Procedures :-
1) A asks a question, the rest will try to answer.
2) A must confirm which answer is correct.
3) Person (say B) with confirmed correct answer then asks the next question.
4) A cannot play again until B's turn is over (to prevent the thread turning into a 2 person spam party).
5) Repeat.
6) If person asking question doesn't login to confirm answers within 72 hrs of his question being posted, any one can ask a new question.
7) If no one can answer question within 72 hrs or can't get the right one, questioner can ask again.
8) Preferably no Net or book searches.
9) If answer has been confirmed and the new questioner hasn't set a question in 72 hours, anyone can ask the new question.

First thread (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=102729)
Second thread (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=120301)
Third thread (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=156172)
Fourth thread (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=229120)
Fifth Thread (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=270464)

Steph's up, right?

About Keroro's question: If it was Cheju jlvfr's comment was correct.
The first western traveler to report it was Fernão Mendes Pinto (as "Ilha dos Ladrões"), who claimed to shipwreck there in 1541 or 1542 (the way he recounts it, it may be a second-hand acount obtained from another portuguese capitan/pirate, but he may also have been the pirate and unwilling to admit it) and published the story of his travels in 1614 - immediately translated and published around Europe, and certainly put to use by the dutch.
The name was used in 16th and 17th century portuguese, spanish and french maps. By the 1600 a few jesuits had visited Korea, and by 1630 one (João Rodrigues) was even working on a book about the history of missions in China, Japan, and Korea - he died before finishing it, with only the part about japan complete.

The name Keroro was thinking about was probably Hendrik Hamel, who stumbled upon (literally, it seems) the island about a century later and gave it another name.

Steph's up, right?
I guess he dropped it.
Can it be my turn now????
Legally, yes.
This is going to be hard. So probably you need to research this on the Internet for the hard parts. (Question, can the ones who give the questions allow other people to research to find the answers???)
There is a researchable quiz (which admittedly seems to have fallen by the wayside recently). Ideally, the cumulative general history quiz would be a simpler affair.
Give me a list that contains the 30 largest empires in the world. Also give me the years that each empire lasted & each of the empires' first emperor.
There is disagreement over what constitutes an empire. If you're going to make this your question - and I advise against it - you should probably do that.
Example: Austro-Hungary (1867-1918), Franz Joseph I
Why is that different than the previous Habsburg state? :crazyeye:

Since you asked for a list containing the 30 largest, but did not limit it to only the 30 largest (such as by asking for a list "of the 30 largest" rather than "containing the 30 largest"), you may end up with people listing 40, 50, 100, 200 empires figuring that the 30 largest would end up included.

Three largest empires off the top of my head:

British Empire - George V
Mongol Empire - Kublai Khan
Russian Empire - Nikolas II

...someone continue...

I guess he dropped it.

Legally, yes.

There is a researchable quiz (which admittedly seems to have fallen by the wayside recently). Ideally, the cumulative general history quiz would be a simpler affair.

There is disagreement over what constitutes an empire. If you're going to make this your question - and I advise against it - you should probably do that.

Why is that different than the previous Habsburg state? :crazyeye:
So that means no research. Whatsoever. And also, Austria-Hungary is a dual monarchy formed in 1867. Probably a little different than the Habsburg Empire. Or probably just the name.

Since you asked for a list containing the 30 largest, but did not limit it to only the 30 largest (such as by asking for a list "of the 30 largest" rather than "containing the 30 largest"), you may end up with people listing 40, 50, 100, 200 empires figuring that the 30 largest would end up included.

Okay, okay. Just only list the 10 largest empires. If anyone still debates on how this question follows the rules, I'll make another one (Can I do that???)

Three largest empires off the top of my head:

British Empire - George V
Mongol Empire - Kublai Khan
Russian Empire - Nikolas II

...someone continue...
Acually the first Mongol emperor is already in front of your nose. Or probably your memory storage dempartments in your brain. Also the same with the Russian Empire. Also the first emperor of the British Empire was much earlier than George IV.

Oh, first emperor. I read it as the emperor at the time of its height.

British Empire - Victoria (first to receive title of "Empress" (of India)
Mongol Empire - Genghis Khan
Russian Empire - Peter I, first Tsar of the officially-proclaimed "Russian Empire"

Oh, first emperor. I read it as the emperor at the time of its height.

British Empire - Victoria (first to receive title of "Empress" (of India)
Mongol Empire - Genghis Khan
Russian Empire - Peter I, first Tsar of the officially-proclaimed "Russian Empire"

acually Queen Victoria isn't the first empress of the British Empire. It was another famous (if I said it, it would mean that i would give a clue) monarch who was the first emperor/ress of the British Empire

Three largest empires off the top of my head:

British Empire - George V
Mongol Empire - Kublai Khan
Russian Empire - Nikolas II

...someone continue...

Spanish Empire (16th century) was first one to described as "The Empire on which the sun never sets".

Spanish Empire (16th century) was first one to described as "The Empire on which the sun never sets".

Uh..uh..uh!!!*tsk**tsk* you forgot the first emperor!

I kinda missed the end of the last thread, and the beginning of this...

About Keroro's question: If it was Cheju jlvfr's comment was correct.
The first western traveler to report it was Fernão Mendes Pinto (as "Ilha dos Ladrões"), who claimed to shipwreck there in 1541 or 1542 (the way he recounts it, it may be a second-hand acount obtained from another portuguese capitan/pirate, but he may also have been the pirate and unwilling to admit it) and published the story of his travels in 1614 - immediately translated and published around Europe, and certainly put to use by the dutch.
The name was used in 16th and 17th century portuguese, spanish and french maps. By the 1600 a few jesuits had visited Korea, and by 1630 one (João Rodrigues) was even working on a book about the history of missions in China, Japan, and Korea - he died before finishing it, with only the part about japan complete.

The name Keroro was thinking about was probably Hendrik Hamel, who stumbled upon (literally, it seems) the island about a century later and gave it another name.

The island in question was indeed Cheju, and the captain was Hendrik Hamel. The vessel was the Sparrowhawk (I think it's Sperwer in Dutch). As far as I am aware Korea was a closed Kingdom in the 1600s, and most of the Europeans who arrived were not allowed to leave. Some of Hamel's crew did manage to escape about ten years after getting shipwrecked there and brought a first hand account of Korea to Europe.

I must admit that I haven't come accross João Rodrigues - interesting.

