0550               Chaturanga, the earliest chess precursor, originated in Punjab, India.

0570               Chinese version of chess, played in China with dice.

0590               Chatrang was accepted as a noble accomplishment.

0600               Chaturanga reaches Persia.

                         First reference of chess in Persian romantic literature by Karnamak

                         Chessmen mentioned in the Sanskrit fantasy romance, Vasavadatta by Subandhu.

0610                Earliest chess pieces identified.

0620                Chess introduced to Egypt.

0625                Chaturanga mentioned in the Sanskrit book Harshacharita, by Bana.

0630                Chatrang (old Persian word for chess) developed from Chaturanga.

0638                Islamic conquest of Persia, changes Chatrang to Shatranj.

                         The Caliph Omar sanctions chess among the Islamic people.

0640                Buddhists spread Chatrang eastward.

0651                Arabic conquest of Persia completed; Shatranj popularized.

0655                Caliph Ali Ben Abu Talib, son-in-law of Muhammad, disapproves of chess for Muslims.

0680                50th rule of the Canons forbids chess.

0690                Chess prohibited in Japan by the Emperor Jito.

0712                Seville conquered by Arabs. Moorish invaders bring chess to Iberia.

0720                First literary references to chess in Arabic.

0735                Living chess introduced in Europe by Charles Martel (688-741).

0750                Abbasid comes to power in Baghdad, documents chess.

0770                First mention of women chess players.

0780                Moorish invaders of Spain introduce chess to Western Europe.

0795                First reference of Chinese chess in the Huan Kwai Lu (Book of Marvels).

0800                 Moors bring chess to Spain; Chess reaches Italy.

0801                Charlemagne (742-814) introduced to chess.

0818                Top players were Jabir al-Kufi, Rabrab, and Abu'n-Na'am. (Aliyat)

0819                Caliph Al-Ma'mun gives 4 players the Grand Master title.

0820                Chess introduced in Russia through the Caspian-Volga trade route.

0840                First chess problem composed by the Caliph Billah.

0840                Al-Aldi is considered the best chess player (Aliyat)

0849                Reference of chess in Kashmir Haravijaya (Victory of Siva) by Ratnakara.

0850                Decimal chess invented,10 x 10 board, first use of dice in chess.

0875                First reference of Knight's tour (turaga) in the Sanskrit Kavyalankara of Rudrata.

0880                Coordinate notation used in the Arab countries.

0895                Chess introduced to Greece; known as Zatrikion.

0910                Al-lajlaj (the stammerer) is the first to publish openings.

0920                Chess pieces are given Persian names.

0946                As-Suli died at Basra; strongest Shatranj player in Baghdad.

0947                Al-Ma'sudi, writes on the history of chess in India and Byzantine chess.

0980                Rabbi Abu Yachia describes chess in his Hebrew writings.

0988                Ibn an-Nadim writes on a whole succession of leading players and Chess books.

0999                Earliest known literary account of chess in Europe, the Einsiedeln Verses, Switzerland.

0999                Versus De Scachis is a  poem describing the game & its rules.

1000                Chess reaches Russia from Byzantium and the Vikings.

1005                Chess is banned in Egypt by al-Hakim; and all chess sets were burned.

1008                First written reference to chess in Europe, from a will of Ermengaud I.

1011                Shahnama, written by Firdausi, first Persian references to chess.

1013                Chess brought to England with the Danish invasion.

1027                Canute, King of Denmark and England, learns to play chess from pilgrimage to Rome.

1030                Al-Beruni writes of an Indian form of 4-handed chess and dice.

1050                Earliest reference of chess in the German literature, the Latin epic Ruodlieb.

1061                Cardinal Damiani of Ostin forbids the clergy to play chess.

1066                Chess introduced to Britain.

1078                King Alfonso VI of Castile played chess with B. Ammar.

1081                Emperor Alexius I comes to power. Plays chess with his court.

1082                Regulations of chess in Persia are published.

1090                Boards with alternating light and dark squares are introduced.

1093                Chess is condemned by the Eastern Orthodox church.

1097                First French reference to chess.

1100                Chess, accepted as a regular feature of noble life.

                         Chess introduced in Poland.

1105                Omar Khayyam writes the 'Rubaiyat,' using a chess game.

1106                Exchequer at Westminster created; referred to as the scaccarium or Chessboard.

                         Chess included in a list of knightly accomplishments by Petro Alfonsi.

