Battle of Karnal-1739 A.D.
The Battle of Karnal was a decisive victory for Nader
Shah the emperor of Persia during his invasion
of India. Shah's forces defeated the army of Muhammad Shah, the Mughal emperor,
paving the way for the sack of Delhi by the Persians.
The battle took place at Karnal, 110 km (70 miles) north of Delhi, India. Muhammad and his army were defeated soundly. Nadir's army consisted of about 55,000 troops, and Muhammad's army is said to have numbered approximately 150,000 and not 15,000 as noted by several modern revisionists. This is because of the large number of military losses that was greater than the latter number. It is said that Indians were using war elephants in battle which had long blades on their trunk and were taught to wave them at enemy.
When Nadir Shah was told about this he ordered some camels to be put in front of the Iranian Army with pots full of oil on them. When the battle started he ordered to the pots to be lit aflame, and after some period of time the heat annoyed the camels who began baying and sprinting towards the enemy, which frightened the war elephants whom turned around and charged back at their own army killing many while running away. The camels themselves when brought down lit up the ground and burned many Indian troops as well further depleting the already crippled Indian army.
Koh-i-noor Diamond
PERSIAN King Nadir Shah invaded India and defeated Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila (1719-1748 A.D.) in the battle of Karnal near Delhi in January, 1739. He got possession of the Koh-i-Noor, the wonder diamond of the world, on May 1, 1739, in the Durbar Hall in Delhi. When Nadir Shah first saw this diamond, he was so dazzled by its size, its beauty and brilliance that he exclaimed in wonder Koh-i-Noor, which in Persian means "Mountain of light". Henceforth this gem came to be known by this name.
The Kohi-i-Noor has a legendary origin and Indian historians differ about it. According to N.B. Sen, the Kohi-i-Noor, the king of diamonds and the diamond of kings was found in the ancient mine of Kolar, situated on the right bank of the Krishna river in Karnataka. Others write that this famous diamond was either discovered about 5,000 years ago in the bed of the lower Godavari river, near Machlipatnam in Central India, or in the Golkunda mines in Andhra Pradesh or in the hills of Amravati in Maharashtra.
The weight of this fabulous gem in the Indian cutting was 186-1/16 of the old carats (191.10 metric carats), but after it was re-cut in London in 1852 AD, the weight was reduced to 108-1/3 metric carats. After the re-cut, the Kohi-i-Noor now weighs 108.93 carats, having lost 43 per cent of its original weight.
Mughal Emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur valued the Koh-i-Noor at "Two-and- a -half days food of the entire world". But his son Humayun said, "Such precious gems cannot be obtained by purchases", either they fall to one by the arbitrament of the flashing sword, which is an expression of Divine Will, or else they come through the grace of mighty monarchs.
The Koh-i-Noor is not known to have ever been bought or sold. It always changed hands as a result of conquests. This magnificent and matchless diamond passed from one conqueror to the other as a symbol of power and glory and was regarded as the greatest treasure in India ,whose value was beyond estimate. The history of this gem is linked with dynasties of various countries . N.B. Sen writes that according to the Hindu science of precious stones, every stone does not suit every possessor. A diamond may bring prosperity to one and misery and agony to others. The Koh-i-Noor is traditionally supposed to bring good luck to a woman who wears it but ill-luck to a man.
In 1850, the Koh-i-Noor was presented to Queen Victoria in London by the East India Company to mark its 250th anniversary. During its long journey, this wonder diamond remained and travelled in four countries - India, Persia, Afghanistan and England.
This peerless jewel remained in the possession of royal houses of Mughals for 101 years; Persians for 11 years; Nizam Shahi Dynasty of Ahmednagar and Qutab Shahi Dynasty of Golkunda in Deccan (India) for 109 years; Afghans in Kandahar and Kabul for 66 years and the Sikhs (in Lahore) for 36 years. The Kohinoor has been in the possession of the British for the last 150 years.
Legend has it that the Sun-God gave this gem to his disciple Satrajit, but Persain, the latter's younger brother snatched it from him. Persain was killed by a lion in the forest and one Jamavant took this gem from the body of Persain and delivered it to Lord Krishna, who restored it to Satrajit. Later this jewel again came into the hands of Lord Krishna. Satrajit gave the hand of his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to Lord Krishna and this diamond was given in dowry. Lord Krishna, however, did not retain it and gave it back to the Sun-God .The Koh-i-noor travelled to numerous kings down the ages and it is believed that it came into the hands of Porus , the ruler of the Punjab, who it is believed, was the direct descendant of King Janmejya of Indraprastha. Alexander, the great Macedonian king, invaded India in 327-326 B.C. and defeated Porus, the king of Punjab. However, the Raja retained this diamond in his possession after a peace treaty in 325B.C. when the Macedonian king left India.
