The Infamous Koh-i-Noor Diamond Legend

Since their discovery, diamonds have been an object of desire. Diamond crowns have been presented to kings and diamond jewelry stolen in elaborate heists. These brilliant stones have been praised by sages and bemoaned by ascetics. Some diamonds have been rumored to possess magical powers, and others have carried with them tales of misfortune and misery. Of these unparalleled gems, there are some whose legends have never faded. The Koh-i-noor- is one of these.

The Koh-i-noor diamond, meaning "Mountain of Light" in Persian, is one of the most famous, or possibly, infamous diamonds on Earth. Once known as the largest diamond in the world, the Koh-i-noor diamond is a subject of infinite myths and legends that go back hundreds of years all the way to ancient India. It was apparently never bought or sold; it only changed hands in devious thefts and bloody battles that continued throughout the ages.

Being that there are so many legends of great diamonds in ancient India, and because of the long twisted journey it has made, it's almost impossible to trace the Koh-i-noor back to its original unearthing. However, because India was the only place in the world where diamonds were found and mined up until the nineteenth century, we can at least say for sure that Koh-i-noor is of Indian origin.

It is said to have been mined some 4000 years ago, although some sources claim that it was more than even 5000 years ago. The first mention of what is believed to be the Koh-i-noor is found in ancient Sanskrit writings, where the stone is referred to as Syamantaka. At that time it was said to weigh 793 carats!

Some Hindus believe that Krishna himself obtained the diamond from Jambavantha, whose daughter Jambavati later became Krishna's wife. This legend says that the diamond was stolen from Krishna while he was sleeping. Another source claims that the diamond was discovered in a river bed in 3200 BCE. Whenever it was actually uncovered, however it happened to be found, the place where it was discovered can be narrowed one of the earliest diamond producing regions in India: the Golconda Kingdom. 

The first confirmed historical mention of the diamond is in the Barburnama , the memoirs of Babur, the first Mogul ruler of India. In his memoir, dated to 1526, Barbur claims that the diamond once belonged to a Raja of Malwa in 1294 whose kingdom was conquered by the warrior Alla-ud-din (Alladin) in 1304 who seized most of the kingdom's precious jewels, including the magnificent Koh-i-noor, bringing the plunder back with him to Deli. It then passed through the hands of various rulers, up until Babur seized it himself in 1526.The massive stone's splendor was then lost forever to myth and folklore when a corrupt and deceitful jeweler named Borgio cut and polished the massive gem down to a mere 186 carats.

The Stone remained in the possession of the Mogul emperors until 1739, when Nadir Shah of Persia conquered India and laid siege to Delhi. Popular legend has it that the Mogul emperor kept the jewel hidden in his turban to keep it from being stolen. But, a worker in the Emperor's palace informed Nadir Shah of the jewels hiding place. So Nadir, devious as he was, suggested during his victory celebration that he and the emperor partake in a traditional Oriental custom of exchanging turbans to symbolizing their eternal friendship. The Mogul Emperor could not refuse and had no choice but to surrender the precious stone. When Nadir Shah unfolded the turban and found the gem, he cried out 'Koh-i-noor!', 'mountain of light!', and the name stuck.

Nadir Shah brought the jewel back with him to Persia where it remained until his death. Then the Koh-i-noor was stolen an Afghan chief who used the stone's grandeur to secure himself the throne. Finally, through upheavals, battles and rebellions, the diamond was secured once more by Indian princes of Punjab.

In 1849, the British annexed Punjab and the diamond was confiscated by the Queen as a spoil of war. In 1851 it was exhibited in Hyde Park London and while the crowds swarmed in, the diamond simply didn't seem to live up to the public's expectations. The British Royal Family ordered the stone recut in order to improve its brilliance, reducing it once more from 186 carats to just under 109 carats.

By this time, stories of the bloodshed, deception and treachery associated with the infamous gem had spread like wildfire and the Koh-i-noor was believed to carry a terrible curse. Many asserted that misfortune would befall any owner or wearer of the diamond, while others claimed that any woman wearing it would remain unharmed. Well, the curse apparently did not trouble the Royal Family.

Queen Victoria had it set in a tiara along with over 2000 diamonds and in 1911 a new crown was made for Queen Mary, with the Koh-i-noor at its center. Finally, in 1937 the stone was transferred to another new crown for the coronation of Elizabeth. In 2002 the stone was rested on top of her coffin as she lay in state.

Because of its convoluted past, the Koh-i-noor Diamond has been claimed by many countries. In India, the Siks demanded the return of the diamond to India during a visit by Queen Elizabeth II. The last descendant of Duleep Singh, Beant Singh Sandhawalia, has also requested that Britain return the Koh-i-noor. Even the Taliban have demanded that the diamond be surrendered, alleging Afghanistan's historical entitlement. Due to the countless competing claims, determining true ownership is impossible and Britain has refused to part with the jewel. Therefore, it remains, as of 2007, in the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels: The Koh-i-noor, one of the most famous (or infamous) diamonds in the world.