What Happened When Indians Challenged Iranians? The Earliest Story of the Invention of Chess and Backgammon

July 3, 2026

On the Explanation of Chess and Backgammon (Abar Wizārišn ī Čatrang ud Nihišn Nēw-Ardaxšīr), a book by Dr. Touraj Daryaee, is a Middle Persian text concerned with the earliest story of the invention of the games of chess and backgammon in the sixth century CE, during the rule of the great Sasanian king of kings, Khusro I (or Khosrow I) (531-579 CE).

Indian ambassador, probably sent by the Maukhari King Śarvavarman of Kannauj, introducing chess to the Persian court of Khosrow, An illustration from a Persian manuscript "A treatise on chess"

Four major personages play the part (an Indian and Iranian King and their Ministers) in this Middle Persian text, but only the Sasanian monarch Khusro I has a firm historical attestation. A series of correspondences are exchanged between the Iranian and Indian court about which kingdom, its people and traditions, is loftier. As a measure of the intelligence of their people, the Indians devise a game (chess) and make a wager that the Iranians cannot figure out its logic. Te Iranian sage Minister, Wuzurgmihr (also known as Buzurjmihr) not only unlocks the mystery of the game of chess, but also devises the game of backgammon (Nēw- Ardaxšīr) and sends it to the Indian court as a challenge. The Indian king and Minister are unable to figure out the logic of the game and in this manner the Iranians achieve greatness over the Indians and continue to receive tribute.

The story attempts to drive home several points to the audience. One is that not only the king of kings of the Sasanian Empire is greater than others, but also Ērānšahr (the name of the Sasanian Empire) is the greatest. Secondly, Wuzurgmihr is not only the greatest of the Persian sages, but greater than all the wise men in the world. He is also able to defeat the Indian sage three times in the game of chess which was invented by the Indians and creates a game whose logic the Indians cannot understand.

Several ancient texts mention the games of chess and backgammon as part of princely and courtly mental training along with the physical training (jousting, polo, and the hunt) for the noblemen.

This is the beginning of the text translated to English:

1) It is said that during the reign of Khusro, of immortal soul, for the sake of testing the wisdom and knowledge of the Iranians and to see his own benefit, Dēbšalm, great sovereign of the Indians, sent one set of chess, 16 pieces. made from emerald and 16 pieces made from red ruby.

2) Along with that (game of ) chess he sent 1200 camel loads of gold and silver and jewels and pearls and goblets (and) 90 elephants and things specially made for them, which were sent along, and Taxtrītos who was notable among the Indians was sent along.

3) In a letter he had written thus: Since you are named king of kings, and over us you are king of kings, then your wise men also must be wiser than ours, either you explain the logic of this (game of ) chess or send (us) tribute and tax.

4) The king of kings asked for 3 days, and there was not one among the wise-men in Ērānšahr who was able to explain the logic of that chess (game).

5) On the third day, Wuzurgmihr, the son of Boxtag stood upon his feet ….

You can read the full text here.

Related to Chess:

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