The throne was the symbol of royalty, and to sit on it was a proclamation of kingship. The occupant of the throne was regarded as a lawful ruler in the eyes of the people. It was a symbolic expression of royalty to sit on a high and significant place. After succession, the most elaborate ceremony was that of coronation, and the new emperor ascended the throne as a successor to royalty.

The height of the Mughal throne was three feet from the ground and it had a canopy which was held by four pillars. A cover of gold brocade was laid on the throne for the emperor to sit on. He used to sit either cross-legged or with legs folded, and his weapons, including his sword, shield, bow, quiver, and arrows, were put on one side of the throne.

No special design was followed to prepare the throne for the coronation of Mughal emperors. Akbar was crowned on a throne of bricks placed upon an earthen platform, which was eight feet long and three feet high.

The emperor used to sit on the throne on all occasions of celebration. On all special occasions like Nauruz, Eids, the weighing ceremony, etc., special thrones were made to add to the grandeur of the spectacle.

Every emperor got new thrones made according to his taste and liking. They were made of solid gold, studded with diamonds and other precious stones of various colours and were designed in different shapes and forms. “The Aurang or throne,” says Abul Fadl, “is made in several forms; some are inlaid with precious stones, and others are of gold, silver, etc”.

When the emperor travelled or went on a long journey, the royal throne was carried along with him. Most of the foreign travellers who visited the Mughal court observed with interest and curiosity the thrones of the Mughal emperors. “In the middle of this court,” writes Thomas Roe “was a throne of Mother of Pearle borne on two pillars raysed on earth, couered with high tent, the pole headed with a knob of gould, under foote Carpets”. Terry saw a throne in the palace of Agra, “on the top of which are four lions made of silver, gilded, set with precious stones, supporting a canopie of gold”.

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier (who visited the Mughal court from 1655 to 1667) reports on five thrones which were covered with diamonds, and “are displayed in such a manner that they form a cross”. At another place he writes about seven thrones, “one wholly covered with diamonds, the others with rubies, emeralds or pearls”. He also saw two small thrones: one of oval shape, about seven feet in length and five in breadth, its outside covered with diamonds, but there was no canopy attached; the other was with a canopy, a back, a bolster and counterpane, “all of which are covered with diamonds”.

Niccolao Manucci observed three cushions on the throne: a large one, which served as support to the back, and two square ones, one on each side, as well as a lovely mattress. Ogilby and Mandelslo, too, mentioned the thrones of massive gold, inlaid with precious stones.

The zenith of the Mughal Empire was displayed in the Peacock throne (1635) (takht-i-ta-us), which expressed the perfection and sublimity of Mughal artistic ideas, and represented the grandeur, richness, and charm of the personality of the emperor and the greatest achievement of the jeweller’s art in India. Its beauty dazzled the eyes of spectators and stunned foreign travellers. Many of them left an interesting account of this masterpiece. “Throne of massive gold with its Peacock”, writes Jean de Thevenot, “so much talked in the Indies… it is said to be worth above twenty millions of gold: but who knows the value there of?”

Tavernier left a detailed account of the throne, which is worthy of note:

“... It is about six feet long and four wide. Upon the four feet, which are very massive and 20 to 25 inches high, are fixed the four bars which supported the base of the throne, and upon these bars are ranged twelve columns… Both the feet and the bars, which are more than 18 inches long, are covered with gold inlaid and enriched with numerous diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. In the middle of each bar there is a large balass ruby, cut en cabuchon, with four emeralds round it, forming a square cross.

“Next in succession from one side to the other along the length of the bars there are similar crosses, arranged so that in one the ruby is in the middle of four emeralds, and in another the emerald is in the middle and four balass rubies surround it. The emeralds are table-cut, and the intervals between the rubies and emeralds are covered with diamonds, the largest of which does not exceed 10 to 12 carats in weight, all showy stones, but very flat. There are also in some parts pearls set in gold, and upon one of the longer sides of the throne are four steps to ascend it. Of the three cushions or pillows which are upon the throne, that which is placed behind the Emperor’s back is large and round like one of our bolsters, and the two others placed at his sides are flat. More over a sword, a mace, a round shield, a bow and quiver with arrows are suspended from the throne.”

About the diamonds and precious stones studded in the throne he writes:

“I counted the large belass rubies on the great throne, and there are about 108, all cabuchons, the least of which weighs 100 carats, but there are some which weigh apparently 200 and more. As for the emeralds, there are plenty of good colour, but they have many flaws; the largest may weigh 60 carats, and the least 30 carats. I counted about 116; thus there are many more emeralds than rubies.”

He valued the price of the throne as Rs100 million.