Personally I recon that either Dachs (who named Cheju), Steph (who named Korea), philippe (who got the name of the ship correct - Bravo :clap:) or innonimatu (who named the captain) should be up, but someone seems to have beaten them to it. :lol:

The first emperor of Britain was Carausius, although it would be stretching it to call him a British emperor given that he wasn't British. Also, of course, his empire has no historical contiguity with the one over which Victoria reigned.

Yeah, it'd kind of like having us name Caranus as the first Macedonian ruler, when he had virtually no connection with Alexander's conquests.

Persian: Cyrus the Great. His empire lasted 550-330 BC, although there were revivals later.
Macedonian: Alexander the Great, 336 BC to 309 (death of Alexander's son) or 301 (battle of Ipsus)
Chinese: Became an empire under Shi Huang Ti about 221 BC, and ended as an empire in 1911. Although you could begin this empire with the rise of the Shang Dynasty, or even the Hsia if there really was such a dynasty.

Macedonian: Alexander the Great, 336 BC to 309 (death of Alexander's son) or 301 (battle of Ipsus)
I'd actually put the end at the Peace of the Dynasts in 311 BC(E).

Persian: Cyrus the Great. His empire lasted 550-330 BC, although there were revivals later.
Macedonian: Alexander the Great, 336 BC to 309 (death of Alexander's son) or 301 (battle of Ipsus)
Chinese: Became an empire under Shi Huang Ti about 221 BC, and ended as an empire in 1911. Although you could begin this empire with the rise of the Shang Dynasty, or even the Hsia if there really was such a dynasty.

Wrong. Wrong. and Wrong. C'mon, we already had the first 3 largest empires. Just indicate what rank is the empire.

CLUE: All the top 10 largest empires have their start in the medieval ages.

China should definitely be in top 10. Probably not as early as Shi Huangdi, but certainly during 17-19th centuries.

I have the feeling we will never be able to solve this. We must render ourselves at a loss, not even the combined knowledge of plotinus, sydhe, dachs and cheezy are no match for the unwavering determination of an 14-year old Filippinno.

I surrender.

I have the feeling we will never be able to solve this. We must render ourselves at a loss, not even the combined knowledge of plotinus, sydhe, dachs and cheezy are no match for the unwavering determination of an 14-year old Filippinno.

I surrender.

First of all, I'm 13 years old. NOT 14. Second, you spelled "Filipino" wrong. And third, does this mean that anyone is now free to ask a question or is it still my turn? 'Coz if no one can answer my question, I will give the list of the 30 largest empires, just for reference.

The problem is not merely naming empires and emperors, but rather figuring out what answers you expect.

The problem is not merely naming empires and emperors, but rather figuring out what answers you expect.

So does this mean that it still my turn??? Because I'll list the 30 largest empires in 4:00 pm +8 GMT if it's no longer my turn.

I have the feeling we will never be able to solve this. We must render ourselves at a loss, not even the combined knowledge of plotinus, sydhe, dachs and cheezy are no match for the unwavering determination of an 14-year old Filippinno.

I surrender.

We've all been 14, that is no crime to point out.
And it is imho true that neither Macedon nor Achemenid Empire rank among top ten is size.
However, I agree that the question is not particularly comfortable one, since many aspects are debatable. For instance, should "China" be counted as one empire or as several in succession. (Qing, Ming, Han and so on) - which obviously changes whom to consider as "first emperor".

What constitutes an empire? Must the ruler be declared Emperor? For certainly Carthage commanded an empire, but was governed as a republic. Alexander was King, not Emperor, but the Diaodichi were.

(Not in order)

1. USA!
2. China
3. Russia
4. France
5. Spain
6. England
7. Australia
8. Japan
9. Roman Empire
10. Western Roman Empire
11. Eastern Roman Empire
12. Holy Roman Empire
13. Mexico
14. Germany
15. Pakistan
16. India
17. Byzantine Empire
18. Egypt
19. Mongrel Empire
20. Confederate States of America
21. Canada (Canadian Empire???) :confused:
22. Klingon Empire
23. The Empire
24. Empire State Building
25. Empire Carpet
26. Vulgaria
27. Greeks
28. YTMND.com
29. The Land of Oz
30. Atlantis

Guessing order of size, but most likely hihgly inaccurate and I dont know leaders
British Empire (largest ever, yes larger than the Mongols)
Mongols (largest contiguous)
Russian Empire

Spanish Empire
French Empire
Portuguese Empire

an Arab Caliphate (under Ummayids? from Spain to India)?
Ottoman Empire

Chine (not sure where it fits but it was pretty big at some points, it is still the third or fourth biggest country)

For the tenth, no idea. We are probably at about the size of modern Canada/US though.

Alexander was King, not Emperor, but the Diaodichi were.
:mischief: The word for their titles is the same, really. :p

Hahaha. You are so proud of your country. Hahaha. Remember hubris!
WRONG!!!!!!! F--
P.S. Not every country/website/building is an empire, you dogglemutt.
(Not in order)

1. USA!
2. China
3. Russia
4. France
5. Spain
6. England
7. Australia
8. Japan
9. Roman Empire
10. Western Roman Empire
11. Eastern Roman Empire
12. Holy Roman Empire
13. Mexico
14. Germany
15. Pakistan
16. India
17. Byzantine Empire
18. Egypt
19. Mongrel Empire
20. Confederate States of America
21. Canada (Canadian Empire???) :confused:
22. Klingon Empire
23. The Empire
24. Empire State Building
25. Empire Carpet
26. Vulgaria
27. Greeks
28. YTMND.com
29. The Land of Oz
30. Atlantis

How bout you say which ones are wrong since I would put money on at least 7 of the ones I gave being right. I am not sure if and Caliphate was united as a really large entity, and I am not sure about the Turks.
Unless of course you are basing on dynasties or something. There is too many possible answers.

Just read your list, Perfection, that is pretty good. You missed the Romulan Star Empire though, so much better than the Klingon Empire :)

Guessing order of size, but most likely hihgly inaccurate and I dont know leaders
British Empire (largest ever, yes larger than the Mongols)
Mongols (largest contiguous)
Russian Empire

Spanish Empire
French Empire
Portuguese Empire

an Arab Caliphate (under Ummayids? from Spain to India)?
Ottoman Empire

Chine (not sure where it fits but it was pretty big at some points, it is still the third or fourth biggest country)

For the tenth, no idea. We are probably at about the size of modern Canada/US though.
Correct with the first three but the rest are all jumbled. You got just eight right plus you must arrange it with the largest first. Also the tenth largest empire is a very familiar one.

what one is wrong?

Spain
Arabs
France
China
Portugal
Turks
US?

Arabs are an educated guess, China I have no clue.