1110                John Zonares, Eastern Church monk, excommunicated chess players.

1120                Oldest known chess set, the Lewis chessmen.

1125                Chess is banned in some Byzantine churches.

1128                St. Bernard (1090-1153) forbids the knights templars from chess.

1130                Draughts, a variant of chess, invented in France using Backgammon pieces.

1140                The Fers's (queen's) leap is introduced in Spain by Ibn-Ezra.

1150                Draughts (checkers) started in France.

1167                Earliest Spanish reference to chess.

1173                A French manuscript uses algebraic notation.

1180                First British reference to chess, by a Winchester monk.

1189                First European reference to chess problems, by Gerald of Wales.

1190                Alexander Neckam," On the Nature of Things".devotes a chapter for chess. 

1195                Rabbi Maimonides includes chess among the forbidden games.

1197                Abbot of Persigny writes to Countess of Perche warning her against chess.

1199                John Lackland, King of England, a keen chess player.

1200                Courier chess, played on a 12x8 board, introduced.

1208                The bishop of Paris, Odo Sully, bans chess from the clergy.

1210                Morality of chess according to Pope Innocent III (1160-1216) written.

1220                Chess is no longer played with dice to determine moves.

1230                Astronomical chess introduced.

1240                Chess forbidden to the clergy in Worcester, England.

1254                St Louis IX of France restricts chess to laymen.

1255                Provincial Council of Beziers in France forbids chess.

1257                Arabic manuscript now in British museum (BM manuscript)

1260                King Henry III (1207-72) instructs the clergy to leave chess alone.

1262                Russian word for chess (shakmatny) is introduced.

1271                Ruling Dalmatian towns of Yugoslavia was determined by a chess match.

1273                Cotton MS is the earliest English collection of chess problems.

1275                Cessole writes the most important of all moralities and most copied.

1275                Option of pawn double move on the First move introduced in Italy.

1279                Chinese introduce new pieces to Chinese chess (siang ki)

1290                Lombard lawyer, Guido de Baysio, formulate rules to govern chess.

1295                Bonus Socius, First European MS using a coordinate notation.

1295                Bonus Socius, First compilation of chess problems, written in Lombardy.

1300                Cessole writes 'Book of the customs of men and the duties of nobles'. Chess   morals.(Liber 

                        de moribus)

