The Peacock Throne
The dazzling throne of the Mughal Emperors has vanished from history, but not before Abdul Hamid Lahori had seen it.
1635
King Charles I 1625-1649 Shah Jahan, Mughal Emperor 1628-1658
The dazzling throne of the Mughal Emperors has vanished from history, but not before Abdul Hamid Lahori had seen it.
1635
King Charles I 1625-1649 Shah Jahan, Mughal Emperor 1628-1658
The Peacock Throne in the Hall of Private Audiences in the Red Fort of Delhi was the high throne of Mughal Emperors, built for Shah Jahan, who ascended it for the first time on March 22nd, 1635. The throne was looted and taken to Persia in May 1739 by Nader Shah, but we do have this eyewitness description from Abdul Hamid Lahori, Shah Jahan’s court historian.
In the course of years many valuable gems had come into the imperial jewel-house, each one of which might serve as an ear-drop for Venus or as an adornment for the girdle of the Sun. Upon the accession of the emperor, it occurred to him that, in the opinion of far-seeing men, the acquisition of such rare jewels and the keeping of such wonderful brilliants could render but one service, that of adorning the throne of empire. They ought therefore to be put to such a use that beholders might benefit by their splendour and that majesty might shine with increased brilliancy.
It was accordingly ordered that, in addition to the jewels in the imperial jewel-house, rubies, garnets, diamonds, rich pearls, and emeralds, to the value of twenty million rupees (over £2,200,000),* should be brought for the inspection of the emperor, and that they, together with some exquisite jewels exceeding fifty thousand miskals (nearly 634 pounds Troy) in weight and worth 8,600,000 rupees (over £950,000), should be carefully selected and handed over to Be-badal Khan, the superintendent of the goldsmiths' department. He was also to receive one hundred thousand tolas of pure gold, equal to 250,000 miskals (over 334 pounds Troy) in weight and 1,400,000 rupees (over £155,000) in value.
* The estimates of value and measure given in round brackets were provided by the editor, A. V. Williams Jackson (1862-1937) of Columbia University in the US. The translation comes from the team of Sir Henry Myers Elliot (1817-1907): Elliot worked in Bengal for the East India Company, and left an invaluable digest of Indian history written by Indians. Jackson’s volume was published in 1907, so for prices today his estimates in pounds sterling should be multiplied by about 100.
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
According to Lahori, why did Shah Jahan decide to build the throne?
To put his jewels to fitting use.
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Shah Jahan had a lot of jewels. He wondered what to use them for. He decided it was best to use them on a new throne.
See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.
IDecorate. IIFitting. IIIWeigh.