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The Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor diamond were carried away from India in 1739 by:
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Answer: Option B — Nadir Shah
Detailed Solution
The Persian ruler Nadir Shah invaded India in 1739, plundered Delhi, and carried away the famous Peacock Throne (Takht-i-Taus) and the Koh-i-Noor diamond.
About Nadir Shah's invasion:
- Nadir Shah was the ruler of Persia (Iran), and the founder of the Afsharid dynasty.
- He invaded India during the reign of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (nicknamed "Rangila").
- He defeated the Mughal army at the Battle of Karnal (in present-day Haryana) in February 1739.
- He then entered Delhi; when a rumour spread that he had been killed, some of his soldiers were attacked, and in revenge he ordered a massacre of the people of Delhi, in which thousands were killed.
- He collected enormous wealth from the Mughal treasury, nobles and the people.
- He took away the Peacock Throne, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, and huge amounts of gold, silver and jewels.
- He also took control of the Mughal territories west of the Indus.
Effects of the invasion:
- It exposed the weakness of the Mughal empire, and greatly reduced its prestige.
- It encouraged further invasions, such as those of Ahmad Shah Abdali.
About the Peacock Throne:
- It was made for Shah Jahan, and took about seven years to complete.
- It was decorated with gold, precious stones and the figures of peacocks.
- It was later broken up in Persia, after Nadir Shah's death in 1747.
About the Koh-i-Noor:
- It is one of the most famous diamonds in the world.
- It is believed to have come from the Kollur mines in the Golconda region (Andhra Pradesh).
- It passed from Nadir Shah to Ahmad Shah Abdali, then to Shah Shuja, and then to Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab.
- After the British annexed Punjab in 1849, it was given to Queen Victoria.
- It is now part of the British Crown Jewels, kept in the Tower of London.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Ahmad Shah Abdali was a later Afghan invader.
- ✗Timur invaded India in 1398.
- ✗Mahmud of Ghazni raided India in the 11th century.
Quick tip
Remember: Nadir Shah (Persia) = 1739 invasion; Battle of Karnal; Muhammad Shah "Rangila"; took the Peacock Throne and Koh-i-Noor; Koh-i-Noor later with Ranjit Singh, then British (1849).
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Mughal Empire — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Mughal Empire, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur in 1526 and reached its height under Akbar. This topic covers the Mughal emperors from Babur to Aurangzeb and the later Mughals, the Sur interlude under Sher Shah Suri, Mughal administration (the mansabdari and jagirdari systems), revenue systems, architecture, painting and literature. Common questions ask about important battles (Panipat, Khanwa, Haldighati), Akbar's policies such as Din-i-Ilahi and the abolition of the jizya, Sher Shah's reforms such as the rupiya coin and the Grand Trunk Road, and the builders of famous monuments. For example, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in Delhi. Practise the Mughal Empire questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.