Chess History And Reminiscences
Spain and among the Franks and Aquitaines, these Saxon
Kings were of an enquiring turn of mind, and not indifferent to
what was passing on in other countries. Two hundred and fifty
years had elapsed since chess had reached Persia, and
contemporary monarchs were not altogether strange to one another's
tastes and pursuits. Justinian and Chosroes held communication on
historical and social matters, Harun of Bagdad, and the Princess
Irene of Constantinople, as well as her predecessor, made special
presents to Pepin and Charlemagne, including chess equipages
which probably were considered suitable and fitting compliments
at the time, and they seem to have been appreciated and highly
valued, especially by Charlemagne, who evidently fancied himself
at chess, and we find was somewhat demonstrative in his challenges.
Charlemagne must have known Egbert, who took refuge at his
court for a time, before he became King of England, from the
usurper Brithric. The biography of the celebrated scholar Alcuin,
says that Charlemagne met him in Parma; but Hume is probably
right in his statement that he was sent by Offa as the most proper
person to meet the Emperor's views in aiding him to confute
certain alleged heresies. This scholar was much esteemed and
venerated by Charlemagne, and his family, and from his long
domestication in his household, and familiarity with his habits
and pursuits, could scarcely be ignorant of Charlemagne's
enthusiasm for chess, and such a popular exponent of learning at
the time as Alcuin was, might well have been known and
favourably regarded by such a patron and enquirer as the famous
Harun Ar Rashid of Bagdad, who must have corresponded with
Charlemagne and sent his presents at the very time that Alcuin
was residing with the Emperor.
NOTE. Offa died 794, Alcuin 804, Harun 809, Charlemagne 814, the
great Al Mamun commenced to reign in 813, and he is undoubtedly
reputed to have been the most mild, humane and enlightened of all
the Khalifs. He was, however warlike also and expressed his
surprise that he could not manage the mimic armies of the chess
board like large forces on the field of battle.
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Canute's great partiality for chess seems well attested. The
three successive royal assassinations recorded in Scandinavian
history associated with chess incidents, need not alone be relied on
and form not the most pleasing reading in connection with our now
innocent, and harmless chess; neither perhaps is it a
recommendation or evidence of the calmness, meditative tranquility
and imperturbability so generally supposed to be incidental to the
game, to repeat the authenticated statement that the son of Okbar
was killed by King Pepin's son through the jealousy and irritation
of the latter at being constantly beaten at chess, or that William
the Conqueror in early days had to beat a precipitate retreat from
France through assaulting the King's son over the chess board,
and a somewhat similar misadventure in early days to Henry I,
and John's unseemly fracas. It is related that an English knight
seized the bridle of Philip Le Gros in battle, crying out, the king
is taken, but was struck down by that monarch who observed,
"Ne fais tu pas que aux echecs on ne prend pas le roi."
Among English monarchs, indeed, there are several which may
be added to the list presented by Philidor which comprises only
Elizabeth; James I and William III, of those omitted Canute,
the first William, and perhaps Edwards I and IV, are the most
notable before the time of the unfortunate Charles I, whose
likeness is in one of the chess books, and whose chess men
exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries were preserved in the
possession of Lord Barrington. Items referring to chess are
mentioned in expense accounts of Henry VII and Henry VIII. In a
closet in the old royal palace of Greenwich, the last-named had
a payre of chess men in a case of black lether--(Warton). The
celebrated Ras, at Chelicut, was passionately fond of chess,
provided he won, Charles the XII was much devoted to the game.
In 1740 Frederick the Great writes: "Je suis comme le roi et
echecs de Charles XII qui marchait toujours."
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CANUTE
Sir Frederick Madden states in p. 280: Snorr Sturleson relates an
anecdote of King Canute, which would prove that monarch to have
been a great lover of the game. About the year 1028, whilst
engaged in his warfare against the Kings of Norway and Sweden,
Canute rode over to Roskild, to visit Earl Ulfr, the husband of
his sister. An entertainment was prepared for their guest, but
the King was out of spirits and did not enjoy it. They attempted
to restore his cheerfulness by conversation, but without success.
At length, the Earl challenged the King to play at chess, which
was accepted, and, the chess table being brought, they sat down to
their game. After they had played awhile, the King made a false
move, in consequence of which Ulfr captured one of his opponent's
Knights. But the King would not allow it, and replacing his piece,
bade the Earl play differently. On this, the Earl (who was of a
hasty disposition) waxing angry, overturned the chess board and
left the room. The King called after him, saying, Ulfr, thou coward,
dost thou thus flee? The Earl returned to the door, and said: You
would have taken a longer flight in the river Helga, had I not come
to your assistance, when the Swedes beat you like a dog--you did not
then call me a coward. He then retired, and some days afterwards
was murdered by the King's orders. This anecdote is corroborated
(so far as the chess is concerned) by a passage in the anonymous
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