Historic Chess Sets.
he game of chess originated in northern India shortly before the 7th century AD. As one of the world's oldest war games, chess pieces were originally based on the infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots of the Indian army. These pieces were led into battle by the king and his chief minister, the vizier. The game gradually spread through Asia, Persia, finally reaching Europe in the 11th century. As the game spread into Europe, the pieces were modified to reflect medieval society. The elephant was replaced with the bishop, the horse with a knight, a chariot with a rook, and the vizier with a queen.
Many of history's greatest military leaders have praised chess for containing the perfect blend of strategy and tactics. It is a struggle of mind and will involving logic, creative maneuvering, and an intuitive sense of your opponent. Now you can either relive or rewrite British history on the battlefield, with four chess sets, each containing pieces hand painted and carved in stone resin, representing the key figures in each battle. A parchment will accompany your set describing the history of the battle, as well as its key figures and the pieces they represent.
The Crusades
This set is based on the Third great Crusade, launched in 1189 A.D. by King Richard the Lionheart of England.
Joined by King Phillip 11 of France,
Richard I recruited knights and mercenaries with the express purpose of reclaiming the holy city of Jerusalem.
They were met by the forces of the great Muslim general, Saladin. The prize, the city of Jerusalem, was lost and reclaimed several times until 1291, when the last Christian foothold in the Holy Land fell to the Muslims. Richard leads the Crusaders as King, with his wife Beregaria of Navarre as Queen, and the Castle of Krak de Chevaliers (held by the Christian Knights of St John) representing the Castle. They are opposed by General Saladin, an Islamic Queen, and Saladin's own castle at Qalaat al Jindi representing the Castle.
Battle of Waterloo
The final and decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars was fought near the village of Waterloo just south of Brussels, on the 18th of June, 1815. The combined British and Prussian forces were led into battle by the Commander in Chief, the Duke of Wellington. Wellington's forces were met by the French
Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Both
men are represented here as the King, with their wives as Queens.
American Revolutionary War
When George III was crowned king in 1760, the British were the dominant power on the North American continent. Yet that power was soon threatened by smoldering unrest in the colonies over issues of taxation and political representation. Tensions mounted, and it became clear that fighting would be the inevitable outcome. War broke out with shots fired at Concord in April 1775 and would continue until the British troops, led by Lord Cornwallis, were defeated at Yorktown in 1782. George Washington, the first President of the United States, assumes the role of King for the colonial side, with the flag maker Betsy Ross as Queen, and Benjamin Franklin as Bishop. They are opposed by George III as King, his wife Charlotte as Queen, and Lord Cornwallis as Bishop.
Two traditional style chess boards are available, scaled to match the dimensions of these four sets. Both tables are hand crafted in polished wood with an elegant style befitting the splendor of these sets.
Simulated Burr Elm with Blonde Maple board
(50 cm)
Cherry wood finish games table
23½" x 23 ¼" height 29½"
he game of chess originated in northern India shortly before the 7th century AD. As one of the world's oldest war games, chess pieces were originally based on the infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots of the Indian army. These pieces were led into battle by the king and his chief minister, the vizier. The game gradually spread through Asia, Persia, finally reaching Europe in the 11th century. As the game spread into Europe, the pieces were modified to reflect medieval society. The elephant was replaced with the bishop, the horse with a knight, a chariot with a rook, and the vizier with a queen.
