The Jewelled Splendour of Majesty
In the age of Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Mughal magnificence was the envy of Europe. In terms of excess of riches no other monarch could even approach them. The British Ambassador, present at the birthday celebrations of Jahangir in 1617, was stunned at the Emperor's appearance, ‘laden with diamonds, rubies, pearls… so great, so glorious', equally his sword and throne. His head, neck, breast, arms were covered in gems, and two or three rings adorned each finger studded with ‘Dyamonds, Rubies as great as Walnuts (some greater) and Pearles such as mine eyes were amazed at.' And here is William Hawkins trying to assess the value of Jahangir's treasury—30 kg of diamonds, huge stores of other gems and semi-precious stones, a thousand gem-studded saddles, and jewelled swords and daggers in numbers that boggled the mind, quite apart from items of personal adornment.
… more »