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Koh-i-Noor

2011-09-06T10:48:19Z

Bnb674:

{{Infobox Diamond
| image = [[Image:Koh-i-Noor old version copy.jpg|150px]]
| caption = Glass replica of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond in its original form. From the [[Reich der Kristalle]] museum in [[Munich]].
| colour_scheme =
| gem_name = Koh-i-Noor
| weight = 105.6
| grams = 21.6
| color = finest white
| cut =
| mine = [[Kollur Mine]], [[Guntur District]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| cutter =
| found =
| owner = [[The Crown|The British Crown]] (part of the [[British Crown Jewels]])
| value =
}}

The '''Kōh-i Nūr''' ({{lang-te|కోహినూరు}}, {{lang-hi|कोहिनूर}}, [[Persian language|Persian]]/[[Urdu]]: کوہ نور ) which means "Mountain of Light" in [[Persian language|Persian]], also spelled '''Koh-i-noor''', '''Koh-e Noor''' or '''Koh-i-Nur''', is a 105 [[Carat (unit)|carat]] (21.6 g) [[diamond]] (in its most recent cut) that was once the [[List of diamonds|largest known diamond]] in the world. The Kōh-i Nūr originated in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]] in [[India]] along with its double, the [[Darya-i-noor]] (the "Sea of Light"). It has belonged to various [[Hindu]], [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]], [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]], [[Afghanistan|Afghan]], [[Sikh]] and [[British Empire|British]] rulers who fought bitterly over it at various points in history and seized it as a spoil of war time and time again. It was finally seized by the [[Honourable East India Company|East India Company]] and became part of the [[British Crown Jewels]] when [[Queen Victoria]] was proclaimed [[Empress of India]] in [[1877]].

==History==
Koh-i-Noor originated in the [[Peech Daryab]] region of the [[Konar province Afghanistan]] in early ancient years, one of the world's earliest diamond producing regions. This region was the only known source for diamonds until 1730 when diamonds were discovered in Brazil.<ref>[http://www.essortment.com/all/kohinoordiamond_rlps.htm] Mountain of light: the kohinoor diamond</ref> The term "[[Golconda]]" diamond has come to define diamonds of the finest white colour, clarity and transparency. They are very rare and highly sought after.

The diamond was mined in the [[Kollur Mine|Kollur mines]] near the village [[Kollur]] in the present day [[Guntur]] district of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="Karnataka">{{cite web|url=http://www.minelinks.com/alluvial/diamonds_1.html |title=Large And Famous Diamonds |publisher=Minelinks.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref><ref>Deccan Heritage, H. K. Gupta, A. Parasher and D. Balasubramanian, Indian National Science Academy, 2000, p. 144, Orient Blackswan, ISBN 8173712859</ref> The diamond became the property of [[Kakatiya]] kings who installed it as a Goddess's eye in a temple. The [[Khilji dynasty]] at [[Delhi]] ended in 1320 AD. and [[Ghiyas ud din Tughluq Shah I]], a [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] ruler ascended the throne. [[Tughlaq]] sent his commander Ulugh Khan in 1323 to defeat the [[Kakatiya]] king [[Prataparudra]]. Ulugh Khan’s raid was repulsed but he returned in a month with a larger and determined army. The unprepared army of Kakatiya was defeated. The loot, plunder and destruction of Orugallu (present day [[Warangal]]), the capital of [[Kakatiya]] Kingdom, continued for months. Loads of gold, diamonds, pearls and ivory were carried away to Delhi on elephants, horses and camels. The Koh-i-noor diamond was part of the bounty.<ref>Pakistan Before Europe, C.E.B. Asher and C. Talbot, Cambridge University Press, 2006, ISBN 0521809045, p. 40</ref><ref>A History of Pakistan, Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, Edition: 3, Routledge, 1998, p. 160; ISBN 0415154820</ref> From then onwards, the stone passed through the hands of successive rulers of the [[Delhi sultanate]], finally passing to [[Babur]], the first [[Mughal emperor]], in 1526.
The first confirmed historical mention of the Koh-i-noor by an identifiable name dates from 1526. [[Babur]] mentions in his memoirs, the ''[[Baburnama]]'', that the stone had belonged to an unnamed Rajah of [[Malwa]] in [[1294]]. Babur held the stone's value to be such as to feed the whole world for two and a half days. The [[Baburnama]] recounts how Rajah of Malwa was compelled to yield his prized possession to [[Ala ud din Khilji]]; it was then owned by a succession of dynasties that ruled the [[Delhi sultanate]], finally coming into the possession of Babur himself in [[1526]], following his victory over the last ruler of that kingdom. However, the [[Baburnama]] was written c.1526-30; Babur's source for this information is unknown, and he may have been recounting the hearsay of his day and mixed up the Emperor of [[Warangal]] with the Rajah of Malwa. He did not at that time call the stone by its present name, but despite some debate<ref name="hindus-claim" /> about the identity of 'Babur's Diamond' it seems likely that it was the stone which later became known as Koh-i-noor.

