Damiano Pedro
Portuguese chess player at the beginning of the 16th century, an apothecary by profession. He was the author of the first popular chess book in Italian “Questo Libro e da imparare giocare a scachi et de li parti (probably Rome, 1512), which was reprinted in Italy 8 times until 1564. This book was translated into English by J. Rowbowen in 1562, a German translation was published in the Berliner Schachzeitung in 1855 and a French one has been edited by Gruget in 1560. The book favored the development of chess in Europe. In his book, Damiano analyses several openings, namely an opening later called “Gambit Damiano.”, 16 fine points, and 72 exercises, 70 from which were taken from Lucena’s book of 1496.
