in Devon and Cornwall in 1549.

Wrong! It was in Edward VI's reign. It took place in Devon and Cornwall in 1549.

Q4) In whose reign did Richard Chancellor enter the White Sea, drop anchor at the port of Archangel, travel to the court of Ivan IV (the Terrible) of Russia and establish relations with Russia, opening up trade between England and Russia?

Edward VI

Mary I

Lady Jane Grey

Elizabeth I

Correct! He entered the White Sea in late August 1553, so in the reign of Mary I.

Wrong! It was in the reign of Mary I. He entered the White Sea in late August 1553.

Q5) London was badly affected by the Black Death of 1348 and the Great Plague of 1665, but in whose reign did nearly a quarter (24%) of Londoners die in a bout of the plague?

Elizabeth I

Richard III

Henry VII

Henry VIII

Correct! It was in 1563.

Wrong! It was in the reign of Elizabeth I, in 1563.

Q6) In whose reign was the Battle of Stoke?

Edward IV

Henry VIII

Henry VII

Henry VI

Correct! It was in 1487. King Henry VII fought and defeated the Earl of Lincoln and Lambert Simnel.

Wrong! It was in Henry VII's reign. It was in 1487. King Henry VII fought and defeated the Earl of Lincoln and Lambert Simnel.

Q7) In whose reign was the Ale Houses Act passed, which is seen as laying the foundation of modern licensing laws?

Richard III

Edward VI

Mary I

Elizabeth I

Correct! It was passed in 1552.

Wrong! It was passed in 1552, in Edward VI's reign.

Q8) In whose reign did lightning strike the steeple of Old St Paul's Cathedral causing it to catch fire?

Elizabeth I

Lady Jane Grey

Mary I

Edward VI

Correct! It was on 4 June 1561.

Wrong! It was in Elizabeth I's reign on 4 June 1561.

Q9) In whose reign did Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, die?

Henry VII

Henry VIII

Edward IV

Richard III

Correct! She died on 29th June 1509 just four days after enjoying the coronation celebrations of her grandson Henry VIII. Henry Parker, Lord Morley, who acted as her cupbearer at the coronation ceremonies, reported that “she took her infirmity with eating of a cygnet” at the coronation banquet.

Wrong! She died on 29th June 1509 just four days after enjoying the coronation celebrations of her grandson Henry VIII. Henry Parker, Lord Morley, who acted as her cupbearer at the coronation ceremonies, reported that “she took her infirmity with eating of a cygnet” at the coronation banquet.

Q10) In whose reign was an act "for due process to be had in high treason in cases of lunacy or madness" passed by Parliament, meaning that "a person becoming insane after the supposed commission of treason, might be tried; or losing his rational faculties after attainder, might be executed"?

Mary I

Henry VII

Henry VIII

Edward VI

Correct! It was passed in 1542 to allow Henry VIII to execute Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.

Wrong! It was in the reign of Henry VIII. It was passed in 1542 to allow Henry VIII to execute Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford.