Charles Gilman wrote on Sat, Mar 1, 2003 08:50 AM UTC:
There is no getting away from the problem of Empress for a piece weaker
than the Queen, whose bishop move alone is more powerful than the
bishop's own as it can be executed from a starting square of either
colour. The first name that I saw was Chancellor, but having read the
above I am won over to Marshall; the Mare element in the name preserves
the femininity (in mediæval eyes) of a piece having the move of the home
and refuge that the Rook represents.
Besides, there is a much more suitable meaning for Empress: a 3d piece
combining rook, bishop, and unicorn. This would reflect it being a Queen
with an extra dmiension. Tying in with this could be Emperor for a 3d king
that can also move one square triagonally, and Viceroy for a piece that
can only move one-square triagonally (i.e. a triagonal version of the
Wazir and Fers).