Code:
PA711 - THE CRUSADES CHESS SET
- RICHARD THE LIONHEART SIDE
Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199) and
Saladin (1138-1193). The crusades began in 1095 with
an appeal by Pope Urban II to free the Holy City of
Jerusalem from Muslim hands, This effectively ended
in 1204. During that period the Papacy called as many
as four Crusades, The first of which recovered Jerusalem
in 1099. However in 1187 the Turkish ruler Saladin
once again put the Holy City under Muslim control.
This event led to the so called Third Crusade and
the coming of Richard I of England to the East. Though
accompanied by the King of France until 1191 Richard
the Lionheart is the best remembered commander of
the Third Crusade.
In leadership the Turks and the Western
forces were evenly matched, Richard was a brave fighter
and perhaps an abler soldier than Saladin, who was
by far the better Statesman. The most notable military
encounter of the struggle was the siege of Acre (1189-1191).
The besieged garrison, assisted from outside by Saladin,
heroically held out for two years against a combined
land and sea force. After Acre fell, Richard made
further gains but was stubbornly resisted by Saladin.
The conflict ended in stalemate: The two leaders agreeing
to armistice in 1192. Richard failed to recapture
Jerusalem, but secured the right for pilgrims to visit
the Holy Sepulcher.
The opposition chess side is the Saladin
side .
There are three molds,
one for the king and queen, one for the bishop and
knight and one for the castle (rook) and the pawns.
The image is to show how they can look when cast and
painted. The chess board is not included. |