How about:

Spanish
Arab
Chinese
French
Portuguese
Ottoman
American

what one is wrong?

Spain
Arabs
France
China
Portugal
Turks
US?

Arabs are an educated guess, China I have no clue.

How about:

Spanish
Arab
Chinese
French
Portuguese
Ottoman
American

taillesskangaroo's correct! Bonus points if you know what Chinese dynasty is the largest by area

taillesskangaroo's correct! Bonus points if you know what Chinese dynasty is the largest by area
Qing. :lol:

Qing. :lol:

That's correct!!!! Now, to make this question more fair & to determine the winner, the first person to give me the complete list of largest empires wins.

That's a flexible definition of "empire" you have there.

I'm not sure what you mean by the beginning of an empire. For example, does the British Empire begin with Elizabeth I and the Roanoke colony, or with Anne (since she was monarch at the time of the Act of Union), James I (first permanent colonies), or whoever began the occupation of Ireland?

You can make a good case that the Portuguese empire begins in 1415 with the reign of John I and the conquest of Ceuta (or 1418 and the colonization of Madeira, also during his reign). I suspect it reached its greatest extent during the reign of John VI since Portugal had been expanding Brazil for a long time.

The United States is not really an 'empire', despite what left-wingers say about it.

That all depends on your definition of "Empire".
The US meets many definitions of an "Empire", the most common argument against it being one is that it is a republic. but the French had an empire as a republic, as you can consider that the US did with territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, Phillipines, etc..

That is a flaw with his question there are many definitions of Empire, and question about size, such as do you include the vast tracks of western North America explored and claimed by Spain, but never settled or anything?

The Americans put a flag on the moon. Does that count as an empire?

Also, if we consider separate Chinese dynasties as separate empires, then there should probably be USSR right next to Russia in top 10....

Since it's been 72 hours...

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/2350/quiz13kt6.jpg

Find something that connects these things/persons togheter. This question is perhaps more general knowledge than history knowledge...

Upper right corner are the bridges of Könisberg, and most probably Euler.

Upper left could be Immanuel Kant, other famous Königsberger, and thus down left would probably be the coat of arms of the town.

Down right is probably some other famous man from there, I just can't tell who.

So my guess would be: Königsberg.

Indeed - all correct! :goodjob: Your turn, Atticus.

A little hint for the last person: Do you know any other names for Königsberg?

Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad
Yeah, it's the Party hack. THIS IS NOT A VALID NAME FOR THE CITY AAAARGH :mad::mad::mad::mad:

:p

Kaliningrad
The coat of arms is also that of Kaliningrad, technically. Historical coat of arms is that red-and-white(silver?) on the ship. I didn't know it, looked it up and thought I'd clarify.

Thanks for clarifying, Yeekim. Now it should be easy to id the last person. :)

I must admit that I was inspired to make the quiz due to your old avatar, Dachs. So it was in a way nice that I posted this after you had changed avatar. By the way, why all the changes? Identity (avatar) crisis? :D

Well I had some doubts that it could be Kalinin, but was too unsure.

Ok, here's next question: Legend says that the kings of playing cards are certain rulers of the past. Who are they? (No need to know which king is which ruler)

I believe the French started to use kings from history and mythology.

I know that they used David, Alexander, and Caesar. Is the last one Charlemagne?

All correct! :D

Name at least two companies that were part of the IG Farbenindustrie AG conglomerate, and why they were joined together.

I must admit that I was inspired to make the quiz due to your old avatar, Dachs.
The Teutonic Knights are...were...have been awesome. :p
By the way, why all the changes? Identity (avatar) crisis? :D
Kinda. I think that my avatar should reflect me, my current interests, and mentality, and I change it semimonthly to keep up a semblance of that. I doubt people will expect the second February avatar. :evil:
Name at least two companies that were part of the IG Farbenindustrie AG conglomerate, and why they were joined together.
Bayer and BASF were two of them. I think that the Farben companies were already working very closely with one another from war experience, and decided to merge in order to provide more powerful competition and reclaim prewar dominance, something that only became possible when the German economy started to stabilize after '24. Carl Duisberg at Bayer was the prime mover, wasn't he?

@Dachs: Correct. Your turn.

What treaty saw the transfer of western (or 'Royal') Prussia from the control of the Teutonic Knights to the crown of Poland?

I'll just take a wild guess: Treaty of Malborg? :P

Nah. :p Nice try though.

Second Treaty of Thorn, after the Thirteen Years' War against the Prussian Confederation.

Second Treaty of Thorn, after the Thirteen Years' War against the Prussian Confederation.
You're up. Good work.

Right, I'm looking for a person.
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/1184/quizxz1.th.png (http://img410.imageshack.us/my.php?image=quizxz1.png)

I recognize the Goat-Cabbage-Wolf dilemma, bottom left seems to be a Roman-style church.

Probably an architectural & mathematical genius from the middle ages.

The middle picture on the top is Lindesfarne. The picture to the lower left looks more like a monastery than a church.

... and the statue, I suspect, is of St Martin. Hmm..., seems like the answer is at fingertips...wait...

:bump:

Found anything yet, Yeekim? :p

Nope, I just can't put the clues together! :wallbash:
Probably also because I can't identify that cathedral - these damn things all look so much alike!
Must surrender here.

FWIW, if I can lend a machete to your intellectual thicket, that is St. Martin. (Not being able to answer saddens me. :()

Pretty sure I figured it out through research (and as I researched I won't say), but even with research I can't figure out what the bottom left picture is of.

If it helps, the cathedral is also a minster. The other building is not a monastery or a church, though it does contain a chapel, and the disconnected portion is a bath house fed from hot springs.

I would have guessed it's Tours or Rouen cathedral, but minsters are British, right? So it could be the Lincoln Cathedral, the first building to surpass Giza's pyramid in height. I'm pretty sure I've seen the exact same image which is in bottom left, but can't remember where.

EDIT: In the cabbage-picture there seems to be also "the tower of Hanoi" in the basckground and turtle apparently competing with the boat (Achilleus) plus a reference to different kinds of weighting problems. At first I tought it was a reference to island castle (the one at the shore of France to be exact), like the upper middle picture, but it is probably a more general reference.

I recognize the Goat-Cabbage-Wolf dilemma
So...there you go?

Pretty sure it isn't Lincoln Cathedral.

And, wow, the bottom left is plain as day, I even knew what it was with religious buildings ruled out. I am willing to put money on you and pretty much everyone else in this thread having seen the image before, I sure have.

The bottom left image is some sort of Roman basilica. It may be Old St. Peter's.