1300                Gesta Romanorum, a chess morality compiled in England, written.

1323                Chatrang-Namak written; oldest of Pahlawi works

1330                Citadel chess invented. Extra square at each corner.

1340                Persian 'treasury of sciences' includes 3 chapters on chess.

1370                Earliest known chess puzzle called arrangement.

1370                Pope Gregory xi (1329-1378) an avid chessplayer.

1375                Charles V (1337-80) of France prohibits chess.

1380                William of Wykeleham, founder of Oxford, forbids chess.

1392                Charles VI (1368-1422) forbids chess.

1416                Jews of Forli banned all games of chance except chess.

1420                German king abandons the prohibition of chess.

1422                Cracow manuscript states that stalemate is a draw.

1422                Cracow poem attributes the invention of chess to Ulysses.

1425                First reference to chess as 'the royal game' in Lydgates translation.

1470                Innocent Morality published. First printed reference to chess.

1471                Gottingen manuscript published. First work devoted to modern chess.

1474                Caxton (1422-1491) publishes 'the game and player of chess.'

1475                Beginning of modern chess starts in southern Europe.

1475                Fers replaced by the queen and the aufin replaced by the bishop.

1485                GAME; first known modern chess game recorded.

1495                BOOK; First practical chess book printed, by the Catalan Vicent treatise on openings.

1495                Vicent publishes his Catalan chess book, First practical chess book to be printed.

1496                Oldest surviving book dealing with practical play printed by Lucena; Repeticion de Amores.

1500                Chess becomes a recognized pastime for Jews on the Sabbath.

1512                First chess book to be published in Italy, by Damiano in Rome. 

1537                French pamphlet containing medieval chess problems; last medieval reference.

1549                Boi defeats Pope Paul III in a chess match.

1550                First chess club, organized in Italy.

1551                Ivan IV of Russia bans chess. Civil code called Hundred Chapters.

1555                Castling is introduced.

1560                Ruy Lopez visits Rome and defeats all the players.

1561                Ruy Lopez proposes the 50-move rule to claim a draw.

1561                Ruy Lopez introduces the word gambit. (Alcala, 1561)

1562                First instructional book, Damiano translation, published in London.

1572                Ruy lopez defeats several eminent players in Rome.

1574                Boi and Leonardo beat Lopez and Ceron in presence of King Phillip II.

1574                Polerio records the important opening variations of his time.

1574                First documented chess completion, played in Madrid.

1575                Leonardo beats Ruy Lopez in Madrid.

1575                After the Plaque of Cremona, all games except chess were banned.

1579                Sukaikir is the last write on the older Muslim game of chess.

1580                Ruy lopez died.

1584                Lopez's book translated into Italian by Tarsia and published in Venice.

1586                Leonardo poisoned.

1587                Japanese chess (shogi) played

1590                Polerio plays the First recorded King's Gambit.

1590                Polerio's manuscript mentions Caro Kann and Greco Counter Gambit.

1590                Russian book on regulations forbade chess in Russia.

1598                Boi, Paolo poisoned in Naples, Italy and died.

1600                Castling established as a single move; still regional variations.

1600                Appearance of professional players who made their living at chess.

1600                Stalemate in England is a win for the side that’s King is stalemated

1604                Salvio publishes the First comprehensive chess book, in Naples; Trattato.

1616                Selenius publishes the German book on openings, in Leipzig. (Lopez's book)

1617                Carrera prints a book on all aspects of chess (Gioco Degli Scacchi).

1617                Carrera suggests enlarging the chessboard to 10 x 8.

1617                Carrera suggests new piece, the champion (combines rook and knight).

1619                Greco compiles a manuscript on openings to a patron in Rome.

1620                Modern version of castling established in France.

1623                Greco began the practice of giving complete games.

1623                Greco presents chess manuscript to Nicholas Montstephen.

1624                Greco defeats all opponents at the court of Philip IV.

1633                Ecclesiastical lawyers declare chess as legal.

1634                Greco, Gioacchino died in the West Indies; strongest player of his day.

1640                Modern version of castling established in England.

1641                First mention of chess in America, in a history of Dutch settlers.

1652                First coffee house opened in London. Chess was played there.

1658                Khalifa writes Arabic bibliography; has catalog of chess books

1683                Piacenza writes book describing flank openings as fianchetti.

1690                Books on the origin of chess published in Naples by Marco Severino.

1690                First time openings are classified in an orderly way.

1697                Herbelot's Bibliotheque Orientale, gives some chess history.

1700                Payagunda writes Chaturangavinoda (The Game of Chess)

1700                Peter the Great cancels a ban on chess.

1702                Hyde, Thomas died in Oxford, England. Oriental scholar. Established Indian origin of chess.

1711                Chess is prohibited in Frankfort for 14 years after the Great Fire.

1715                First chess club in England at Slaughter's in London.

1719                Feret, in a paper to the French Academy, supports Indian origin of chess.

1722                Three-handed chess and board invented by Marinelli in Naples.

1723                Sicilian Defense played in Naples by Severino.

1735                The Noble Game Of Chess by Bertin is First worthwhile English book.

1743                Chess played on a board 14 by 10 in London. Invented by the Duke of Rutland.

1745                First edition of Hoyles games published, with a chess section.

1745                Stamma publishes 'the noble game of chess' in algebraic notation, London.

1747                Philidor defeats Stamma in a match at Slaughter's in London. 10 games.

1747                Philidor visits England under the auspices of Sir Janssen, strongest English player.

1748                Philidor introduces the modern rule of numbering each move. 

1748                Voltaire and Emperor Frederick II of Prussia play chess.

1749                Philidor publishes "Analyze Eschecs" in London, most important chess book..

1750                Legal's mate introduced by Legal against Saint Brie.

1750                English edition of Philidor's book published. Called Chess Analyzed.

1755                Philidor defeats Legal in France at the Cafe de la Regence.

1755                Stamma died.

1761                Hoyle publishes essay on chess (Murray 850).

1762                Franklin plays Bartram (game - CR 1/62,18)

1764                History of Chess by Lambe published in London.

1771                Philidor plays chess at the Salopian Coffee-house.

1772                Coxe sees 4-handed chess in Russia. First reference to 4-handed chess.

1774                Oldest Danish chess book (Murray, 854).

1779                Duke of Rutland's chess invented using a 14 x 10 board.

1781                 First recording of games systematically, by Atwood.

1784                Oldest Swedish book, Kort Afhandling, is published by Konigstedt.

1784                O-O; Moses Hirschel introduces the o-o and o-o-o symbol. (Murray, 848).

1786                Frankin publishes his 'Morals of Chess' in a Columbian Magazene..

1789                Racknitz builds a duplicate Turk. Publishes book exposing the Turk.

1789                Stein publishes opening book; analyzes the Dutch defense.

1790                Sir William Jones writes On the Indian Game of Chess.

1790                First known double rook sac made by Bowdler against Conway, London.

1791                First chess book published in Russia.

1793                Irwin writes Account of the Chinese Game of Chess.

1795                First German chess manual, published by Allgaier, in Vienna.

1795                First account of Burmese chess in Syme's “Account Of An Embassy To The Kingdom Of Ava”.

1795                Turkish chess manuscript with 128 chess problems; now in Berlin

1795                Philidor died in London. Age 69.

(Timeline from Chessindia.org)

Go back to main chess page