Justinian and Chosroes held communication on
historical and social matters, Harun of Bagdad, and the Princess
Irene of Constantinople, as well as her predecessor, made special
presents to Pepin and Charlemagne, including chess equipages
which probably were considered suitable and fitting compliments
at the time, and they seem to have been appreciated and highly
valued, especially by Charlemagne, who evidently fancied himself
at chess, and we find was somewhat demonstrative in his challenges.
Charlemagne must have known Egbert, who took refuge at his
court for a time, before he became King of England, from the
usurper Brithric. The biography of the celebrated scholar Alcuin,
says that Charlemagne met him in Parma; but Hume is probably
right in his statement that he was sent by Offa as the most proper
person to meet the Emperor's views in aiding him to confute
certain alleged heresies. This scholar was much esteemed and
venerated by Charlemagne, and his family, and from his long
domestication in his household, and familiarity with his habits
and pursuits, could scarcely be ignorant of Charlemagne's
enthusiasm for chess, and such a popular exponent of learning at
the time as Alcuin was, might well have been known and
favourably regarded by such a patron and enquirer as the famous
Harun Ar Rashid of Bagdad, who must have corresponded with
Charlemagne and sent his presents at the very time that Alcuin
was residing with the Emperor.
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