Both Babur and [[Humayun]] mention very clearly in their memoirs the origins of 'Babur's Diamond'. This diamond was with the [[Kachwaha|Kachhwaha]] rulers of [[Gwalior]] and then inherited by the [[Tomara]] line. The last of Tomaras, [[Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya]], was defeated by [[Sikandar Lodhi|Sikandar Lodi]], Sultan of Delhi and became Delhi sultanate pensioner and resided in Delhi. On the defeat of Lodis and replacement by [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]s, his house was looted by the Mughals and Prince Humayun interceded and restored his property even allowing him to leave Delhi and take refuge in [[Mewar]] at [[Chittorgarh|Chittaur]]. In return for Humayun's kindness, one of the diamonds, most likely the Koh-i-noor, in possession of Prince Vikaramaditya was given to Humayun in gratitude. Humayun had much bad luck throughout his life. [[Sher Shah Suri]], who defeated Humayun, died in the flames of a burst cannon. Humayun's son, [[Akbar the Great|Akbar]], never kept the diamond with himself and later only Shah Jahan took it out of his treasury. Akbar's grandson, [[Shah Jahan]] was overthrown by his son, [[Aurangzeb|Aurangazeb]],

[[Image:Croquis du Koh-i-Noor d'après Tavernier.jpg|left|thumb|250px| Tavernier's illustration of the Koh-I-Noor under different angles]]

===Stone of the emperors===
The Mughal Emperor [[Shah Jahan]], famous for building the [[Taj Mahal]], had the stone placed into his ornate [[Peacock Throne]]. His son, [[Aurangazeb]], imprisoned his ailing father at nearby [[Agra Fort]]. Legend has it that he had the Koh-i-Noor positioned near a window so that Shah Jahan could see the Taj only by looking at its reflection in the stone. Aurangazeb later brought it to his capital [[Lahore]] and placed it in his own personal [[Badshahi Mosque]]. There it stayed until the invasion of [[Nader Shah]] in [[1739]] and the sacking of [[Agra]] and [[Delhi]]. Along with the Peacock Throne, he also carried off the Koh-i-Noor to [[Persia]] in [[1739]]. It was allegedly [[Nader Shah]] who exclaimed ''Koh-i-Noor!'' when he finally managed to obtain the famous stone, and this is how the stone gained its present name. There is no reference to this name before 1739.

The valuation of the Koh-i-Noor is given in the legend that one of Nader Shah's consorts supposedly said, "If a strong man should take five stones, and throw one north, one south, one east, and one west, and the last straight up into the air, and the space between filled with gold and gems, that would equal the value of the Koh-i-noor."

After the assassination of Nader Shah in 1747, the stone came into the hands of [[Ahmed Shah Abdali]] of [[Afghanistan]]. In 1830, [[Shuja Shah Durrani|Shah Shuja]], the deposed ruler of [[Afghanistan]], managed to flee with the Kohinoor diamond. He then came to [[Lahore]] where it was given to the Sikh [[Maharaja]] (King) of [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[Ranjit Singh]]; in return for this Maharaja Ranjit Singh won back the Afghan throne for [[Shuja Shah Durrani|Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk]].

===Passage from India===
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was crowned ruler of [[Punjab region|Punjab]] and willed the Koh-i-noor to the [[Jagannath Temple (Puri)|Jagannath Temple]] in [[Orissa]] from his deathbed in [[1839]]. But after his death the British administrators did not execute his will.<ref name="india-claim"/> On 29 March 1849, the British raised their flag on the citadel of [[Lahore]] and the Punjab was formally proclaimed to be part of the [[British Empire in India]]. One of the terms of the [[Treaty of Lahore]], the legal agreement formalising this occupation, was as follows:
[[Image:Maharaja Ranjit singh's treasure.jpg|thumb|Lithograph by Emily Eden showing one of the favourite horses of Maharaja Ranjit Singh with the head officer of his stables and his collection of jewels, including the Koh-i-noor.]]

:''The gem called the Koh-i-Noor which was taken from Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk by Maharajah Ranjit Singh shall be surrendered by the [[Maharajah of Lahore]] to the [[List of English monarchs|Queen of England]].''

The [[Governor-General]] in charge of the ratification for this treaty was [[James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie|Lord Dalhousie]]. More than anyone, Lord Dalhousie was responsible for the British acquiring the Koh-i-Noor, in which he continued to show great interest for the rest of his life. Dalhousie's work in India was primarily aimed at appropriation of Indian assets for the use of the [[British East India Company]]. His acquisition of the diamond, amongst many other things, was criticized even by some of his contemporaries in Britain. Although some suggested that the diamond should have been presented as a gift to the Queen, it is clear that Dalhousie felt strongly that the stone was a spoil of war, and treated it accordingly. Writing to his friend Sir [[George Cooper]]{{dn|date=August 2011}} in August of [[1849]], he stated:

:''The Court [of the East India Company] you say, are ruffled by my having caused the Maharajah to cede to the Queen the Koh-i-noor; while the 'Daily News' and my Lord Ellenborough [Governor-General of India, 1841-44] are indignant because I did not confiscate everything to her Majesty... [My] motive was simply this: that it was more for the honour of the Queen that the Koh-i-noor should be surrendered directly from the hand of the conquered prince into the hands of the sovereign who was his conqueror, than it should be presented to her as a gift—which is always a favour—by any joint-stock company among her subjects. So the Court ought to feel.''<ref>Balfour, Ian. ''Famous Diamonds''. 1987, page 24.</ref>

Dalhousie arranged that the diamond should be presented by Maharaja Ranjit Singh's young successor, [[Duleep Singh]], to [[Queen Victoria]] in [[1850]]. Duleep Singh was the youngest son of Ranjit Singh and his fifth wife Maharani [[Jind Kaur]]. Duleep, aged 13, travelled to the United Kingdom to present the jewel. The presentation of the Koh-i-Noor to [[Queen Victoria]] was the latest in the long history of transfers of the stone as a spoil of war. Duleep Singh had been placed in the guardianship of [[Dr John Spence Login|Dr Login]]. Login was a surgeon in the British Army who served in [[West Bengal]], [[East India]] for some years and was a native of [[Southend]], [[Stromness]], [[Orkney Islands]], [[Scotland]]. His family had run [[Login's Inn]] in Stromness since the early 19th century. Dr Login, his wife Lena and the young Duleep Singh travelled to England for the purpose of presenting the Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria.

