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Pedro Damiano
Odemira ~1480 - ~1524
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by Daniele Ciani
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Padro Damiano (1) (in portoghese Pedro Damião) più conosciuto con l'appellativo ricevuto in Italia di "Damiano Portoghese" o "Damiano di Odemira", fu l'autore di uno dei primissimi trattati scacchistici della storia (2), pubblicato a Roma nel 1512 con il titolo: "Questo libro e da imparare a giocare a scachi et de le partite" originariamente scritto in italiano e spagnolo.
Nato in Portogallo, probabilmente ad Odemira, nella seconda metà del XV secolo, da famiglia di origine ebraica, fu uno speziale (farmacista) di professione.
Figura estremamente enigmatica, si conosce pochissimo della sua vita.
Probabilmente si rifugiò a Roma nel 1497 allorquando il re, Manuel I, espulse gli ebrei dal Portogallo sotto la minaccia della pena di morte.
Non si esclude pertanto che Damiano (4) possa essere solo uno pseudonimo, assunto con la fuga, come era consuetudine per gli ebrei dell'epoca.
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- Da non confondersi con San Pier Damiani (Ravenna 1007 - Faenza 21 febbraio 1072), teologo, vescovo e cardinale italiano che con il suo "Liber Gommorrhianus", opera indirizzata a Papa Alessandro II, tenne una dura requisitoria contro i vizi del clero, fra cui la passione per il gioco degli scacchi.
- Antecedenti al Damiano sono i trattati degli spagnoli Francesch Vicent che il 15 maggio 1495 pubblicò, a Valencia, l'incunnabolo "Llibre dels jochs partits dels schacs en nombre de 100" e quello di Lucena, del 1497, stampato a Salamanca con il titolo "Repetición de amores y arte de ajedrez, con 101 juegos de partido".
- Impressum Romae, per Stephanum Guillireti et Herculem Nani consocios. Anno domini, MDXII; il testo ebbe grande diffusione tanto che conobbe otto edizioni nel XVI secolo e fu tradotto in tutta europa.
Nella ristampa del 1524 a Roma per Antonio Bladi de Asula:
"In questo Libro se contiene dieci capituli:
El 1. cap. deli nomi deli scachi e del sito dessi et dete regute universate.
El 2. cap. delo primo modo de jocare.
El 3. cap. del secundo modo de jocare.
El 4. cap. del modo de jocare quando se darà la pedona.
El 5. cap. del modo de jocare quando se darà la pedona e lo tratto
El 6. cap. como se debe jocare quando se darà lo cauallo per la pedona.
El 7. cap. como se debe jocare quando se darà lo cauallo francho.
El 8. cap. deli trati sutili che se dicano in uolgare spagnolo primore.
El 9. cap. deti Jochi deli partiti.
Et ultimo capitulo de l'arte delo Jocare ala mente".
- San Damiano è considerato il patrono dei Farmacisti.
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Historical Sources
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Domenico Lorenzo Ponziani
"Il giuoco incomparabile degli scacchi sviluppato con nuovo metodo, per condurre chiunque colla maggiore facilità dai primi elementi fino alle finezze più magistrali." - Modena 1769
 Damiano Portughese fu il primo, che dasse al pubblico un'Operetta intitolata = Libro da imparare giocare a Scachi: et de belitissimi Partiti revisti et recorrecti. Con summa diligentia emendati da molti famosissimi Giocatori. In lingua Spagnola et Italiana. Composto per Damiano Portugese. Stampato in Roma per Antonio Bladi de Asula. Nel anno del Signore 1524. a dì 21. de Novembre.
Quest' Autore merita distinta lode, si perché non ha avuto chi lo preceda con alcun lume, come perché mostrò varie finezze originali, che molti si sono pregiati di ricopiare, fra le quali avvi lo Scaccomatto affogato di Cavallo ed il Giuoco chiamato Gomito di Damiano, che di lui lasceranno sempre un' onorevole ricordanza. Contuttociò il suo libriccino non è sumciente a fare un buon Giuocatore, poiché manca delle principali Aperture, e le poche da lui esposte non presentano, che idee basse e cascanti. Si estende sopra i Giuochi dove si dà vantaggio; ma non essendo questi d' alcuna sicura istruzione, per essere già perduti di lor natura, furono sempre da me riputati di una pessima occupazione. Si diffonde altresì nell' insegnar l'arte di giuocare a memoria: ma quest' abilità fu piuttosto nell' opinione, e nel desiderio d'alcuni; non essendo credibile, che si possa eseguire alla cieca ciocché ad occhi veggenti non si fa fare. Fra i Partiti ottantotto di questo Autore nove, o dieci ve ne sono pieni di leggiadria; non così gli altri. Ciò non ostante bisogna credere, che tutti del pari rapissero sranamente l'animo di D. Antonio Porto, il quale con ammirabil franchezza fece ristanparli sotto il proprio nome, senza aggiungervi la più piccola cosa di suo; come vedesi dalle due edizioni , l'una in Bologna di Gio: Rossi nel 1606., l'altra in Venezia di Pietro Farri nel 1618.