The battle took place at Karnal, 110 km (70 miles) north of Delhi, India. Muhammad and his army were defeated soundly. Nadir's army consisted of about 55,000 troops, and Muhammad's army is said to have numbered approximately 150,000 and not 15,000 as noted by several modern revisionists. This is because of the large number of military losses that was greater than the latter number. It is said that Indians were using war elephants in battle which had long blades on their trunk and were taught to wave them at enemy.
When Nadir Shah was told about this he ordered some camels to be put in front of the Iranian Army with pots full of oil on them. When the battle started he ordered to the pots to be lit aflame, and after some period of time the heat annoyed the camels who began baying and sprinting towards the enemy, which frightened the war elephants whom turned around and charged back at their own army killing many while running away. The camels themselves when brought down lit up the ground and burned many Indian troops as well further depleting the already crippled Indian army.
Koh-i-noor Diamond
PERSIAN King Nadir Shah invaded India and defeated Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila (1719-1748 A.D.) in the battle of Karnal near Delhi in January, 1739. He got possession of the Koh-i-Noor, the wonder diamond of the world, on May 1, 1739, in the Durbar Hall in Delhi. When Nadir Shah first saw this diamond, he was so dazzled by its size, its beauty and brilliance that he exclaimed in wonder Koh-i-Noor, which in Persian means "Mountain of light". Henceforth this gem came to be known by this name.
The Kohi-i-Noor has a legendary origin and Indian historians differ about it. According to N.B. Sen, the Kohi-i-Noor, the king of diamonds and the diamond of kings was found in the ancient mine of Kolar, situated on the right bank of the Krishna river in Karnataka. Others write that this famous diamond was either discovered about 5,000 years ago in the bed of the lower Godavari river, near Machlipatnam in Central India, or in the Golkunda mines in Andhra Pradesh or in the hills of Amravati in Maharashtra.
The weight of this fabulous gem in the Indian cutting was 186-1/16 of the old carats (191.10 metric carats), but after it was re-cut in London in 1852 AD, the weight was reduced to 108-1/3 metric carats. After the re-cut, the Kohi-i-Noor now weighs 108.93 carats, having lost 43 per cent of its original weight.
Mughal Emperor Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur valued the Koh-i-Noor at "Two-and- a -half days food of the entire world". But his son Humayun said, "Such precious gems cannot be obtained by purchases", either they fall to one by the arbitrament of the flashing sword, which is an expression of Divine Will, or else they come through the grace of mighty monarchs.
The Koh-i-Noor is not known to have ever been bought or sold. It always changed hands as a result of conquests. This magnificent and matchless diamond passed from one conqueror to the other as a symbol of power and glory and was regarded as the greatest treasure in India ,whose value was beyond estimate. The history of this gem is linked with dynasties of various countries . N.B. Sen writes that according to the Hindu science of precious stones, every stone does not suit every possessor. A diamond may bring prosperity to one and misery and agony to others. The Koh-i-Noor is traditionally supposed to bring good luck to a woman who wears it but ill-luck to a man.
In 1850, the Koh-i-Noor was presented to Queen Victoria in London by the East India Company to mark its 250th anniversary. During its long journey, this wonder diamond remained and travelled in four countries - India, Persia, Afghanistan and England.
This peerless jewel remained in the possession of royal houses of Mughals for 101 years; Persians for 11 years; Nizam Shahi Dynasty of Ahmednagar and Qutab Shahi Dynasty of Golkunda in Deccan (India) for 109 years; Afghans in Kandahar and Kabul for 66 years and the Sikhs (in Lahore) for 36 years. The Kohinoor has been in the possession of the British for the last 150 years.
Legend has it that the Sun-God gave this gem to his disciple Satrajit, but Persain, the latter's younger brother snatched it from him. Persain was killed by a lion in the forest and one Jamavant took this gem from the body of Persain and delivered it to Lord Krishna, who restored it to Satrajit. Later this jewel again came into the hands of Lord Krishna. Satrajit gave the hand of his daughter Satyabhama in marriage to Lord Krishna and this diamond was given in dowry. Lord Krishna, however, did not retain it and gave it back to the Sun-God .The Koh-i-noor travelled to numerous kings down the ages and it is believed that it came into the hands of Porus , the ruler of the Punjab, who it is believed, was the direct descendant of King Janmejya of Indraprastha. Alexander, the great Macedonian king, invaded India in 327-326 B.C. and defeated Porus, the king of Punjab. However, the Raja retained this diamond in his possession after a peace treaty in 325B.C. when the Macedonian king left India.
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