|
|
Price: |
£144.95
|
Sale Price: |
No Price
|
Prod. Code: |
10307 |
|
Chess Pieces: Ground stone and polyresin
King Height: 3.25" (83mm)
Complete with chess board:
- featuring a silk screen overlay surrounded by a varnished sheesham wood border
- square size: 40mm
- overall dimensions: 39.5cm x 39.5cm
- playing area: 33.5cm x 33.5cm
- depth: 2cm
The age of the valorous knights of old and their castles - could there be a more appropriate theme for a theme chess set!
The word 'knight' has its origins in Anglo-Saxon times and is derived from the word 'cniht' meaning boy, a word which gradually developed its meaning into that of a servant who carried arms. But why were servants armed at all?
The answer lies in the fall of the Roman Empire and the widespread disorder which followed. The collapse of effective government and the rise of aggressive brigands left landowners with the need to defend themselves, their families and their property. Groups of young men were gathered together to provide this much needed protection and were rewarded accordingly. Crucially, the reward would sometimes be in the form of land and so gradually the status and wealth of the knight developed into a social class of its own. In fact, a wider role began to emerge, for example in politics.
The horse, sword, lance, shield and body armour were the knight's weapons and regular tournaments provided the ideal setting for knights to practise their art. The elevated position of the knight on horseback initially provided a huge advantage in battle but this advantage gradually became eroded - in particular, by the emergence of the archer who could of course attack from great distances. However, it was ultimately the advent of efficient weapons using gunpowder in 15th/16th century which was to bring an end to the dominance of the knight on the battlefield.
Chivalry (derived from the French words chevalier and chevalerie) is fundamental to any understanding of the role of the knight. At a literal level, the words point us to the knight's skills of horsemanship but a deeper meaning developed in the form of chivalrous behaviour. Characterised by courteous behaviour towards women, defending the church, protecting the poorer and weaker members of society, as well, of course, as loyalty to his lord.