Chess in Europe

The game of chess, or rather its immediate precursor, known as shatranj, was introduced to Europe from the Islamic sphere, most likely via Iberia (modern Spain), in the 9th or 10th century (possibly as early as at the beginning of the 9th century, and certainly by the mid to late 10th century).

The earliest reference to the game in Middle Latin is a poem de scachis, preserved in Einsiedeln Abbey. Chess in medieval Europe was played in monasteries and at feudal courts. An exception is Ströbeck, known as the "chess village",^[1] where chess became popular among the farmers in the early 11th century already.