In due course the Governor-General received the Koh-i-Noor from Login, who had been appointed [[Governor of the Citadel]], the [[Royal Fort]] at [[Lahore]], with the [[Toshakhana|Royal Treasury]], which Login valued at almost £1,000,000 (£{{Formatprice|{{Inflation|UK|1000000|1849|{{CURRENTYEAR}}|r=-1}}}} as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK}} excluding the Koh-i-Noor, on 6 April 1848, under a receipt dated 7 December 1849, in the presence of the members of the Board of Administration—the local resident [[H.M. Lawrence]], [[C.C. Mansel]], [[John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence|John Lawrence]], younger brother of H.M. Lawrence, and of [[Sir Henry Elliot]], Secretary to the Government of India. The jewel was then sent to [[England]] in the care of John Lawrence, and C.C. Mansel for presentation to Queen Victoria, sailing from Bombay in [[HMS Medea (1833)|HMS ''Medea'']] under strict security arrangements.

The ship had a difficult voyage—an outbreak of [[cholera]] on board when the ship was in [[Mauritius]] had the locals demanding its departure and they asked their governor to open fire and destroy the vessel if it did not respond. Shortly thereafter the vessel was hit by a severe gale that blew for some twelve hours. Legend in the Lawrence family has it that during the voyage, John Lawrence left the jewel in his waistcoat pocket when it was sent to be laundered, and it was returned promptly by the steward who found it.

On arrival in Britain the passengers and mail were unloaded in [[Plymouth]], but the Koh-i-noor stayed on board until the ship reached [[Portsmouth]], from where Lawrence and Mansel took the diamond to the [[East India House]] in the [[City of London]] and passed it into the care of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the [[British East India Company|EIC]]. The handing over of the Koh-i-Noor diamond to The Queen on 3 July 1850 as part of the terms of the conclusion of the [[Second Anglo-Sikh War|Sikh War]] also coincided with the 250th anniversary of the EIC. Dr Login received a [[knighthood]] in 1854 from Queen Victoria and was known as Sir John Spencer Login (he had added the 'r' to his middle name to change it from Spence to Spencer). The diamond is now set into the crown worn by the female consort to [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]], and is currently in the [[Crown of Queen Elizabeth]] (the late Queen Mother).

===The curse of the Koh-i-Noor===
It is believed that the Koh-i-Noor carries with it a curse and only when in the possession of a woman will the curse not work. All the men who owned it have either lost their throne or had other misfortunes befall them. Queen Victoria is the only reigning monarch to have worn the gem. According to the legend, if the monarch is a male, the stone is passed to his spouse.

The possibility of a [[curse]] pertaining to ownership of the diamond dates back to a [[Hindu]] text relating to the first authenticated appearance of the diamond in 1306: "He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity." All the owners of the Koh-i-noor have had a tragedy befall them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diamonds-are-forever.org.uk/kohinoor-diamond.htm |title=The Curse of the Kohinoor Diamond |publisher=Diamonds-are-forever.org.uk |date=2007-01-19 |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref>

===The Great Exhibition===
The British public were given a chance to see the Koh-i-Noor when the [[Great Exhibition]] was staged in [[Hyde Park, London]] in [[1851]]. The correspondent of ''[[The Times]]'' reported:

:''The Koh-i-Noor is at present decidedly the lion of the Exhibition. A mysterious interest appears to be attached to it, and now that so many precautions have been resorted to, and so much difficulty attends its inspection, the crowd is enormously enhanced, and the policemen at either end of the covered entrance have much trouble in restraining the struggling and impatient multitude. For some hours yesterday there were never less than a couple of hundred persons waiting their turn of admission, and yet, after all, the diamond does not satisfy. Either from the imperfect cutting or the difficulty of placing the lights advantageously, or the immovability of the stone itself, which should be made to revolve on its axis, few catch any of the brilliant rays it reflects when viewed at a particular angle.''

===The Crown Jewels===
{{Main|Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom}}
[[Image:Koh-i-Noor new version copy.jpg|thumb|200px|Copy of the new cut of the Koh-i-Noor]]
Disappointment in the appearance of the stone was not uncommon. In [[1852]], in [[Amsterdam]]<ref name="world & people">{{cite book
|last = Dunton
|first = Larkin
|authorlink =
|title = The World and Its People
|publisher = Silver, Burdett
|series =
|year = 1896
|page = 144}}</ref> under the personal supervision of Victoria's consort, [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]], and the technical direction of [[James Tennant (mineralogist)|James Tennant]], the diamond was cut from 186 1/16 carats (37.21 g) to its current 105.602 carats (21.61 g) to increase its brilliance. Albert consulted widely, took enormous pains, and spent some £8,000 on the operation, which reduced the weight of the stone by a huge 42 percent—but nevertheless Albert was dissatisfied with the result. The stone then was mounted in a brooch which Queen Victoria often wore. It was kept at [[Windsor Castle]] rather than with the rest of the crown jewels at the [[Tower of London]].<ref name="world and its people">{{cite book
|last = Dunton
|first = Larkin
|authorlink =
|title = The World and Its People
|publisher = Silver, Burdett
|series =
|year = 1896
|page = 27}}</ref>

After [[Queen Victoria]]'s death it was set in Queen Alexandra's brand-new diamond crown, with which she was crowned at the coronation of her husband, [[King Edward VII]]. [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]] was the first Queen Consort to use the diamond in her crown, followed by [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] and then [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Elizabeth]].

