Our designers and craftsmen at Studio Anne Carlton have created a magnificent chess set which epitomises the struggles for domination between Christians and Muslims. This conflict has continued intermittently for over a thousand years but it is the period between 1095 and 1292 which has captured our imagination because of the exploits of the Crusader Knights. Stories of heroes of the Crusades abound in all cultures. We invite you now to create your own heroes and villains from within the characters of our chess set. Skilfully hand decorated by the artists at Studio Anne Carlton, these pieces represent the Christian side led by King Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart, in combat with the Muslim armies led by Saladin. This chess set concentrates particularly on the Third Great Crusade led by King Richard I of England who in 1189 joined King Philip II of France in an effort to recapture the holy city of Jerusalem. King Richard, with 8000 troops, seized Cyprus and some cities on the Palestinian coast, but ultimately failed to dislodge the Muslim leader, Saladin, from Jerusalem. (Board not Included)