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Jacob Henry Sarratt
"The Works of Damiano, Ruy-Lopez, and Salvio on the Game of Chess" - London 1813
 Damiano DAMIANO is the first who wrote a treatise intended to facilitate the study of the game of Chess DAMIANO is the first who wrote a treatise intended to facilitate the study of the game of Chess (*). The title of his work is, "Libro da imparare Giocare a Scachi in Lingua Spagnola & Taliana novamente Stampato." Mr. Twiss says, "This is a small duodecimo of 128 pages, without name, date, place: in the title-page is a print from a coarse engraving in wood, representing a priest and a monk playing at Chess. One third of the book is in Italian, containing some account and the rules of the game; the remainder is a collection of curious ends of games (in Spanish primores), with a Chess-board in the middle of each page; the explanation at the top is in Italian, and at the bottom in Spanish: but the figures on the boards are so badly engraven, that not one of these games is intelligible. This book is in the King's library; and in that of the Royal Society is likewise a copy, which is the only book on the subject there preserved. I was favoured with the sight of another edition, by the Chevalier de Pinto, in the common print, also without date or place, but otherwise exactly like the first, except that it ends thus - Laus Deo. Finisse el libro da imparare giocare a Scachi & delle partite. Coposto per Damiano Portughese.
(*) Jacopo Dacciesole, or Jacobus de Caesolis, a Dominican friar, wrote on Chess before the year 1200; but his book does not contain any rules for playing. It is divided into twenty-four chapters: the first three give an account when and how the game was invented; the following five contain a description of the pieces; the next eight, a description of the pawns; and the last eight, a description of their moves.
It was originally writtenin Latin; and translated into French by Jehan de Vignay, a monk: from this French version Caxton translated his edition, which was printed in 1474. This was the first book printed in England with metal types.
In the year 1266 there came to Florence a Saracen named Buzecca, a very great master of Chess-playing; and in the Palace del Popolo, before Count Guido Novello, he played at one time on three Chess-boards, with the best masters of Chess in Florence, playing with two by memory, and with the third by sight; and two games he won, and the third he made a drawn game by a perpetual check, which circumstance was esteemed marvellous.
(Extracted from CHESS; a truly entertaining work by Mr. Twiss, published in 1787.)
In the Exchequer Office, at Westminster, is preserved a book containing an account of the household expences of Henry VII, almost every page of which is signed by the King himself; in one of them is this article, "For the King at Tables, Chess, &c. ibi s. biii d."
The names of the Chess-men in the reign of Henry VIII, according to a passage in a book printed in 1519, were Kynges, Quyens, Alfyns, Knyghtis, Rokis, and Paunys.
("Chess," Vol.II, p.38 and 39.)
Lolli mentions this edition, and says, it was printed at Rome 1524.
DAMIANO, among other opinions of the origin of Chess, says, "Altri dicano che fureno doi fratelli liquali se chiamareno Lidio & Tirreno, liquali afflitti con una grande fame per passare el tempo & non patire tanta fame & aflittione ordernarno questo gioco & cosi se passarno quello infortunio de modo che con qsto gioco passaveno il tempo & non mangiaveno se non tre volte in duoi giorni."
Thus translated by James Rowbothum:
"Other some saye that they were two brethren: the one named Lidie, and the other Tirrhene, who, beinge afflicted with great hunger and famine, did invent this playe; to the end, that in playinge of it, they might employe their spirites so vehemently that they might more easily passe the faminall affliction: and indeede they passed the tyme so well, that they made but three meales in twoo dayes."
The copy in the Editor's possession was printed at Venice in 1654; and entitled:
"Libro da imparare a giocar a Scachi, con bellissimi partititi, & molte suttilità.
Revisto, et Corretto, con summa diligentia, da molti famosissimi Giocatori."