==Present claims to ownership of the Koh-i-noor==
[[India]] has claimed the diamond and have said that the Kohinoor was taken away illegally and it should be given back to India.<ref name="india-claim">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/727231.stm |title=Indian MPs demand Kohinoor's return |publisher=BBC News |date=2000-04-26 |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref> When [[Elizabeth II]] made a state visit to India marking the 50th anniversary of Independence in 1997, many Indians in India and Britain including several Indian MPs demanded the return of the diamond.

==Legends==

The origin of the diamond is unclear. According to some sources, the Koh-i-Noor was originally found more than 5000 years ago, and is mentioned in ancient [[Sanskrit]] writings under the name [[Samanthakamani|Syamantaka]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} According to some [[Hindu mythology|Hindu mythological]] accounts,<ref name="hindus-claim">{{cite web|url=http://www.dancewithshadows.com/society/kohinoor-diamond-india.asp |title=Koh-i-noor, a Mountain of Light |publisher=Dancewithshadows.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref> the god [[Krishna]] obtained the Koh-i-Noor from [[Jambavantha]], whose daughter [[Jambavati]] later married Krishna. Krishna was blamed for the theft of the diamond from Satrajith's dead brother, killed by a lion (itself having been killed by Jambavantha). Satrajith accused Krishna of having killed his brother. Krishna fought a fierce battle with Jāmbavān to restore his reputation and gave the jewel back to Satrajith. In shame, Satrajith offered Krishna his daughter, as well as the Koh-i-Noor. Krishna accepted his daughter Satyabhāmā, but refused to take the Syamantaka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en |title=Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 56 |publisher=Srimadbhagavatam.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Darya-ye Noor|Darya-ye Noor Diamond]] (Sea of Light)
*[[Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond]] (The light of the eye)
* [[List of famous diamonds]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* Streeter, Edwin ''The Great Diamonds of the World'' {{cite web|url=http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/streeter_great_diamonds/page_109 |title=Famous Diamonds: Koh-I-Nur, Great Diamond of History & Romance Page 109 |publisher=Farlang.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}
* Babur (1922) ''The Baburnama''; translated into English by Annette Beveridge
* [http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/beveridge-baburnama/page_535/view?searchterm=diamond] Beveridge's Discussion of "great Diamond" (Koh-I-Noor ?)
* Abul Fazal ''Akbarnama''; translated into English by Henry Beveridge
* Tavernier, Jean-Baptiste ''Travels in India''; translated into English by Valentine Ball and William Crooke
* [http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/tavernier-travels-india-2/page_347] Tavernier's discussion on the Diamond in Appendix I
* The archives of ''The Times''.
* [http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page3202.asp] Photograph of Koh-I-Noor Diamond-cource- Government of UK
* {{cite book
| last = Rushby
| first = Kevin
| title = Chasing the Mountain of Light : across India on the trail of the Koh-i-Noor diamond
| publisher = Robinson
| year = 2004
| location = London
| isbn = 184119882X}}

==External links==
*Evelyn Martinengo-Cesaresco "[[s:The Folk-Lore Journal. Volume 4/A Story of the Koh-i-Nûr|A Story of the Koh-i-Nûr]]" ''The Folk-Lore Journal''. Volume 4, pp. 252–4.
*[http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/koh-i-noordiamond.html The World of Famous Diamonds]
*[http://nc.essortment.com/kohinoordiamond_rlps.htm History of the Kohinoor]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A730801 The Koh-i-noor Diamond] on [[h2g2]]

{{Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koh-I-Noor}}
[[Category:Diamonds originated in India]]
[[Category:Named diamonds]]
[[Category:History of medieval India]]
[[Category:British rule in India]]
[[Category:History of Iran]]
[[Category:Agra]]
[[Category:Sikh Empire]]
[[Category:History of Sikhism]]
[[Category:History of Hinduism]]
[[Category:Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Tourism in Agra]]

[[ar:كوهينور]]
[[bn:কোহিনূর হীরা]]
[[bg:Кохинор]]
[[cs:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[da:Kōh-i Nūr]]
[[de:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[es:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[eo:Koh-i-noor]]
[[fa:کوه نور]]
[[fr:Koh-i Nor]]
[[ko:코이누르]]
[[hi:कोहिनूर हीरा]]
[[it:Koh-i-Noor (diamante)]]
[[he:קוהינור]]
[[kn:ಕೋಹಿನೂರ್‌]]
[[ka:კოჰინური]]
[[li:Koh-I-Noor]]
[[ml:കോഹിനൂർ]]
[[mr:कोहिनूर]]
[[nl:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[new:कोहिनूर]]
[[ja:コ・イ・ヌール]]
[[no:Koh-i-Noordiamanten]]
[[pnb:کوہ نور]]
[[pl:Koh-i-noor]]
[[pt:Diamante Koh-i-Noor]]
[[ru:Кохинур]]
[[sl:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[fi:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[sv:Koh-i-noor]]
[[ta:கோஹினூர்]]
[[te:కోహినూరు వజ్రము]]
[[uk:Кохінур]]
[[ur:کوہ نور]]