Is upper left York Minster?

Indeed it is.

EDIT: In the cabbage-picture there seems to be also "the tower of Hanoi" in the basckground and turtle apparently competing with the boat (Achilleus) plus a reference to different kinds of weighting problems. At first I tought it was a reference to island castle (the one at the shore of France to be exact), like the upper middle picture, but it is probably a more general reference.It's meant to be the river-crossing problem. It's from the cover of a book on algorithm design, which is why there are other problems referenced.

The lower left is Charlemagne's palace at Aachen.

Alcuin of York, then. Educated at the cathedral school at York, Charlemagne's chief scholar, retired to St Martin's abbey at Tours. Not quite sure what the other connections are though. And say1988 would lose that bet, since I've never seen the image and wouldn't have known what it was without being told.

A "minster" is just a big church - it may be a cathedral or not. It's just an odd convention that the cathedral in York is known as York Minster.

Alcuin of YorkYep. You're up.Not quite sure what the other connections are though.His letters provide the best contemporary account of the attack on Lindisfarne, and the goat-cabbage-wolf problem first appears in a book of problems attributed to Alcuin.

A "minster" is just a big church - it may be a cathedral or not. It's just an odd convention that the cathedral in York is known as York Minster.I thought that minsters were churches that had been founded under a monastic discipline?

Alas, too late.

I would have guessed it's Tours or Rouen cathedral, but minsters are British, right? So it could be the Lincoln Cathedral, the first building to surpass Giza's pyramid in height. I'm pretty sure I've seen the exact same image which is in bottom left, but can't remember where.

EDIT: In the cabbage-picture there seems to be also "the tower of Hanoi" in the basckground and turtle apparently competing with the boat (Achilleus) plus a reference to different kinds of weighting problems. At first I tought it was a reference to island castle (the one at the shore of France to be exact), like the upper middle picture, but it is probably a more general reference.

I think I've got it. St. Alcuin was a mathematician and came from York. He also is the source of our account of the sack of Lindisfarne.

EDIT: Alas, too late

And say1988 would lose that bet, since I've never seen the image and wouldn't have known what it was without being told.
It was directed at Atticus, and most may not include you :)

I am glad I actually figured out two of the pictures, but knew nothing of the connection, and I believe I have heard of Alcuin, but know nothing about him. Ah well, I am a fan of more modern history, not much medieval or anything.

All right then, a quick one because I can't think of anything else right now:

Commentaries on biblical books are one of the most important and common forms of Christian literature. The oldest surviving Christian commentary on a book of the Bible is on the book of Daniel. Who wrote it?

Origen? (10 characters)

Good guess, but no.

Lucky guess... St. Augustine?

Plotinus??

Lucky guess... St. Augustine?

No, there's a vast amount of Christian literature before Augustine.

Plotinus??

That's definitely not a lucky guess, but I suspect you don't need me to tell you that.

Daftness from Perfection? Who'd have thought it?Hey it was a good guess for someone completely clueless on the matter. :smug:

Well... I'd say that to be a good guess, it would have had to have been a Christian, as a bare minimum.

Hmm, someone quite early then. Athanasius?

Nope - much earlier than that.

Justin Martyr? He's a guy from pretty early on.

Good guess! But a bit too early now. In fact Justin's only surviving works are his Apologeticum (1 and 2) and Dialogus cum Tryphon.

St. Hippolytus?

That's right. Hippolytus of Rome wrote the earliest extant Christian commentary on the Bible, at around the end of the second century. Is he a saint though?

Your turn.

Yes, Hippolytus is both a Saint and an Antipope. It can happen. He was a contemporary of Origen, so I got the right time period the first time.

What is the system of writing in this image?

http://chapters.nss.org/ok/quiz/pic1.gif

Amharic, or the Ge'ez alphabet???

Amharic, or the Ge'ez alphabet???

Does look a little bit like it, but no.

Aramaic? XCL

Nope. (10 Characters.)

It's obviously some sort of shorthand, but you're probably after some subcategory of it.

Yes, Hippolytus is both a Saint and an Antipope. It can happen. He was a contemporary of Origen, so I got the right time period the first time.

True. Actually it's not certain that he was an antipope - he may have been (legitimate) bishop of Ostia.

It's obviously some sort of shorthand, but you're probably after some subcategory of it.

You're on the right track. It is indeed a form of shorthand.

Well, that's as far as I can get. I can't even guess since I don't remember names of different forms.

Is that the weird shorthand they use at the UN to take down notes of people's speeches? Its based on phonetics or something and isn't an actual language in itself; supposed to be universal. I really don't know a whole lot about it, actually, apart from that it exists.

No. Considerably older than that.

Here's another character from the same script which you may have seen. It is not the numeral seven.
http://chapters.nss.org/ok/quiz/symbol.JPG

Some ancient persian or arabic language?

Whatever it is, I know it's not Linear B. And that's about as helpful as I can be. :shifty:

No to all. As Atticus observed, it is a form of shorthand. The symbol that looks like a seven with a bar across it is actually used in some contexts today. A different version of the same symbol, without the bar, is in the first row of the first text I posted. It's the right angle that's about fourth across in the first row.

Looked at the first one again - that looks almost like the stuff in the Tironian Notes. So, Latin shorthand?

Hmm, it reminds me of the astrological symbols of the planets...

Looked at the first one again - that looks almost like the stuff in the Tironian Notes. So, Latin shorthand?

You are correct. This is the shorthand the invention of which is attributed to Marcus Tullius Tiro, Cicero's scribe and ex-slave (note his first two names), although sometimes it's attributed to other people. It's known that he did use a shorthand to record speeches, including Cato's speech against Cataline. The system was used by monks for over a thousand years, and a couple of the signs have survived, the Tironian "et" symbol above which is still used in places in place of "and," much like the ampersand, and probably the last letter of the abbreviation viz. for videlicet ("to wit") , which is not in origin a z at all.

Yay for paying attention in Classics. Another image-quiz: I'm looking for a dude.
http://img5.imageshack.us/img5/774/quiz1dr1.png

Top left is Theodoric's tomb. The coin looks like it's one of Zeno's.

Right on both counts.

Then I suspect that the guy at top right is either Cassiodorus or Boethius.

That person is one of those two.

How enlightening. I'd suppose Boethius, since that looks like an initial and Consolation was more popular than the Variae. The mustachioed horseman must be a barbarian of some sort, but that doesn't narrow it down much. Based on Zeno and Theodoric, I'll guess he's Odoacer?

Yes, the horseman in question is Odoacer, and the top-right dude is Boethius.

