Is it me or is it draughty in here?
Before there was The Game of Thrones there was… the game of thrones.
Games such as draughts/checkers and chess have their origins in ancient times.
When it was too hot, too cold, too rainy, too wintery or too dark to actually fight or train, then soldiers put their skills to the test strategically in the form of these board games.
A modern day observer would certainly understand the game play of 2000 BC even if the rules of the game were different to today’s codified versions.
What is the subject of much debate – including a doctoral thesis is whether draughts predates chess or vice versa. Stoep contends:
If it is true that the influence from draughts was responsible for the great reform of medieval chess, draughts must have been a popular game in Spain in the 15th c. A bold claim? By no means: in the 15th c. draughts was (also) popular in Spain’s neighbour France. This popularity was far from momentary, in France draughts seems to have been very popular since the 11th c. and may be earlier. However, all my claims can be refuted, it seems, by referring to the literature on board games: all experts are united in their supposition draughts was not described in the Middle Ages. It does not occur in the Alfonso manuscript (1283), a strong indication, perhaps a proof, that draughts did not exist in the 13th c. Certainly, this manuscript gives the rules of a board game with the leap capture called alquerque, but alquerque was not played with promotion, all surveys on board games assure us. My inquiries gave quite another result: alquerque was played with promotion. In other words, see chapter 6: Alquerque was draughts.
Another enthusiast points out that playing draughts with counters (most likely backgammon counters) was not seen before the 17th Century and the game of draughts was most likely played with chess pawn pieces.
Variations of board games were known right around the world and one of the most popular of these is a Norse game which translates as ‘King’s Table‘.
A Latin text written during the reign of the British Anglo-Saxon King Thelstan (AD 925-40) describes the Saxon form of hriefatafl, which was played in England at the time. It was most popular in Northern Europe, during the dark ages until chess started to take over during the 11th century; the last references to it being played are in Wales in 1587 and Lapland in 1723.
Exclusive Extract from Warrior’s Surrender
Larcwide and some of the older men watched as two others sat studiously at a table, contemplating their next move in a game of draughts. Every now and again heads would lift and the displeasure of other occupants of the Hall were made known when the sounds of wooden skittles being felled or the laughter at the antics in a play-acting game became too distracting.
Sebastian taught Frey the game of draughts and, despite a few initial missteps, she could now boast of being a worthy opponent. Her brother was a better one.
“Ah!” Brice announced triumphantly having landed his counter on the last row of the board.
“I should wonder what they do all day at St Cuthbert’s if you have time to become so expert,” she grumbled, then added cheerfully, “but now that you are living here you will have all the more time to teach me your skill.”
Brice looked uncomfortable. His head dropped and chin trembled.
“Frey, I wanted to wait until after Christmas but I ought to tell you something now,” he started, first tentatively and then with increased excitement as he shared his news.
Meet the characters of
Warrior’s Surrender
and WIN!
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