Koh-i-Noor

2011-09-06T10:47:15Z

Bnb674: /* External links */

{{Infobox Diamond
| image = [[Image:Koh-i-Noor old version copy.jpg|150px]]
| caption = Glass replica of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond in its original form. From the [[Reich der Kristalle]] museum in [[Munich]].
| colour_scheme =
| gem_name = Koh-i-Noor
| weight = 105.6
| grams = 21.6
| color = finest white
| cut =
| mine = [[Kollur Mine]], [[Guntur District]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]
| country = [[India]]
| cutter =
| found =
| owner = [[The Crown|The British Crown]] (part of the [[British Crown Jewels]])
| value =
}}

The '''Kōh-i Nūr''' ({{lang-te|కోహినూరు}}, {{lang-hi|कोहिनूर}}, [[Persian language|Persian]]/[[Urdu]]: کوہ نور ) which means "Mountain of Light" in [[Persian language|Persian]], also spelled '''Koh-i-noor''', '''Koh-e Noor''' or '''Koh-i-Nur''', is a 105 [[Carat (unit)|carat]] (21.6 g) [[diamond]] (in its most recent cut) that was once the [[List of diamonds|largest known diamond]] in the world. The Kōh-i Nūr originated in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]] in [[India]] along with its double, the [[Darya-i-noor]] (the "Sea of Light"). It has belonged to various [[Hindu]], [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]], [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]], [[Afghanistan|Afghan]], [[Sikh]] and [[British Empire|British]] rulers who fought bitterly over it at various points in history and seized it as a spoil of war time and time again. It was finally seized by the [[Honourable East India Company|East India Company]] and became part of the [[British Crown Jewels]] when [[Queen Victoria]] was proclaimed [[Empress of India]] in [[1877]].

==History==
Koh-i-Noor originated in the [[Peech Daryab]] region of the [[Konar province Afghanistan]] in early ancient years, one of the world's earliest diamond producing regions. This region was the only known source for diamonds until 1730 when diamonds were discovered in Brazil.<ref>[http://www.essortment.com/all/kohinoordiamond_rlps.htm] Mountain of light: the kohinoor diamond</ref> The term "[[Golconda]]" diamond has come to define diamonds of the finest white colour, clarity and transparency. They are very rare and highly sought after.

The diamond was mined in the [[Kollur Mine|Kollur mines]] near the village [[Kollur]] in the present day [[Guntur]] district of [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref name="Karnataka">{{cite web|url=http://www.minelinks.com/alluvial/diamonds_1.html |title=Large And Famous Diamonds |publisher=Minelinks.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref><ref>Deccan Heritage, H. K. Gupta, A. Parasher and D. Balasubramanian, Indian National Science Academy, 2000, p. 144, Orient Blackswan, ISBN 8173712859</ref> The diamond became the property of [[Kakatiya]] kings who installed it as a Goddess's eye in a temple. The [[Khilji dynasty]] at [[Delhi]] ended in 1320 AD. and [[Ghiyas ud din Tughluq Shah I]], a [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]] ruler ascended the throne. [[Tughlaq]] sent his commander Ulugh Khan in 1323 to defeat the [[Kakatiya]] king [[Prataparudra]]. Ulugh Khan’s raid was repulsed but he returned in a month with a larger and determined army. The unprepared army of Kakatiya was defeated. The loot, plunder and destruction of Orugallu (present day [[Warangal]]), the capital of [[Kakatiya]] Kingdom, continued for months. Loads of gold, diamonds, pearls and ivory were carried away to Delhi on elephants, horses and camels. The Koh-i-noor diamond was part of the bounty.<ref>Pakistan Before Europe, C.E.B. Asher and C. Talbot, Cambridge University Press, 2006, ISBN 0521809045, p. 40</ref><ref>A History of Pakistan, Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund, Edition: 3, Routledge, 1998, p. 160; ISBN 0415154820</ref> From then onwards, the stone passed through the hands of successive rulers of the [[Delhi sultanate]], finally passing to [[Babur]], the first [[Mughal emperor]], in 1526.
The first confirmed historical mention of the Koh-i-noor by an identifiable name dates from 1526. [[Babur]] mentions in his memoirs, the ''[[Baburnama]]'', that the stone had belonged to an unnamed Rajah of [[Malwa]] in [[1294]]. Babur held the stone's value to be such as to feed the whole world for two and a half days. The [[Baburnama]] recounts how Rajah of Malwa was compelled to yield his prized possession to [[Ala ud din Khilji]]; it was then owned by a succession of dynasties that ruled the [[Delhi sultanate]], finally coming into the possession of Babur himself in [[1526]], following his victory over the last ruler of that kingdom. However, the [[Baburnama]] was written c.1526-30; Babur's source for this information is unknown, and he may have been recounting the hearsay of his day and mixed up the Emperor of [[Warangal]] with the Rajah of Malwa. He did not at that time call the stone by its present name, but despite some debate<ref name="hindus-claim" /> about the identity of 'Babur's Diamond' it seems likely that it was the stone which later became known as Koh-i-noor.

