What is Croatian checkerboard?
[[File:Escutcheon in the Seal of the Kingdom of Croatia 1527.svg|thumb|right|Escutcheon in the Seal of the [[Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)|Kingdom of Croatia]]]] The '''Croatian checkerboard''' or '''chequy''' ([[Croatian language|Croatian]]: ''šahovnica'' {{IPA-sh|ʃaxǒːʋnit͡sa|}})<ref>{{cite web|title=šahovnica - Hrvatski jezični portal - Znanje|url=http://hjp.znanje.hr/index.php?show=search_by_id&id=d1lvXBE%253D|access-date=20 July 2017}}</ref> is the national symbol of [[Croatia]].<ref>{{cite web|title=GRBOVI I DRESOVI EURA Kako je šahovnica postala simbol Hrvatske|url=http://www.index.hr/tema/euro-2016/grbovi-i-dresovi-eura-kako-je-%C5%A1ahovnica-postala-simbol-hrvatske-i-%C5%A1to-crkva-ima-s-tim-899188|access-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723192817/http://www.index.hr/tema/euro-2016/grbovi-i-dresovi-eura-kako-je-%C5%A1ahovnica-postala-simbol-hrvatske-i-%C5%A1to-crkva-ima-s-tim-899188|archive-date=23 July 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the main shield of the [[Coat of arms of Croatia|Croatian coat of arms]]. On top of the main shield is the crown with five smaller shields, each representing a region of Croatia. The squares in the ''šahovnica'' are always arranged the right way, colored red and white. Historically, the order varied. ==Origin== [[File:POL księstwo jaworskie COA.svg|thumb|left|125px|Coat of arms used by Duchy of Jawor since 1368, ruled by the [[Piast dynasty]] of [[Silesia]]n regions.]] There is a legend, probably from the 19th century, which talks about how the Croatian [[Stephen Držislav of Croatia|king Držislav]], captured by the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]], played a [[chess]] match. His opponent was Doge [[Pietro II Orseolo]]. He won and became free, and in some versions of the story he also got power over the [[Dalmatia]]n cities. Then he put the [[chessboard]] in his [[coat of arms]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Legenda o nastanku hrvatskog grba - mojapovijest.com|url=http://www.mojapovijest.com/legenda-o-nastanku-hrvatskog-grba/|access-date=20 July 2017