When it comes to chess set pieces, the King and Queen take centre stage.
Rules govern how and where each of the pieces can move. As befits his rank, the majestic King can move in any direction and only advances one square at a time. His majesty imposes on him a special restriction. He is not allowed to move onto a square where he would be en prise, which means where the opponent could capture him on his next move.
The Queen moves in the same direction as the King but without any restriction on distance. This lack of restriction was a favour afforded the King’s consort in the fifteenth century. It is interesting to note that, originally, this piece was not called the Queen, but a Minister. The Persians followed the Indians in becoming proficient at chess and the Minister in Persian was called a Vizier or Ferz. In the Latin of the Middle Ages this became Fercia, followed by the French Vierge, then finally, amongst those with Latin origins, Dame or Queen.
It is fascinating to see the way these royal chess set pieces have been interpreted in themed chess sets. If you are looking to find a set for your own use or as a gift that can be handed down through generations, visit ChessSetHeaven.com for a range of chess sets for sale that will suit you perfectly.
By Jill Lovejoy
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