Both Babur and [[Humayun]] mention very clearly in their memoirs the origins of 'Babur's Diamond'. This diamond was with the [[Kachwaha|Kachhwaha]] rulers of [[Gwalior]] and then inherited by the [[Tomara]] line. The last of Tomaras, [[Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya]], was defeated by [[Sikandar Lodhi|Sikandar Lodi]], Sultan of Delhi and became Delhi sultanate pensioner and resided in Delhi. On the defeat of Lodis and replacement by [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]]s, his house was looted by the Mughals and Prince Humayun interceded and restored his property even allowing him to leave Delhi and take refuge in [[Mewar]] at [[Chittorgarh|Chittaur]]. In return for Humayun's kindness, one of the diamonds, most likely the Koh-i-noor, in possession of Prince Vikaramaditya was given to Humayun in gratitude. Humayun had much bad luck throughout his life. [[Sher Shah Suri]], who defeated Humayun, died in the flames of a burst cannon. Humayun's son, [[Akbar the Great|Akbar]], never kept the diamond with himself and later only Shah Jahan took it out of his treasury. Akbar's grandson, [[Shah Jahan]] was overthrown by his son, [[Aurangzeb|Aurangazeb]],

[[Image:Croquis du Koh-i-Noor d'après Tavernier.jpg|left|thumb|250px| Tavernier's illustration of the Koh-I-Noor under different angles]]

===Stone of the emperors===
The Mughal Emperor [[Shah Jahan]], famous for building the [[Taj Mahal]], had the stone placed into his ornate [[Peacock Throne]]. His son, [[Aurangazeb]], imprisoned his ailing father at nearby [[Agra Fort]]. Legend has it that he had the Koh-i-Noor positioned near a window so that Shah Jahan could see the Taj only by looking at its reflection in the stone. Aurangazeb later brought it to his capital [[Lahore]] and placed it in his own personal [[Badshahi Mosque]]. There it stayed until the invasion of [[Nader Shah]] in [[1739]] and the sacking of [[Agra]] and [[Delhi]]. Along with the Peacock Throne, he also carried off the Koh-i-Noor to [[Persia]] in [[1739]]. It was allegedly [[Nader Shah]] who exclaimed ''Koh-i-Noor!'' when he finally managed to obtain the famous stone, and this is how the stone gained its present name. There is no reference to this name before 1739.

The valuation of the Koh-i-Noor is given in the legend that one of Nader Shah's consorts supposedly said, "If a strong man should take five stones, and throw one north, one south, one east, and one west, and the last straight up into the air, and the space between filled with gold and gems, that would equal the value of the Koh-i-noor."

After the assassination of Nader Shah in 1747, the stone came into the hands of [[Ahmed Shah Abdali]] of [[Afghanistan]]. In 1830, [[Shuja Shah Durrani|Shah Shuja]], the deposed ruler of [[Afghanistan]], managed to flee with the Kohinoor diamond. He then came to [[Lahore]] where it was given to the Sikh [[Maharaja]] (King) of [[Punjab region|Punjab]], [[Ranjit Singh]]; in return for this Maharaja Ranjit Singh won back the Afghan throne for [[Shuja Shah Durrani|Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk]].

===Passage from India===
Maharaja Ranjit Singh was crowned ruler of [[Punjab region|Punjab]] and willed the Koh-i-noor to the [[Jagannath Temple (Puri)|Jagannath Temple]] in [[Orissa]] from his deathbed in [[1839]]. But after his death the British administrators did not execute his will.<ref name="india-claim"/> On 29 March 1849, the British raised their flag on the citadel of [[Lahore]] and the Punjab was formally proclaimed to be part of the [[British Empire in India]]. One of the terms of the [[Treaty of Lahore]], the legal agreement formalising this occupation, was as follows:
[[Image:Maharaja Ranjit singh's treasure.jpg|thumb|Lithograph by Emily Eden showing one of the favourite horses of Maharaja Ranjit Singh with the head officer of his stables and his collection of jewels, including the Koh-i-noor.]]

:''The gem called the Koh-i-Noor which was taken from Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk by Maharajah Ranjit Singh shall be surrendered by the [[Maharajah of Lahore]] to the [[List of English monarchs|Queen of England]].''

The [[Governor-General]] in charge of the ratification for this treaty was [[James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie|Lord Dalhousie]]. More than anyone, Lord Dalhousie was responsible for the British acquiring the Koh-i-Noor, in which he continued to show great interest for the rest of his life. Dalhousie's work in India was primarily aimed at appropriation of Indian assets for the use of the [[British East India Company]]. His acquisition of the diamond, amongst many other things, was criticized even by some of his contemporaries in Britain. Although some suggested that the diamond should have been presented as a gift to the Queen, it is clear that Dalhousie felt strongly that the stone was a spoil of war, and treated it accordingly. Writing to his friend Sir [[George Cooper]]{{dn|date=August 2011}} in August of [[1849]], he stated:

:''The Court [of the East India Company] you say, are ruffled by my having caused the Maharajah to cede to the Queen the Koh-i-noor; while the 'Daily News' and my Lord Ellenborough [Governor-General of India, 1841-44] are indignant because I did not confiscate everything to her Majesty... [My] motive was simply this: that it was more for the honour of the Queen that the Koh-i-noor should be surrendered directly from the hand of the conquered prince into the hands of the sovereign who was his conqueror, than it should be presented to her as a gift—which is always a favour—by any joint-stock company among her subjects. So the Court ought to feel.''<ref>Balfour, Ian. ''Famous Diamonds''. 1987, page 24.</ref>

Dalhousie arranged that the diamond should be presented by Maharaja Ranjit Singh's young successor, [[Duleep Singh]], to [[Queen Victoria]] in [[1850]]. Duleep Singh was the youngest son of Ranjit Singh and his fifth wife Maharani [[Jind Kaur]]. Duleep, aged 13, travelled to the United Kingdom to present the jewel. The presentation of the Koh-i-Noor to [[Queen Victoria]] was the latest in the long history of transfers of the stone as a spoil of war. Duleep Singh had been placed in the guardianship of [[Dr John Spence Login|Dr Login]]. Login was a surgeon in the British Army who served in [[West Bengal]], [[East India]] for some years and was a native of [[Southend]], [[Stromness]], [[Orkney Islands]], [[Scotland]]. His family had run [[Login's Inn]] in Stromness since the early 19th century. Dr Login, his wife Lena and the young Duleep Singh travelled to England for the purpose of presenting the Koh-i-Noor diamond to Queen Victoria.

