Crusaders and Saladin Chess Set

Crusaders and Saladin Chess Set

Use the chessboard to create your own tales of valor and victory with the Crusaders Chess Set. European warriors of the Middle Ages battle their Middle Eastern opponent, Saladin, and clash in a game of skill and strategy. The highly detailed figures are crafted from marble resin, a durable material that will retain its color and quality for many battles to come, and they are hand-painted for a realistic look. This set is perfect for display, with Kings standing at at noble 3.25 inches tall, and the base of each piece is 1 1/8" inches respectively.

A Bit of History:

The Crusades were a series of religiously sanctioned military campaigns waged by much of Western Christian Europe, particularly the Franks of France and the Holy Roman Empire. The specific crusades to restore Christian control of the Holy Land were fought over a period of nearly 200 years, between 1095 and 1291. Crusaders took vows and were granted penance for past sins, often called an indulgence.

The Crusades originally had the goal of recapturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land from Muslim rule and were launched in response to a call from the Christian Byzantine Empire for help against the expansion of the Muslim Seljuk Turks into Anatolia.

Saladin, was a Kurdishm Muslim, who became the first Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt and Syria. He led Islamic opposition to the Franks and other European Crusaders in the Levant. At the height of his power, he ruled over Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia, Hejaz, and Yemen. He led the Muslims against the Crusaders and eventually recaptured Palestine from the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem after his victory in the Battle of Hattin. His chivalrous behavior was noted by Christian chroniclers, especially in the accounts of the siege of Kerak in Moab, and despite being the nemesis of the Crusaders he won the respect of many of them, including Richard the Lionheart; rather than becoming a hated figure in Europe, he became a celebrated example of the principles of chivalry.

King: 3-1/4"
Base: 1-1/8"
Recommended Chess Board Square Size: 1.5"