The history and legend of the Koh-i-noor diamond, how the diamond was recut, and how it is joined by numerous other diamonds on the crown of Queen Vic

The crown of England is very rich in beautiful diamonds; its chief treasure is the famous Koh-i-noor, or "mountain of light."

The history of this stone is obscure, but, as already mentioned, it is believed to be the same gem as that described by Tavernier among the jewels of Aurengzebe. According to a Hindu legend it was worn by one of the heroes of the Indian epic poem the Mahabharata, and it would therefore have a history extending backward about 4000 years. Coming down to later times we find it in possession of Vikramaditya, rajah of Ujayin, 56 B.C., from whom it passed to his successors, the rajahs of Malwa, and latterly to the sultans of Delhi, when Malwa fell into then possession. Its later history is given by Mr. Hunt as follows:--"Nadir Shah, on his occupation of Delhi in 1739, compelled Mohammed Shah, the great-grandson of Aurengzebe, to give up to him everything of value that the imperial treasury possessed; and his biographer and secretary signifies a peshkash or present by Mohammed Shah to his conqueror of several magnificent diamonds. According to the family and popular tradition Mohammed Shah wore the Koh-i-noor in front of his turban at his interview with his conqueror, who insisted in exchanging turbans in proof of his regard. However this might have been, we need have little doubt that the great diamond of Aurengzebe was in the possession of Mohammed Shah at the time of the Persian invasion; and if it was it most certainly changed masters, and became, as is universally asserted, the property of Nadir Shah, who is also said to have bestowed upon it the name of Koh-i-noor. After his death the diamond, which he had wrested from the unfortunate representative of the house of Timur, became the property of Ahmed Shah, the founder of the Abdali dynasty of Kabul, having been given to him, or more probably taken by him, from Shahrikh, the young son of Nadir. The jewel descended to the successors of Ahmed Shah, and when Mr. Elphinstone was at Peshawur was worn by Shah Shujah on his arm. When Shah Shujah was driven from Kabul he became the nominal guest and actual prisoner of Runjet Sing, who spared neither importunity nor menace, until, in 1813, he compelled the fugitive monarch to resign the precious gem, presenting him on the occasion, it is said, with a lakh and 25,000 rupees, or about $60,000. Runjet was highly elated by the acquisition of the diamond, and wore it as an armlet at all great festivals. When he was dying an attempt was made by persons about him to persuade him to make the diamond a present to Jaganath, and it is said that he intimated assent by an inclination of his head. The treasurer, however, whose charge it was, refused to give it up without better warrant, and Runjet dying before a written order could be signed by him, the Koh-i-noor was preserved for a while for his successors. It was occasionally worn by Rhurreuk Sing and Shu Sing. After the murder of the latter it remained in the Lahore treasury until the supercession of Dhulip Sing and the annexation of the Punjaub by the British government (1849), when the civil authorities took possession of the Lahore treasury, under the stipulations previously made that all the property of the state should be confiscated to the East India Company, in part payment of the debt due by the Lahore government, and of the expenses of the war; it was at the same time stipulated that the Koh-i-noor should be presented to the Queen of England. Such is the strange history of certainly one of the most extraordinary diamonds in the world. After the Company became possessed of the gem it was taken in charge by Lord Dalhousie, and sent by him to England in custody of two officers."

When the Koh-i-noor was brought to England it weighed 186 1/16 carats, and had the form shown in Fig. 40. It was exhibited in this state at the Great Exhibition of 1851, and was valued at about $700,000. At that time it was merely surface cut, and was also disfigured with several flaws, so that re-cutting seemed advisable; and it was decided to give it the form of the brilliant. The cutting was begun on July 16, 1852--the Duke of Wellington being the first person to place it on the cutting mill--and was finished Sept. 7, thus occupying in all thirty-eight days of twelve hours each. It had now the form represented in Fig. 41, its weight being reduced to 122 3/4 carats. In cutting it some parts were found to be very much harder than others. Though so much reduced in weight by this operation the Koh-i-noor has been much improved in brilliancy and effect.

Besides the Koh-i-noor, and a great number of fine pearls, the crown of Queen Victoria contains 497 diamonds, of which the value is estimated at more than $372,000.}}}