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Quizzes > History

Famous Mothers in History: How Much Do You Know?

Quick, free mothers quiz to test your history smarts. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Zhitui GlobalUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz illustration on famous mothers in history trivia on golden yellow background

This quiz helps you test what you know about famous mothers in history, from leaders to artists and activists. Answer quick questions, see instant results, and pick up neat facts along the way. For more context, try our first ladies quiz, brush up with a US history quiz, or explore relationships with famous couples trivia.

Which monarch was known as the 'Queen Mother' and was mother to Queen Elizabeth II?
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Mary of Teck
Alexandra of Denmark
Queen Victoria
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, also known as the Queen Mother, was the wife of King George VI and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Upon her husband's death in 1952, her daughter ascended the throne and she took the title Queen Mother to avoid confusion. She became a beloved public figure and lived to the age of 101. For more details, see .
Which Egyptian queen was the mother of the last Pharaoh, Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor, known as Caesarion?
Hatshepsut
Nefertari
Nefertiti
Cleopatra VII
Cleopatra VII Philopator was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt and mother of Ptolemy XV Philopator Philometor Caesar, nicknamed Caesarion. She had Caesarion with Julius Caesar and co-ruled with her son briefly. Cleopatra remains one of history’s most famous queens. Read more at .
Which Empress of Russia was the mother of Paul I and is celebrated for her extensive political and cultural reforms?
Elizabeth of Russia
Anna of Russia
Peter the Great
Catherine the Great
Catherine II, known as Catherine the Great, ruled Russia from 1762 to 1796 and was the mother of Tsar Paul I. She modernized Russian governance, expanded its territory, and patronized the arts and education. Her reign is often considered the Golden Age of the Russian Empire. Learn more at .
Which 12th-century English queen was mother to both Richard the Lionheart and King John?
Matilda of Tuscany
Eleanor of Aquitaine
Elisabeth of Habsburg
Mary of Scots
Eleanor of Aquitaine was Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right and queen consort of France and England. She married King Henry II of England and bore him sons Richard I and John. Eleanor was a major political figure of the 12th century and influenced her sons’ upbringing. See for more.
Which French queen was mother to three kings of France and served as regent during the Wars of Religion?
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine de' Medici
Marie de' Medici
Anne of Austria
Catherine de' Medici was the wife of King Henry II and mother of Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III. She served as regent for her sons and sought to maintain royal authority during the Wars of Religion. Her political maneuvering had a lasting impact on French history. More details at .
Mary, Queen of Scots, was mother to which king known for uniting the English and Scottish crowns?
Mary II of England
James I of England
Charles I of England
William III of England
Mary, Queen of Scots, gave birth to James VI of Scotland in 1566. When Elizabeth I died childless, James VI inherited the English throne in 1603 as James I, thus uniting the two kingdoms under one monarch. His reign marked the start of the Stuart era in England. See .
Who served as regent of Russia during the minority of her son Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible?
Maria Temryukovna
Anastasia Romanovna
Elena Glinskaya
Olga Romanovna
Elena Glinskaya was the second wife of Vasili III and mother of Ivan IV. After her husband's death in 1533, she ruled as regent until her own death in 1538. She implemented monetary reforms and centralized power in Moscow. Read more at .
Which Chinese Empress Dowager ruled as regent for her son Emperor Tongzhi and later the Guangxu Emperor?
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Ci'an
Wu Zetian
Empress Lü Zhi
Empress Dowager Cixi effectively controlled the Qing dynasty from 1861 until her death in 1908. She first served as regent for her young son, Emperor Tongzhi, and later for her nephew, the Guangxu Emperor. Although controversial, she oversaw many modernization efforts. More at .
Which Habsburg monarch had 16 children, including Marie Antoinette and Joseph II?
Maria Theresa
Mary I of England
Isabella of Spain
Catherine the Great
Maria Theresa was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and bore sixteen children with her husband, Francis I. Among her children were Joseph II and Marie Antoinette, who became Queen of France. Her reign reshaped Central European politics and education. Details at .
Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great, hailed from which ancient kingdom?
Epirus
Thessaly
Macedon
Sparta
Olympias was a Molossian princess from the kingdom of Epirus and married Philip II of Macedon. She played a substantial role in Alexander's early life and instilled in him ambitions of conquest. Epirus was a region northwest of Macedonia in ancient Greece. Learn more at .
Juana la Loca of Castile was the mother of which Holy Roman Emperor?
Charles V
Maximilian I
Frederick I
Ferdinand I
Juana of Castile, nicknamed 'la Loca,' was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella and mother of Charles V. Charles became Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, ruling over vast European territories. Juana’s struggles for power marked a turbulent period in Spanish history. See .
Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, born Princess Charlotte of Prussia, was mother to which tsar known for emancipating the serfs in 1861?
Peter the Great
Alexander III
Nicholas I
Alexander II
Princess Charlotte of Prussia became Empress Alexandra Feodorovna upon her marriage to Tsar Nicholas I. She was the mother of Alexander II, who is famed for issuing the Emancipation Edict in 1861 freeing Russia’s serfs. His reforms had lasting social impact. More information at .
Nandi was the mother of which Zulu king who became a legendary warrior leader?
Mpande
Dingane
Shaka Zulu
Cetshwayo
Nandi was the mother of Shaka kaSenzangakhona, better known as Shaka Zulu, who ruled the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. Her influence and personal history played a role in shaping Shaka’s early life. Shaka is celebrated for developing new battle tactics that made the Zulu a powerful force in southern Africa. See .
Osburh was the mother of which 9th-century Anglo-Saxon king, often considered the first King of the English?
Alfred the Great
Edward the Elder
Offa of Mercia
Athelstan
Osburh was the wife of Æthelwulf of Wessex and mother of Alfred the Great. Alfred ruled from 871 to 899 and is celebrated for defending England against Viking invasions. He is often called the first King of the English due to his unifying efforts. Read more at .
St. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, is credited with finding which Christian relic?
The Ark of the Covenant
The Shroud of Turin
The Holy Grail
The True Cross
St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, is traditionally credited with finding the True Cross during her pilgrimage to Jerusalem around 326 AD. The True Cross is believed to be the actual cross upon which Jesus was crucified. Her discovery had a profound impact on Christian veneration practices. More at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Iconic Figures -