Hmm...you know, Perfectionist basically solved this already. Dunno what the holdup is. :p

:bump::bump:

Well, if no question's forthcoming, here's a quick one to tide us over.

Who was "the after-dinner emperor"?

Postprandius ?

Very droll, but no.

Charles Martel ?

No, he was only a "mayor of the palace".

Which time period did he came from???

He was a Roman emperor. Let's say he was after Augustus but before Theodosius I, to rule out the later Byzantine ones.

Oops. I thought sure it was Napoleon -- pass the brandy.

Some research revealed the answer to me, but I am still confused as to why the guy in question deserved such a name. I am pretty sure there was a good number of emperors whose reign was considerably shorter still.
Or maybe I am still missing something.

I was thinking too that the nickname could be from the shortness of reign (or alternatively the emperor always slept until dinner time). Then it could be Galba, Otho or Vitellius, of which I would have guessed Otho.

Yeekim's post on the other hand made sure that it isn't the correct answer, since probably no one was emperor for shorter time. At least not considerably shorter.

He did have a pretty short reign, but that's not why he acquired the epithet.

Perhaps Elagabalus, who was notorious for his expensive banquets?

Or perhaps it refers to someone notorious for what went on AFTER banquets, if you follow my meaning...

No, and no!

:bump:
Also, I wouldn't mind if Dachs revealed the answer to his last question... :)

:bump:
Also, I wouldn't mind if Dachs revealed the answer to his last question... :)
Theodoric the Great.

Looks like no-one's going to get mine either. It's Magnentius, who ruled the western empire from 350 to 353. He got his epithet from the way he became emperor. He was attending a particularly raucous birthday party and left in the middle to go to the toilet. When he returned, he had dressed as the emperor, perhaps as a sort of joke. However, the assembled generals roared their approval and began a coup. The emperor Constans was hunted down and murdered, and Magnentius seized the throne. However, Constantius II, the eastern emperor and Constans' brother, did not accept his right to rule, and gradually fought his way westwards, reconquering Magnentius' territory and finally forcing him to kill himself in 353.

So I suppose the floor is open to anyone with a question.

"I am ashamed to think that we owe our safety to these sixteen animals. Had it not been for their novel appearance, where would we have been?"

Who said this, and what event does it describe?

Hernan Cortes and the conquest of the Yucatan?

Negative, Ghostrider: the pattern is full.

I can't remember who or when, but the animals were elephants if that helps anyone else.

Yes they were.

Hannibal & his siege of Rome?

I'm thinking one of the Hellenistic kings, possibly Seleucus I

Hannibal & his siege of Rome?

I'm thinking one of the Hellenistic kings, possibly Seleucus I

No, yes, no, in that order.

I would guess fighting against the Gauls, as the quote implies that it was the sight of the elephants that did the trick, and most other people in the region had some experience with elephants.

That is the event! But who said it?

Hey kids how many Hellenistic monarchs fought Gauls and won notable victories with elephants? ;)

Sssh you. :p

Antigonus II?

damn you, Rome total war, total realism counts as "research", right? ;)

I bet that's why you got it from, too lazy to assemble some images together. :mischief:

and i'm too lazy to make one myself, so i'll watch this one out. :)

Antigonus II?

Nope!

ten char

Antiochus I?

It was he. Your turn, sydhe.

Why was it considered a good idea for the Norse to cut the fingernails of the dead?

Because that in the afterlife some evil (i think) god built a boat of fingernails

The ship was Naglfar and it brings the army of jotunn to Ragnarok. Delay the ship and you delay the end of the world. You're up.

Let's stick to the norse mythology.

Who and what killed Balder?

Who and what killed Balder?
Hodr, with a dart of mistletoe, aimed by Loki cos he (Hodr) was blind. The mistletoe was used because it was the only thing in the world that had not been pledged to not hurt Baldr.

more or less. Your up :)

more or less.
What, was I supposed to say "yeah Hodr wasn't actually trying to kill Baldr, Loki was, and it was basically all his fault?"
Your up :)
Open floor. :(

It was right. It was that.

What (land) battle caused the largest surrender in American military history?

I would guess Bataan. Unless there was a larger one of Confederates in the Civil war that you are counting.

Battle of Bataan is indeed what I had in mind.

Battle of Bataan is indeed what I had in mind.

Does that mean the floor's open & I can ask a question?

Name at least two political & scientifical issues that are satired in Jonathan Swift's book, Gulliver's Travels.

Does that mean the floor's open & I can ask a question?
Only if say1988 gives up the floor. FWIW, I don't think your question has much to do with history, but that's just me. :dunno:

Yes, and given that Gulliver's travels satirises pretty much everything, up to and including humanity itself, that's not really a very good question anyway.

Yes, and given that Gulliver's travels satirises pretty much everything, up to and including humanity itself, that's not really a very good question anyway.

Then, can I change the question?

NEW QUESTION:
Who said this quote?:
"Hence it comes that all armed prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed prophets have been destroyed."

NEW QUESTION:
Who said this quote?:
"Hence it comes that all armed prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed prophets have been destroyed."

Machiavelli. Open floor if I'm right.

Who were the Mighty Handful, and by what other name did they go?

Who were the Mighty Handful, and by what other name did they go?

Group of Russian (:D) nationalistic composers of the 19th century. I don't know what else they were called, though. They were made up of Balakirev, Cui, Mussorgsky, Borodin, and Rimsky-Korsakov.

That's correct. You can go ahead and have it. Their other name is much more descriptive: "The Five."

Okay.

Who were the four Whig presidential candidates for the 1836 US presidential election, that received votes in the electoral college, in age order.

I don't know the ages, but someone has to answer this bloody question and get this thread moving again. I also don't know the full names of any of them: sue me, it was a graph in the back of a book I read ten days ago.

Harrison
White
Webster

Van Buren was Democrat, and an Independent named Mangum won either North or South Carolina. I think South. So I count only three Whigs, and have succeeded in confusing myself.

I don't know the ages, but someone has to answer this bloody question and get this thread moving again. I also don't know the full names of any of them: sue me, it was a graph in the back of a book I read ten days ago.

Harrison
White
Webster

Van Buren was Democrat, and an Independent named Mangum won either North or South Carolina. I think South. So I count only three Whigs, and have succeeded in confusing myself.

Well, it's been a while, and no one else is guessing, so I'll give it too you. Willie Person Magnum was actually a Whig, and you got the other three, William Henry Harrison, Hugh Lawson White, and Daniel Webster. There age order is the same order as the number of electoral college votes they got- Harrison, White, Webster, Magnum. I must say, it was an interesting election strategy.