In due course the Governor-General received the Koh-i-Noor from Login, who had been appointed [[Governor of the Citadel]], the [[Royal Fort]] at [[Lahore]], with the [[Toshakhana|Royal Treasury]], which Login valued at almost £1,000,000 (£{{Formatprice|{{Inflation|UK|1000000|1849|{{CURRENTYEAR}}|r=-1}}}} as of {{CURRENTYEAR}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK}} excluding the Koh-i-Noor, on 6 April 1848, under a receipt dated 7 December 1849, in the presence of the members of the Board of Administration—the local resident [[H.M. Lawrence]], [[C.C. Mansel]], [[John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence|John Lawrence]], younger brother of H.M. Lawrence, and of [[Sir Henry Elliot]], Secretary to the Government of India. The jewel was then sent to [[England]] in the care of John Lawrence, and C.C. Mansel for presentation to Queen Victoria, sailing from Bombay in [[HMS Medea (1833)|HMS ''Medea'']] under strict security arrangements.

The ship had a difficult voyage—an outbreak of [[cholera]] on board when the ship was in [[Mauritius]] had the locals demanding its departure and they asked their governor to open fire and destroy the vessel if it did not respond. Shortly thereafter the vessel was hit by a severe gale that blew for some twelve hours. Legend in the Lawrence family has it that during the voyage, John Lawrence left the jewel in his waistcoat pocket when it was sent to be laundered, and it was returned promptly by the steward who found it.

On arrival in Britain the passengers and mail were unloaded in [[Plymouth]], but the Koh-i-noor stayed on board until the ship reached [[Portsmouth]], from where Lawrence and Mansel took the diamond to the [[East India House]] in the [[City of London]] and passed it into the care of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the [[British East India Company|EIC]]. The handing over of the Koh-i-Noor diamond to The Queen on 3 July 1850 as part of the terms of the conclusion of the [[Second Anglo-Sikh War|Sikh War]] also coincided with the 250th anniversary of the EIC. Dr Login received a [[knighthood]] in 1854 from Queen Victoria and was known as Sir John Spencer Login (he had added the 'r' to his middle name to change it from Spence to Spencer). The diamond is now set into the crown worn by the female consort to [[Monarch of the United Kingdom]], and is currently in the [[Crown of Queen Elizabeth]] (the late Queen Mother).

===The curse of the Koh-i-Noor===
It is believed that the Koh-i-Noor carries with it a curse and only when in the possession of a woman will the curse not work. All the men who owned it have either lost their throne or had other misfortunes befall them. Queen Victoria is the only reigning monarch to have worn the gem. According to the legend, if the monarch is a male, the stone is passed to his spouse.

The possibility of a [[curse]] pertaining to ownership of the diamond dates back to a [[Hindu]] text relating to the first authenticated appearance of the diamond in 1306: "He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity." All the owners of the Koh-i-noor have had a tragedy befall them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diamonds-are-forever.org.uk/kohinoor-diamond.htm |title=The Curse of the Kohinoor Diamond |publisher=Diamonds-are-forever.org.uk |date=2007-01-19 |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref>

===The Great Exhibition===
The British public were given a chance to see the Koh-i-Noor when the [[Great Exhibition]] was staged in [[Hyde Park, London]] in [[1851]]. The correspondent of ''[[The Times]]'' reported:

:''The Koh-i-Noor is at present decidedly the lion of the Exhibition. A mysterious interest appears to be attached to it, and now that so many precautions have been resorted to, and so much difficulty attends its inspection, the crowd is enormously enhanced, and the policemen at either end of the covered entrance have much trouble in restraining the struggling and impatient multitude. For some hours yesterday there were never less than a couple of hundred persons waiting their turn of admission, and yet, after all, the diamond does not satisfy. Either from the imperfect cutting or the difficulty of placing the lights advantageously, or the immovability of the stone itself, which should be made to revolve on its axis, few catch any of the brilliant rays it reflects when viewed at a particular angle.''

===The Crown Jewels===
{{Main|Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom}}
[[Image:Koh-i-Noor new version copy.jpg|thumb|200px|Copy of the new cut of the Koh-i-Noor]]
Disappointment in the appearance of the stone was not uncommon. In [[1852]], in [[Amsterdam]]<ref name="world & people">{{cite book
|last = Dunton
|first = Larkin
|authorlink =
|title = The World and Its People
|publisher = Silver, Burdett
|series =
|year = 1896
|page = 144}}</ref> under the personal supervision of Victoria's consort, [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]], and the technical direction of [[James Tennant (mineralogist)|James Tennant]], the diamond was cut from 186 1/16 carats (37.21 g) to its current 105.602 carats (21.61 g) to increase its brilliance. Albert consulted widely, took enormous pains, and spent some £8,000 on the operation, which reduced the weight of the stone by a huge 42 percent—but nevertheless Albert was dissatisfied with the result. The stone then was mounted in a brooch which Queen Victoria often wore. It was kept at [[Windsor Castle]] rather than with the rest of the crown jewels at the [[Tower of London]].<ref name="world and its people">{{cite book
|last = Dunton
|first = Larkin
|authorlink =
|title = The World and Its People
|publisher = Silver, Burdett
|series =
|year = 1896
|page = 27}}</ref>

After [[Queen Victoria]]'s death it was set in Queen Alexandra's brand-new diamond crown, with which she was crowned at the coronation of her husband, [[King Edward VII]]. [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]] was the first Queen Consort to use the diamond in her crown, followed by [[Mary of Teck|Queen Mary]] and then [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Elizabeth]].