    Recall key details about famous mothers in history, including their names, eras, and notable achievements.

  2. Identify Trivia Facts -

    Identify intriguing trivia about trailblazing mothers through targeted mom trivia questions.

  3. Differentiate Contributions -

    Differentiate the unique social, political, and cultural contributions of each famous mother in history.

  4. Analyze Historical Impact -

    Analyze how these mothers influenced historical events and shaped their children's legacies.

  5. Apply Knowledge in Quiz -

    Apply your understanding to answer funny mom trivia questions and quiz on mothers scenarios with confidence.

  6. Appreciate Maternal Legacy -

    Appreciate the enduring legacy of these iconic moms and their role in shaping history.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mary Wollstonecraft -

    Often called the "mother of feminism," Mary Wollstonecraft was the mother of Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, her 1792 work Vindication of the Rights of Woman laid the groundwork for modern feminist thought. Mnemonic tip: Recall "Wollstonecraft Willed Shelley" to link mother and daughter.

  2. Empress Maria Theresa -

    Maria Theresa ruled the Habsburg realms and bore 16 children, including Marie Antoinette and Joseph II. Britannica notes her reforms in education and administration helped shape Enlightenment-era Europe. Memory trick: think "Maria's Magnificent Sixteen" to remember her brood.

  3. Queen Victoria -

    Dubbed the "Grandmother of Europe," Queen Victoria had nine children who married into royal houses across the continent. Studies at Cambridge University highlight her pivotal role in forging alliances through dynastic marriages. Use the phrase "Victoria's Vast Vines" to picture her sprawling family tree.

  4. Marie Curie -

    Nobel laureate Marie Skłodowska Curie was not only a pioneering physicist but also the mother of Nobel-winning daughter Irène Joliot-Curie. The Institute of Physics records their joint legacy in radioactivity research as a rare mother - daughter achievement. Recall "Curie's Double Radiance" to connect both scientific stars.

  5. Katherine of Aragon -

    As Henry VIII's first wife and mother of Mary I of England, Katherine of Aragon's marriage sparked pivotal religious and political shifts in 16th-century Britain. The National Archives detail how her refusal to annul strengthened Tudor claims and led to the English Reformation. Mnemonic: "Aragon's Mary" links queen and daughter.

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