Birth of the Chess Queen

The book “The Birth of the Chess Queen” by researcher Marilyn Yalom, published in the translation by Khaled Al-Jubaili by Al-Rawafed Cultural House, reviews the profound historical transformation that occurred on the chessboard, linking the development of the rules of the game to the changing balance of political and social power in medieval Europe. The author skillfully traces how the limited-action piece “The Minister” in the original Eastern version was transformed into the bold “Queen,” which became the most powerful piece ever, attributing this change to the rise of historical queens who left a clear mark on power, such as Isabella of Castile and Eleanor of Aquitaine.