Name these countries:
What’s common among them?
Cape Verde
Curaçao
Haiti
Jordan
Uzbekistan
All first time World Cup qualifiers
1 Like
I want to play this game too.
What is this flag called ?
1 point for the general name in English, 2 points for the Norse name, 3 points if you can mention the specific name of a very famous version of it carried by a certain famous/infamous king onto the field of battle (no, not Canute the Great/Mighty). You don’t get more points for naming the king, you already know who he is if you can mention the name of his royal banner.
Some very high quality inspiration as you work yourself through the quiz:
1 Like
Well I know it’s a Raven’s Banner.
Hrafnsmerki?
I’m guessing at Ragnar Lodbrok?
1 Like
2 points !!!
Wrong king. He had not a famed named banner.
I can make it slightly easier. The king in question worked himself up to become Captain-General ( Akolouthos) of the Varangian Guard when he was a prince in exile. He did some epic stuff that was talked about and written about a lot in his time.
He was also overly fond of England. Remembered with fondness on Iceland. In their history, he is a kind man.
He wasn’t very popular in Norway really, because he reigned by killing and destroying his political opponents with brute force, including many farmers and great men and was widely feared, but also very respected and famed. Men followed him, unfortunately, as he was famed as fearsome personal fearless warrior and even more a brilliant commander. A risk taker, but a cruel man to many.
Ok, my idiotic tendency to tell tales, made this a bit too easy now 
Harald Hardrada?
There was a recent BBC series called King and Conquerer, which featured a lot of these historical figures. I’m trying to recall if they used those banners.
If it was, he died at Stamford Bridge. A bit like our defence recently.
1 Like
Yes. He had a famous banner. He even started a war with the king of Sweden because he mocked his banner while drunk, according to the saga, though they became good friends later after some killing.
This is what triggered the little war:
Sveinn asked Haraldr which of his possessions of his he valued most highly. He answered that it was his banner (merki), (censored). Thereupon Sveinn asked what virtue it had to be accounted so valuable. Haraldr replied that it was prophesied that victory would be his before whom this banner was borne; and added that this had been the case ever since he had obtained it. Thereupon Sveinn said, “I shall believe that your flag has this virtue if you fight three battles with King Magnús, your kinsman, and are victorious in all.”
He was really insulted ( some historians also believe that he did indeed have King Magnus killed, maybe with poison, since his death was strangely timely, but this is spculative)
The death of King Magnus is really suspicious:
I wish this was made a long extensive tv-series out of. Such drama, there is so much drama in the saga of Magnus the Good and his successor, Harald Hardraada.
1 Like
Apologies for being such a tease. I might as well:
“Landwaster” aka Landøyðan
Nothing to do with flag; appreciate the Wardruna nod. One of the few bands I haven’t seen live that I really want to.
1 Like
Funny. The t-shirt I am wearing just now
I bought it at a concert a few years ago 
But yes, they are absolutely amazing live. It’s almost like a spiritual experience, more than a normal concert.
1 Like
Now you’re just showing off
1 Like
Second WC for the mighty Haiti.
1 Like