Well, it's been a while, and no one else is guessing, so I'll give it too you. Willie Person Magnum was actually a Whig, and you got the other three, William Henry Harrison, Hugh Lawson White, and Daniel Webster. There age order is the same order as the number of electoral college votes they got- Harrison, White, Webster, Magnum. I must say, it was an interesting election strategy.
I suspected Magnum might be a Whig, but thought I might be forgetting something. I thought I remembered that election result though, because, well, as you said, it was a pretty interesting election strategy. Especially since the combined Whig total didn't match Van Buren's anyway.

Oh, and I just checked my book: it does indeed say "Mangum." So not my typo peoples.

As for my question, I'll delve into something I'm good at it and no-one else will be: Wrestling history.

What year was the first tag team match held, in what country?

Oh, and I just checked my book: it does indeed say "Mangum." So not my typo peoples.

I didn't even pick this up when I saw your first post. I just assumed it was Magnum. Ah, well, I suppose that's what I get for speed reading.

:bump::bump:

What year was the first tag team match held, in what country?

...
As for my question, I'll delve into something I'm good at it and no-one else will be: Wrestling history.

What year was the first tag team match held, in what country?

I may be mis-remembering, but I thought there was some type of match in ancient Greece.

I bet it was Mexico!

Both wrong. How the hell could Ancient Greece work a tag-team match? You may not have noticed, but professional wrestling isn't exactly a legitimate sport.

You could remove the word "legitimate" and be just as correct. It is theatre, plain and simple.

No.. there is Olympic wrestling (which I consider to be proper wrestling), then there's show-wrestling which is a man-soap-opera.

You could remove the word "legitimate" and be just as correct. It is theatre, plain and simple.
It's more like athletic-entertainment. That's a better term than this sports-entertainment crap. It's more than theatre. It's probably more akin to Roman gladiatorial combat than anything else, as there are signs that many of the gladiators would be "killed," only to start wearing a different mask and using a different name for the next event.

For fun, I'll take a stab in the dark and say it was in Canada in 1953.

For fun, I'll take a stab in the dark and say it was in Canada in 1953.
If you had actually gotten that correct, it would be just about the greatest thing ever, but no. I'll narrow it down somewhat though, it was in the 20th century in an English-speaking country. And neither of Camikaze's guesses were correct.

Bananalee: Professional wrestling is a show, it may have an athletic basis but I still say it is just another form of theatre, which most of the Roman gladiatorial games were, from what I have heard about them. It is just a scripted series of events designed to entertain people.

Amateur wrestling is real wrestling (i.e. Olympics), and good.

How about US, 1966

It's certainly older than 1966 because they had them when I was a kid and they weren't new then. In fact, it's probably before the Great Depression. And I'd say US as well because we were doing all sorts of strange things then.

Australia with Kangaroos

It's certainly older than 1966 because they had them when I was a kid and they weren't new then. In fact, it's probably before the Great Depression. And I'd say US as well because we were doing all sorts of strange things then.
It is the United States, and it's much older than 1966. So yeah, right on both counts. Got popular during the Depression but originated before then IIRC.

Was it around the turn of the 19th-20th century?

Was it around the turn of the 19th-20th century?
Yes it was. And Perfection has the country right. So take that Dachs! But no kangaroos were involved. Although the most famous Australian tag team ever were known as the Flying Kangaroos, former US Tag Team Champions in the '50 and '60s.

@say1988: Good wrestling is not scripted. That crap you see on TV? Scripted. Which is why it usually sucks.

So take that Dachs!
Yeah, yeah, I learned the urban legend part. What can I say? :dunno:

Maybe it is just a regional thing, but here (at least in common usage) professional wrestling means the stupid stuff you see on TV. Real wrestling is either called amateur wrestling (possibly because the only time most people hear about it is the Olympics) or by the specific type (i.e. greco-roman). And yes that is quite interesting to watch.

Maybe it is just a regional thing, but here (at least in common usage) professional wrestling means the stupid stuff you see on TV. Real wrestling is either called amateur wrestling (possibly because the only time most people hear about it is the Olympics) or by the specific type (i.e. greco-roman). And yes that is quite interesting to watch.
Professional wrestling just means wrestling you get paid for, but in practice it is wrestling like what is on TV, eg) "fake" stuff. Doesn't mean it's scripted. Watch a Japanese or Ring of Honor show. Hell, if I could I'd upload some of my old matches, I guarantee some of my stuff was better than many WCW and TNA pay-per-view main events. And I wasn't that good.

Amateur wrestling can either be really good to watch, or boring as hell, depending on the quality of the competitors. I have no amateur training and can easily beat most trained amateurs in Australia. That's how bad the programs are over here. The only guys that can take me are Rumanian and Iranian immigrants and their children. American amateur wrestling, especially freestyle - Greco-Roman is too limited for me - is fantastic. Russian amateur wrestling beats it though, if only for the complete lack of concern for the rules and one's own physical well-being.

I recognize the technical definition I am basing it on common usage here, I was a bit slow and never thought that other people might not have the same usage, but if I were to go and talk to some person around here about professional wrestling, they would infer that that I am talking about the scripted stuff. That is just the common usage. It is either a regional thing, or you focus more on the proper terms since you are involved with wrestling.

In high-school (in rural Ontario Canada) my gym teacher was a world bronze medalist (like 4 times in the 80s I think) Greco-Roman wrestler from Yugoslavia. Not surprisingly we had the best wrestling program in the area.

So Sharwood, are we going to wait until someone who knows the exact year shows up (or someone eventually guesses it) or is this question done? :p

I'd give it to Perf, but he was clearly just being smart and got lucky. So I'll wait until someone at least gets the context right, if not the year.

Professional wrestling just means wrestling you get paid for, but in practice it is wrestling like what is on TV, eg) "fake" stuff. Doesn't mean it's scripted. Watch a Japanese or Ring of Honor show. Hell, if I could I'd upload some of my old matches, I guarantee some of my stuff was better than many WCW and TNA pay-per-view main events. And I wasn't that good.

Amateur wrestling can either be really good to watch, or boring as hell, depending on the quality of the competitors. I have no amateur training and can easily beat most trained amateurs in Australia. That's how bad the programs are over here. The only guys that can take me are Rumanian and Iranian immigrants and their children. American amateur wrestling, especially freestyle - Greco-Roman is too limited for me - is fantastic. Russian amateur wrestling beats it though, if only for the complete lack of concern for the rules and one's own physical well-being.
I used to do freestyle wrestling during highschool. My trainer (Arvo Mõttus, 1926) actually had been to Melbourne Olympics at 1956, although only as backup*.
While I knew him, he was still juggling 16kg weights while 74...

