Spanish origin of Draughts

2015 (First edition)
Govert Westerveld
The Spanish Origin of the Checkers and Modern Chess Game
Volume III



Instead of Dutch language, volume III is now in English

        

 

FOREWORD

 

Since 1987 we have defended in articles that the Spanish queen Isabella I of Castile (Isabel la Católica) was the new chess queen (dama) on the chessboard. Other publications were in 1990, 1994, 1997, and 2004. Now in 2015 we also defend that the new bishop on the chessboard was created at the same time as the new queen. The bishop in question was known at that time in Spain as the third monarch.

In 1997 we published in the Dutch Language:

De invloed van de Spaanse koningin Isabel la Catolica op de nieuwe sterke dame in de oorsprong van het dam- en moderne schaakspel; Spaanse literatuur, jaren: 1283-1700

Translation:

The influence of the queen Isabel la Catolica on the new powerful dama in the origin of the draughts and modern chess game. Spanish literature, 1283-1700.

And of course, Marilyn Yalom studied our book during her visit to the National Library in The Hague (Holland) before she wrote Birth of the Chess Queen in 2004. In her book one cannot see that in 1987, 1990, and 1994 we already published material about Isabel la Catolica (Isabel I of Castile) being the new powerful dama or chess queen on the chessboard. In other words we can state here that we have been studying Spanish history and its chess literature for over 30 years. Since 2003 we have also known the development of the new bishop in chess. Now in 2015 we also defend by means of our book The Birth of a New Bishop in Chess the fact that the new bishop on the chessboard was created at the same time as the new queen. The bishop in question was known in Spain at the time as the third monarch.

The surname Lucena had much to do with the development of a new chess queen and seeing this fact we have lately written various books of which the chronological order should be taken into account.

Once again Dr. Ricardo Calvo encouraged José Antonio Garzón Roger to contact and work with me. After the death of our mutual friend in 2002 we started working together and this resulted in additional chapters to the book already published in 1997. The new book that we finished in 2004 is entitled

La reina Isabel la Católica: su reflejo en la dama poderosa de Valencia, cuna del ajedrez moderno y origen del juego de damas

Translation:

Queen Isabella I of Castile,  her reflection on the powerful lady of Valencia, the birthplace of modern chess and origin of checkers.

The revised edition of our book of 1997 resulted in two volumes in 2013 and the third volume currently in creation. The time has come to publish this volume, but we decided to publish it in English seeing that practically all Dutch people know this language.