You’ve probably heard of the Kohinoor diamond and you also may have not. For some of you that don’t know, the Kohinoor is that big shiny diamond in the very center of the queen mother’s crown.
The crown along with other jewels of the royal family are now often showcased in the Tower of London if you want to go have a look. So why has this particular diamond picked our interest?
Kohinoor diamond history
You see, the Kohinoor diamond as well as other diamonds acquired by the British monarchy in the past have a rather dark and peculiar history behind them. We will know about the very twisted fate of the Kohinoor and some of its dark past left untold.
The history of the Kohinoor is a rather vast and deep one. Deep enough to strike controversies around the world and since its history has often been disputed by scholars and people alike it’s hard to pinpoint the precious stone’s origin.
But after a series of extensive research and accumulated findings, the diamond is finally believed to have been discovered in the Kollur mines of the Guntur district in what seems to be present-day Andhra Pradesh India.
Under the rule of the Hindu Kakatiya dynasty, an advanced settlement that built the iconic Kakatiya Thoranam, ornamental gates in the 13th century. During that time the diamond was said to have been the largest and possibly the most precious stone ever seen weighing up to 793 carats which is almost as heavy or even heavier than your average mobile phone today.
Later in the fourteenth century when the second ruler of the Khilji dynasty Alauddin Khalji invaded India, his general Malik Kafur was said to have possibly acquired the Kohinoor diamond during a thorough raid of the kingdoms of southern India.
As a symbol of prosperity, many years passed and another raid took place in India. This time in 1526 Turko Mongol leader Zahiruddin Babur, invaded the country to establish the Islamic Mughal dynasty and in the process thoroughly rooted its states for many treasures and precious gems alike.
Soon enough the Mughals had come to take possession of the diamond. Although it’s impossible to know where exactly it came from, the earliest mention of the diamond came from the memoirs of Babur and his son Humayun where he stated that the Kohinoor was so valuable it could feed the entire world for two and a half days.
The Mughals ruled for many years and took the Kohinoor diamond with them. And during those years came a particular infatuation with gemstones and diamonds well enough that during the reign of the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1628.
The order for a diamond-encrusted throne made out of precious gemstones and of course the Kohinoor diamond was carried out this stone would take seven years to make and the Kohinoor being made as to its mantle and highest peace would later become the Peacock Throne.
And for a century later so commenced the Mughal empire would reign supreme over the world and India. But not for long when Nadir Shah invaded Delhi in 1729. The Mughal forces fell and its entire treasury was looted.
So also commenced a thorough plundering of the state displacing thousands in its wake he took several valuable items and gemstones including the Peacock Throne itself. It is said that when Nader Shah first gazed upon the Kohinoor diamond, he exclaimed.
Kohinoor means mountain of light, a reference to how dazzlingly beautiful it was. Hence giving the diamond its famous name in the hands of Nader Shah.
After Nader Shah’s death, the gem was passed on to Ahmad Shah Durrani who was one of the generals and also the founder of the Afghan empire. After years of the diamond being passed on in his family, one of the descendants Shuja Shah Durrani gifted the Kohinoor to Ranjit Singh the ruler of Sikh in 1813 as a symbol of his hospitality.
When he fled to Lahore after being overthrown by Muhammad Shah, finally after decades of blood and gore the diamond had returned to India. But not for long in 1839 on Ranjit Singh’s deathbed he requested that the Kohinoor be placed in the Jaganath Puri temple in Odisha, a temple he loved very much.
Kohinoor diamond in the hands of British
But after his death, the East India Company did not fulfill his will and went on to keep the Kohinoor diamond after his death. The diamond was passed down with the Punjabi throne to four different rulers. It was said that those years after his death were one of the most chaotic in history.
Finally, after the end of the violent period in the rule of a young boy Duleep Singh and his mother, Rani Jindan came the forceful acquisition of the diamond by English officers. The British army forced the young boy who was only about 10 years of age to sign a legal document.
Amending the treaty of Lahore deal was only made possible because of the imprisonment of his mother. The document meant signing off all of the maharaja’s assets including the Kohinoor and laying all claims of sovereignty over the British.
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Since then the diamond has become the property of the British monarchy and officially in 1850, the Kohinoor was gifted to the queen as a spoil of war. Prince Albert, queen victoria’s husband had the stone re-cut and polished in the process reducing its size to 42 weighing it only at 105.6 carats but also making it more beautiful.
After the diamond was cut, it was initially used as a broach by the queen. But as time passed it was eventually transferred to the queen’s mother’s crown in 1937.
But would you be willing to believe if we told you that diamond was cursed? it wouldn’t be that hard to believe. Following the destruction and carnage, it has brought throughout its history.
It’s no wonder the diamond has sparked so much attention and curiosity over the years and who knows maybe one day the Kohinoor might finally return home. But with countries like Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan all laying claim to the diamond, it might take a while. With that, we’ve covered the dark history of the Kohinoor diamond.