==Present claims to ownership of the Koh-i-noor==
[[India]] has claimed the diamond and have said that the Kohinoor was taken away illegally and it should be given back to India.<ref name="india-claim">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/727231.stm |title=Indian MPs demand Kohinoor's return |publisher=BBC News |date=2000-04-26 |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref> When [[Elizabeth II]] made a state visit to India marking the 50th anniversary of Independence in 1997, many Indians in India and Britain including several Indian MPs demanded the return of the diamond.

==Legends==

The origin of the diamond is unclear. According to some sources, the Koh-i-Noor was originally found more than 5000 years ago, and is mentioned in ancient [[Sanskrit]] writings under the name [[Samanthakamani|Syamantaka]].{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} According to some [[Hindu mythology|Hindu mythological]] accounts,<ref name="hindus-claim">{{cite web|url=http://www.dancewithshadows.com/society/kohinoor-diamond-india.asp |title=Koh-i-noor, a Mountain of Light |publisher=Dancewithshadows.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref> the god [[Krishna]] obtained the Koh-i-Noor from [[Jambavantha]], whose daughter [[Jambavati]] later married Krishna. Krishna was blamed for the theft of the diamond from Satrajith's dead brother, killed by a lion (itself having been killed by Jambavantha). Satrajith accused Krishna of having killed his brother. Krishna fought a fierce battle with Jāmbavān to restore his reputation and gave the jewel back to Satrajith. In shame, Satrajith offered Krishna his daughter, as well as the Koh-i-Noor. Krishna accepted his daughter Satyabhāmā, but refused to take the Syamantaka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://srimadbhagavatam.com/sb/10/56/en |title=Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 56 |publisher=Srimadbhagavatam.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Darya-ye Noor|Darya-ye Noor Diamond]] (Sea of Light)
*[[Nur-Ul-Ain Diamond]] (The light of the eye)
* [[List of famous diamonds]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* Streeter, Edwin ''The Great Diamonds of the World'' {{cite web|url=http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/streeter_great_diamonds/page_109 |title=Famous Diamonds: Koh-I-Nur, Great Diamond of History & Romance Page 109 |publisher=Farlang.com |date= |accessdate=2009-08-10}}
* Babur (1922) ''The Baburnama''; translated into English by Annette Beveridge
* [http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/beveridge-baburnama/page_535/view?searchterm=diamond] Beveridge's Discussion of "great Diamond" (Koh-I-Noor ?)
* Abul Fazal ''Akbarnama''; translated into English by Henry Beveridge
* Tavernier, Jean-Baptiste ''Travels in India''; translated into English by Valentine Ball and William Crooke
* [http://www.farlang.com/diamonds/tavernier-travels-india-2/page_347] Tavernier's discussion on the Diamond in Appendix I
* The archives of ''The Times''.
* [http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page3202.asp] Photograph of Koh-I-Noor Diamond-cource- Government of UK
* {{cite book
| last = Rushby
| first = Kevin
| title = Chasing the Mountain of Light : across India on the trail of the Koh-i-Noor diamond
| publisher = Robinson
| year = 2004
| location = London
| isbn = 184119882X}}

==External links==
*Evelyn Martinengo-Cesaresco "[[s:The Folk-Lore Journal. Volume 4/A Story of the Koh-i-Nûr|A Story of the Koh-i-Nûr]]" ''The Folk-Lore Journal''. Volume 4, pp. 252–4.
*[http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/koh-i-noordiamond.html The World of Famous Diamonds]
*[http://nc.essortment.com/kohinoordiamond_rlps.htm History of the Kohinoor]
*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A730801 The Koh-i-noor Diamond] on [[h2g2]]

{{Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koh-I-Noor}}
[[Category:Diamonds originated in India]]
[[Category:Named diamonds]]
[[Category:History of medieval India]]
[[Category:British rule in India]]
[[Category:History of Iran]]
[[Category:Agra]]
[[Category:Sikh Empire]]
[[Category:History of Sikhism]]
[[Category:History of Hinduism]]
[[Category:Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Tourism in Agra]]

[[ar:كوهينور]]
[[bn:কোহিনূর হীরা]]
[[bg:Кохинор]]
[[cs:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[da:Kōh-i Nūr]]
[[de:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[es:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[eo:Koh-i-noor]]
[[fa:کوه نور]]
[[fr:Koh-i Nor]]
[[ko:코이누르]]
[[hi:कोहिनूर हीरा]]
[[it:Koh-i-Noor (diamante)]]
[[he:קוהינור]]
[[kn:ಕೋಹಿನೂರ್‌]]
[[ka:კოჰინური]]
[[li:Koh-I-Noor]]
[[ml:കോഹിനൂർ]]
[[mr:कोहिनूर]]
[[nl:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[new:कोहिनूर]]
[[ja:コ・イ・ヌール]]
[[no:Koh-i-Noordiamanten]]
[[pnb:کوہ نور]]
[[pl:Koh-i-noor]]
[[pt:Diamante Koh-i-Noor]]
[[ru:Кохинур]]
[[sl:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[fi:Koh-i-Noor]]
[[sv:Koh-i-noor]]
[[ta:கோஹினூர்]]
[[te:కోహినూరు వజ్రము]]
[[uk:Кохінур]]
[[ur:کوہ نور]]