Kohinoor: The Story of the World’s Most Infamous Diamond

by William Dalrymple

As Muhammad Shah’s reign progressed, power ebbed slowly away from Delhi, and the Mughal emperor’s regional satraps increasingly began to take their own decisions on important matters of politics, economics, internal security and self-defence. Two rival regional strongmen in particular established their own discrete spheres of influence, and emerged as virtually autonomous rulers: Sa’adat Khan, the Nawab of Avadh, became the main power broker in the north, with his base at Faizabad in the heart of the Gangetic plains; while to the south, Nizam ul-Mulk established himself as master of the Deccan, based in Aurangabad. The association of both men with the imperial court, and their loyalty to the emperor, was increasingly effected on their own terms and in their own interests. Both men would found dynasties that dominated India for a hundred years. Both were deadly rivals, and their rivalry would soon prove fatal for the Mughal state they professed to serve. In addition to sharing his sovereignty with two overmighty governors, it was Muhammad Shah’s ill fate to have as his immediate western neighbour the aggressive Afshar Turkman Persian-speaking warlord Nader Shah. Nader was the son of a humble shepherd who had risen rapidly in the army thanks to his remarkable military talents. He was as tough, humourless, ruthless and efficient a figure as Muhammad Shah was light-hearted, artistic, chaotic yet refined. The finest pen portrait that survives of Nader was written by an urbane F...