* IIRC; he was at the time 4th in USSR. Actually, USSR sent their 5th (some Georgian/Armenian, don't remember) as main competitor and 4th and 3rd as backups. First two guys were considered too untrustworthy to allow outside. Guess their nationality. :mischief:
Anyway, according to his memoirs, Soviet sportsmen were warned, that "damn Western Capitalists" might try to kidnap them. Reportedly, a local Estonian emigrants' newspaper had thereafter published an ad, where someone sought to buy a sack big enough so that Johannes Kotkas (http://www.eok.ee/est/sportlased/olympiavoitjad_ja_medalistid/1952_kotkas_160_k.jpg) (the other backup wrestler) could be stuffed inside. :lol::lol::lol:

I used to do freestyle wrestling during highschool. My trainer (Arvo Mõttus, 1926) actually had been to Melbourne Olympics at 1956, although only as backup*.
While I knew him, he was still juggling 16kg weights while 74...

* IIRC; he was at the time 4th in USSR. Actually, USSR sent their 5th (some Georgian/Armenian, don't remember) as main competitor and 4th and 3rd as backups. First two guys were considered too untrustworthy to allow outside. Guess their nationality. :mischief:
Anyway, according to his memoirs, Soviet sportsmen were warned, that "damn Western Capitalists" might try to kidnap them. Reportedly, a local Estonian emigrants' newspaper had thereafter published an ad, where someone sought to buy a sack big enough so that Johannes Kotkas (http://www.eok.ee/est/sportlased/olympiavoitjad_ja_medalistid/1952_kotkas_160_k.jpg) (the other backup wrestler) could be stuffed inside. :lol::lol::lol:
Some of the Iranian wrestlers I knew juggled weights as well. "Persian Clubs" they were called. That's flat-out scary to watch.

And that story is awesome. I really wish someone had kidnapped a Russian athlete. I might do so myself. What do you think? Maria Sharapova, Anna Kournikova, or both?

Anyway, I'll give everyone a big hint. We've already narrowed it down to before the Depression. It was during the celebrations of a very, very important event in Australian history. In fact, you could say that Australia as a nation may not even exist if it weren't for this particular event.

Based on that: when Australia became a dominion.

Based on that: when Australia became a dominion.
Close, but you're way off. I'll give it to you anyway, since Australia as a whole wasn't a dominion until this date: January 1 1901, the date that Australia became a Federation.

While I won't claim credit for it, I will take the opportunity to post a question (mine did just get skipped :))

Seems technical difficulties solved themselves quickly.

http://i590.photobucket.com/albums/ss349/dywed/untitled.jpg?t=1237253863

We are looking for a person, this is probably painfully easy or near impossible, I was trying to balance.

Nelson Rcokefeller?

Some of the Iranian wrestlers I knew juggled weights as well. "Persian Clubs" they were called. That's flat-out scary to watch.

And that story is awesome. I really wish someone had kidnapped a Russian athlete. I might do so myself. What do you think? Maria Sharapova, Anna Kournikova, or both?

Anyway, I'll give everyone a big hint. We've already narrowed it down to before the Depression. It was during the celebrations of a very, very important event in Australian history. In fact, you could say that Australia as a nation may not even exist if it weren't for this particular event.

Ah Gallipoli!

Ah Gallipoli!
Um, no? Already answered above. Although Australia fighting the Turks in tag team action would surely bring the hilarity.

Silver or Gold Jubilee? :p

Is the one in the middle James Bond?

Is the one in the middle James Bond?
Yes. (Making it rather painfully easy; the partition map is another good one.)

Um, no? Already answered above. Although Australia fighting the Turks in tag team action would surely bring the hilarity.

My mistake... I was simply pointing out the british-austro failure at gallipoli, perceived by the Australians as a huge failure on the British High command, was one of the big reasons Australia's ties with England were pretty much severed.

(Making it rather painfully easy; the partition map is another good one.)
I know, but I figured decent chance that people aren't too into Bond, and I don't know how well known this guy is throughout the rest of the world.

Is it MI5???

Its a single person. I don't think he was ever part of MI5.

William Stephenson?

The South American map is...1820s?

A supposed (pre-Pearl Harbor) Nazi map planning for the future or South America given to FDR by Stephenson [or at least given to the US government by one of Stephenson's people]. Most likely made by some of Stephenson's people working out of the Rockefeller Center (within full knowledge of the FBI and US government (or at least elements within them that agreed with the President about getting involved in the war).
Flemming called him [paraphrasing] "the real James Bond."

He helped lay the foundation of American and Canadian intelligence services through the early part of the cold war.

He is a very interesting person, in charge of British intelligence in the Americas and his propaganda to convince the US to join the war (the map being an example), almost all of which he funded out of his own pocket. Though there are a lot of claims about him that are questionable.

In WWI he was a fighter pilot, shot down in his camel and captured by the Germans. He returned home and tried to make a business out of a can opener he brought back with him, and failed.

He established Camp X (modern picture given), a key communications link between North America and Europe. And the training facility for Many British, Canadian, and American intelligence agents (including those who would form the CIA). It is also notably connected to the man with a bage over his head, Igor Gouzenko, who reportedly (I can't vouch accuracy) was saved from the Soviet agents after him only because Stephenson believed him (everyone just ignored him).
A cipher clerk at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa walked out with many incriminating documents and went to the RCMP and the newspaper, but they ignored him. He and his spent the night in the neighbour's apartment and watched Soviet agents ransack his. The documents he had provided evidence of a spy ring in Ottawa and helped take it down, and proof that the Soviets were stealing atomic secrets (being channeled through Ottawa). He also supposedly contributed to the capture of a number of Soviet agents in the US and Britain.

Just out of curiosity are these people known by any people in other countries?

A supposed (pre-Pearl Harbor) Nazi map planning for the future or South America given to FDR by Stephenson [or at least given to the US government by one of Stephenson's people]. Most likely made by some of Stephenson's people working out of the Rockefeller Center (within full knowledge of the FBI and US government (or at least elements within them that agreed with the President about getting involved in the war).
Flemming called him [paraphrasing] "the real James Bond."

He helped lay the foundation of American and Canadian intelligence services through the early part of the cold war.

He is a very interesting person, in charge of British intelligence in the Americas and his propaganda to convince the US to join the war (the map being an example), almost all of which he funded out of his own pocket. Though there are a lot of claims about him that are questionable.

