Francesc Vicent
Full name	Francesc Vicent
Country	Spain
Born	1450 Segorbe, Kingdom of Valencia
Died	c. 1512 Unknown

Francesc Vicent (Segorbe, 1450 — c. 1512) was a Spanish author who wrote the first treaty about chess, which is known as Llibre dels jochs partits dels schacs en nombre de 100, printed in Valencia in May 15, 1495 at the printing of Lope de Roca Alemany i Pere Trincher. No copy of this work has survived. Even though it is believed that there was once a copy in the library of Santa Maria de Montserrat, the truth is that it disappeared during the Peninsular War.

Vicent is considered the founder of modern chess, as his work spread throughout Europe the innovation of the Queen, piece appeared for the first time in the poem Scachs d'amor (1475) written by Bernat Fenollar, Narcís Vinyoles and Franci de Castellví. Hence, some people believe this piece is a Valencian invention.^[1]

Vicent left the Kingdom of Valencia for Italy, due to problems with the Spanish Inquisition.

The asteroid 78071 Vicent, discovered in 2002, is named after him.

[edit] References

1. ^ Karpov supports the Valencian Queen (Spanish)

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