Civis Bononiae
1300
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Civis Bononiae (Citizen of Bologna) is the pseudonym of the compiler of a large collection of chess and tables problems as shown in the prologue ('Civis sum Bononiae ista qui collegi').
Civis Bononiae contains the following games:
barail, desbaraill
bethelas
buff, buffa
buff de Baldriac (problem #73), ‘ludus subtilis et non multum usitatus’
imperial, this game is different from 13 A XVIII.
minoret
testa
The oldest copycat, MS 372 (~1300), preserved in the Fitzwilliam Museum, contains 80 problems of tables (ff. 154-193).
Ista sunt partita tabularum, et que dupliciter fiunt scilicet optando cum lingua et iaciendo taxillos. Primo dicitur de optantibus id est de illis que optantur sui partem ille qui habet albam tabulam. Ista alba debet elevari in punctis et nigra econtrario scilicet ubi stat alba et luditur in duobus taxillis. Pete primo vel ego petam. Et scire debes quod illa quae stat deforis perdit sive primo trahat sive secundo quia si primo trahit periit per sines. Et tunc periuntur. Nam alter facit sines et lucratur alba ut statim vides. Si alba primo trahit periuntur nigra nam periit et altera facit quateras et vincit ut videbis.
These are the problems of tables, which are played in two ways: namely, by choosing by word of mouth or by throwing the dice. First, we speak of those who choose, that is, of those [games] which are chosen for one's side by the one who has the white board. This white [piece] must be moved up the points, and the black one conversely—namely, where the white stands—and it is played with two dice. 'You challenge first, or I shall challenge.' And you should know that the one who stands on the outside loses, whether they play first or second, because if they play first, they lose by the 'sixes' (double sixes). And then they are defeated. For the other player makes 'sixes' and the white wins, as you can see at once. If the white plays first, the black pieces are defeated, for they lose and the other player makes 'fours' (double fours) and wins, as you will see.
In his article "The Mediæval Game of Tables" (Medium Ævum vol. X n°2 [1941]), H.J.R. Murray translated some terms :
aditus sb. (problem #54), entry.
caput sb. (problem #8), the sice-point.
claudere v. claudere introitum (problem #7), to close the points of entry.
communis, ludus est (problem #59), the game is drawn.
denudare v. (problem #26), to bare, leave a point empty or only held by a blot.
domus, the inner table from which a player bears his men
elevare v. (problem #1), to bear.
extrinseca (problem #1), outside the bearing table.
ferire v. (problem #26), to strike or take
glosa sb. (problem #45), solution.
intrare (problem #7), to enter.
introitus sb. (problem #18), entry.
ire clausae (problem #54), to play without unpiling points.
ligare v., to double or pile men ; facere tabulam ligatam (problem #22) ; tenere tabulam ligatam (problem #29).
majoret (problem #77), the higher of the throws of two dice is duplicated.
manus ; tenere in manu (problem #10), to hold a man awaiting re-entry; tabula in manu (problem #47), a captured man awaiting re-entry.
minoret (problem #77), the lower of the throws of two dice is duplicated (not to be confused with the game of the same name).
nudare v. (problem #6), to leave a man or point bare.
nudus sb. (problem #58), a blot.
optativus ludus (problem #1), a game in which the players choose their throws.
partita, partitum (problem #1), a position or problem; partitum pejus (problem #46), the worse position.
passim, to lose by being unable to use a throw
perdere punctum (problem #9), to lose a throw by not being able to play it.
posta, ad postam, invitare, ad invitum, problem of which no explanation is given, presumably because they were understood
solus sb. (problem #6), a single man or blot.
stare ad elevandum (problem #13, #31), to be ready for bearing.
transire v. (problem #16), to cross to the other half of the board
unicus sb., a blot.
volta (problem #45), move or turn of play.
Numerous copies appeared in the 15th century:
Codex 273 (Roma - Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma) containing 76 problems of tables (ff. 149-186)
Codex Barberiniano Latino 254 (Vatican - Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana) formerly Barberini X. 72
Codex XIX. 7. 37 (Florence - Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze) containing 72 problems of de tables (ff. 157-192)
Codex alpha.R.9.3, lat. 143 (Modena - Biblioteca Estense universitaria di Modena), Tractatus partitorum Schachorum Tabularum et Merelorum Scriptus anno 1454, containing 85 problems of de tables (ff. 271r-313r)
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