In WWI he was a fighter pilot, shot down in his camel and captured by the Germans. He returned home and tried to make a business out of a can opener he brought back with him, and failed.

He established Camp X (modern picture given), a key communications link between North America and Europe. And the training facility for Many British, Canadian, and American intelligence agents (including those who would form the CIA). It is also notably connected to the man with a bage over his head, Igor Gouzenko, who reportedly (I can't vouch accuracy) was saved from the Soviet agents after him only because Stephenson believed him (everyone just ignored him).
A cipher clerk at the Soviet embassy in Ottawa walked out with many incriminating documents and went to the RCMP and the newspaper, but they ignored him. He and his spent the night in the neighbour's apartment and watched Soviet agents ransack his. The documents he had provided evidence of a spy ring in Ottawa and helped take it down, and proof that the Soviets were stealing atomic secrets (being channeled through Ottawa). He also supposedly contributed to the capture of a number of Soviet agents in the US and Britain.

Just out of curiosity are these people known by any people in other countries?
Not by me at least. I've heard of Gouzenko, but not Stephenson. Hell, I've probably heard the name in passing, but no specifics. I even recognised the buildings - and obviously, 007 - but had no idea how any of it was linked.

So you can probably rule Australia out, since I am beyond a shadow of a doubt the most intelligent, educated, and handsome individual in my country. My intelligence and physical beauty is matched only by my humility.

Not really surprised about you not knowing Intrepid, am surprised you have heard of Gouzenko though, I figured if anything it would be the other way around.

Not really surprised about you not knowing Intrepid, am surprised you have heard of Gouzenko though, I figured if anything it would be the other way around.
Well I didn't recognise him with the bag over his head, if that makes you feel better. It threw me quite a bit, I was looking for some sort of KKK connection to the CIA.

I wouldn't recognize him if his face was uncovered (I don't know if I have seen a picture of his face). Whenever he appeared in the media he had that on, that is something that stuck in my mind about him (his [possibly fake?] fear).

I know about Stephenson from a Bathroom Reader. :mischief:

Who's up?

I'm up.

What is the name given to the 1925 invasion of Bulgaria by Greece?

The War of the Stray Dog.

The War of the Stray Dog.

Which allegedly began when a Greek soldier tried to catch his dog who had run into Bulgaria, the Bulgarians shot the soldier, the Greeks attempted to occupy Petrich, the (Bulgarian) Macedonian militia set up defensive lines...

50 dead before people realized how stupid it was. Don't know what happened to the dog (if there really was one).

While we wait for Carmen...

What event does this picture depict?
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/6316/1870w.jpg

Obviously someone's on posthumous trial. I've seen the painting before, but can't remember who it was, somehow I'm sure it was some Spanish guy.

But I'll guess it is John Wycliff, since he at least was dug out of grave to be burnt, soon after Jan Hus was condemned as heretic.

EDIT: On second thought, I think it was some pope, so it was probably during or after the Great Schism (maybe he is dressed as a cardinal to point out that he's not really a pope). And Avignon is not that far from Spain, so it's pretty easy tio get them mixed ;)

Pope something at the Cadaver Synod. I saw a History Bites (great show if anyone can watch it, funny and informative) episode of it, I just can't remember his name.

Pope something at the Cadaver Synod.
Formosus. Stephen (VII?) is the Pope that's put him on trial.

Sounds familiar. One amusing moment in history.
I believe that Stephen's successor pardoned Formosus and then his successor (or possibly a few down the line) condemned him again.

Well at least they gave him a fair trial.

Yes! The Cadaver Synod was the event I was looking for. Your turn, say1988! And it was indeed Pope Formosus.

Btw, Atticus, did you buy EU2?

Edit: Btw, in the war between Russia and Japan in 1905, there was an incident between some Russian warships and some fishboats somewhere in the North Sea. Someone knows if this event got a name?

Dogger Bank Incident. The entire journey of those ships and their incompetent crews [no offense to most of the crews, it was the high commands fault] is just hilarious. It included the Aurora that had such an important role during the Russian revolutions (imagine all that the ship has seen).

Thanks! I think I've learned about this incident in this forum sometime, but I couldn't remember what it was called...

Btw, Atticus, did you buy EU2?


I sure did! At the time I was already getting bored in gaming though, and begun to do some serious things, so I haven't yet played it much. Probably gonna play it more on my next gaming amok.

About that Dogger Bank incident, there was this (http://www.hullwebs.co.uk/content/l-20c/disaster/dogger-bank/voyage-of-dammed.htm) link in the thread "Most Epic Screwups in History".

Incidentally, the Camp X memorial photo in say1988's question is from my hometown. I did a little bit of a double-take when I saw it. ;)

Just to try and breath some life into this: Who was the "Saviour of Ceylon" and how did he earn this title?

It was your turn btw. :p

Maybe a Dutch person? Or one who collaborated with the Dutch to kick the Portugese out?

Well... ?

He is not Dutch, he is actually Canadian from the 20th Century.

Leonard Cohen. He was so outstanding tea drinker that he alone dragged their economy out of the muck.

Since I'm most probably right, here's the next question: What do the following people have common (not so ordinary thing, I'd guess none of the forum folks for example would fit the crowd) :

209456209457209458209459

I was just kidding about being on right, it could be Celine Dion also. Anyway, it's been a week with no answers, are you ok with this Say1988?

Yeah, clear noone will answer it, or at least not without tremendous luck.

You actually got the first name right, though :)

Leonard Birchall (or possibly Burchill), was called the Savior of Ceylon by Winston Churchill for his actions during WWII.
During the early part of the war against Japan he was in command of a PBY Catalina, and they spotted the incoming Japanese attack force. He managed to get the message out before his plane was shot down, with casualties. This gave the British enough time to form a proper welcoming committee.

The surviving crewmen were captured and when the Birchall was the senior officer in various POW camps, he stood up to the Japanese guards and those camps had dramatically lower death rates then otehr camps. I recall some stories that he actively tried to stand in and take beatings for wounded men.

As for your folks:
They are french/ruled France? The last one is Petain is all I know.

They are french/ruled France? The last one is Petain is all I know.

Ouch! please! The last one is De Gaulle.

Innonimatu is right, (he might look like Petain in small pictures though, they both got the same kind of hats). They weren't rulers of France.

EDIT: If you want to look closer, click the pictures!

Ouch! please! The last one is De Gaulle.
Bah, how could I have gotten those two confused? I blame being sick.

I recognize the first man, but from where I've no idea.