In lingua Spagnola & Taliana, nuovamente Stampato.
In Venetia — Appresso Steffano Zazzara.
M.D.LXIIII.
It is divided into ten chapters: th first contains the names of the pieces, their situations, and some general rules; the second is entitled ”Del primo modo di giocare" the first method of playing; that is, beginning with the Kings pawn: the third chapter treats of the second method of playing; i. e. beginning with the Queen's pawn: in the fourth is inserted the method of playing when the odds of the pawn for the move are given: the sixth, games in which the Knight is given for the pawn and move; all these games appear to be entitled to unqualified approbation: the seventh chapter contains games in which the Knight is given: in the eighth chapter are inserted the subtle moves("tratti suttili”) called, in "vulgar" Spanish, primores; they are sixteen in number: the ninth chapter contains his well-known ends of games; these DAMIANO calls "Giochi de i partiti;" they are in number sixty-eight: the tenth and last chapter contains the Elements of the Art of Playing without seeing the Board.
Of these ten chapters the Editor has translated only seven: he has not translated the first chapter, from a belief that it contains nothing that is either instructive or entertaining. In speaking of the pawns, DAMIANO says, "El movimento della pedona è la prima volta andare tre case se vole;" but no doubt he includes the square on which the pawn is originally placed.
The eighthand ninth chapters the Editor has omitted, from a conviction, that, all DAMIANO'S "subtle moves" and ends of games have already been published. They are to be found in the works of Lolli; Dr. Ercole dal Rio's treatise; Cozio, and Stamma; and in les Stratagèmes des Echecs, &c.
The degree of skill which is conspicuous in the greater number of these ends of gamescannot be surpassed.
It is rather singular that Mr. Twiss does not mention DAMIANO'S directions for playing without seeing the board(*). In the copy which is in the Editor's possession, these directions occupy several very closely printed pages: they are entitled "Dell'arte del giocare alia mente."
(*) The following players are recorded as having excelled in the art of playing without seeing the board:
Buzecca, a Saracen;
Dr. Salvio;
Mangiolino, of Florence;
Paolo Boi, of Syracuse;
Zerone;
Medrano; all Spaniards
Ruy- Lopez;
and
Philidor.
Keyster, in his account of Turin, in 1749, says, "The late Father Sacchieri of Turin was a remarkable instance of the strength of human understanding, particularly that faculty of the soul, we term memory. He could play at Chess with three different persons at the same time, even without seeing any one of the Chess-boards. He required no more than that his substitute should tell him what piece his antagonist had moved, and Sacchieri could direct what step was to be taken on his side, holding at the same time conersation with the company present. If any dispute arose about the place where any piece should be, he could tell every move that had been made not only by himself, but by his antagonist from the beginning of the game; and, in this manner, inconteslably decide the proper place of the piece. This uncommon dexterity at the game of Chess appears to me almost the greatest instance that can be produced of a surprising memory."
Verci says, "Father Sacchieri, Lecturer of Mathematicks in Pavia, played to perfection on four Chess-boards at the same time."
If these accounts be accurate, Sacchieri's talents in that department were unquestionably superior to those of any other Chess-player.
The greater part of DAMIANO'S treatise was translated into English, and published in London in the year 1562: it is entitled "The pleasauntand wittieplaye of the Cheasts renewed. Lately translated out of Italian into French, and now set furth in Englishe, by James Rowbothum. Printed at London, 1562."
This work is exceedingly scarce: the only copy that the Editor ever saw, is in the possession of the Hon. G. J. Tuchet (*), only son of the Lord Audley.
(*)The Hon. G. J. Tuchet has a remarkably valuable collection of Chess-books: he possesses also a very scarce and curious book containing a description of a game to be played on aboard with squares (a).
It is printed in black letter, and is entitled, "The most ancient and learned playe, called the Philosopher's game: invented for the honest recreation of students, and other sober persons in passing the tedious of tyme, to the release of their labours and the exercise of their wittes. By W. F."
It begins thus: "That moste auncient and learned Playe called the Philosopher's game, being in greek,  is as much as to saye in Englishe the battell of numbers," &c. At the end is: "Printed at London by Rowland Hall for James Rowbothum, and are to be solde at his shoppe in Chepeside, under Bowe church. 1503.
"All things belonging to this game
for reason you may bye:
at the Booke shop under Bochurch
in Chepeside redilye."
(a) There is another copy in His Majestic's library; bat it wants th title.
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Chess Archeology 
