The monarch responsible for checkers -answer

[Pedro Saavedra]

A Dutch historian has made a certain controversial claim that traces both the last major change to the rules of chess and the game of checkers in its modern forms (played in the same board as chess) to the influence of a certain monarch. What monarch and why?

I do not not give the name of the Dutch historian, simply to avoid googlers looking him up.

[Mr. Checkers]

Sounds like an old friend (Dutch Historian) Govert Westerveld who wrote about Queen Isabella (the very powerful 15th century Spanish monarch)--remember she sent Columbus out to sea. She is also credited with giving the Queen in chess much more latitude, power and mobility on the chessboard, which reflected her power and the struggles of her time (between the Spanish and Arabs and between the different classes of her own people). Due to her influence by the end of the 15th century the Queen of Chess became the most powerful piece on the chessboard. Chess historians have long credited France for the origin of Draughts (dames)--many did not know how to read Spanish, therefore many of the early Spanish writing concerning draughts were foreign to them. Contemporary chess and draughts historians now credit Spain with the origin of draughts. Govert (who currently lives in Spain) also wrote several treaties on Spanish draughts and he translated others written in Spanish. Arie van der Stoep's has also done a lot of research and writings on this subject. Many of the early writings on Spanish draughts are available on the internet if you can read Spanish. (Cont.)

[Pedro Saavedra]

You got it to the last detail. I will add that the queen in chess is referred to as "La Dama" in Spanish, and the game of checkers is known as "Damas". The theory seems to be that checkers was developed to honor Isabella.

There is a story that as Isabella was trying to convince Ferdinand to support Columbus, the king was playing chess. An advisor of the queen whispered a suggestion in the king's ear. The king won and was in a good mood, so he acquiesced to the queen's wishes.