History of the Iranian Thrones
Thrones were symbols identified with the status and power of monarchies
since ancient times. In the history of mankind thrones were first identified
as seats of Gods. But later the meaning of the word changed to include the
symbolic seats of those who held secular or religious power such as monarchs
and popes.
In the history of Iran that was over 3,000 years old, special significance
was attached to the splendor of the Monarch's throne as it was also believed
that the throne besides being a symbol of the power of the Monarch, also
conferred such power to the Monarch. The thrones were embellished with the
rarest and most expensive of all metals such as gold and silver, and usually
encrusted with the rarest of precious stones such as diamonds, sapphires,
rubies, emeralds, and semi-precious stones like spinels, garnets, amethysts
etc. The dazzling effect of the shining metals, diamonds and precious
stones, combined with the dazzling robes, ornaments and the crown worn by
the monarch, created an aura of greatness, that was out of the world and
more akin to the divine, from whom most monarchs believed they derived their
power to govern.
Great kings of the Archaemenid dynasty like Cyrus the Great, and the
Sassanid dynasty like Khosrau I and Khosrau II, whose empires achieved
unprecedented splendor and material wealth, had splendorous thrones designed
and constructed to reflect their great status. Subsequent kings of different
dynasties such as the Seljuq Turks, the Safavids, Nadir Shah, and the Qajars
also had splendorous thrones in their court, but the most splendorous of all
these thrones was the Peacock Throne of Nadir Shah, that was acquired by him
during his Indian campaign of 1739. against the Mogul empire.
The Peacock Throne
The Peacock
Throne was originally constructed by Shah Jahaan who reigned between 1628
and 1658. Shah Jahaan's court was famous for its pomp and pageantry.
Nizam-ud-Din Bakshi, the chronicler of the Mogul court wrote that Shah
Jahaan held the view that the crown jewels of a monarchy were not meant to
be stacked in a safe vault and hidden away from public view. The greatest
service such jewels could render was to adorn the throne of the empire that
would not only elevate the status of a monarch as he shines with increased
brilliancy, but also give an opportunity to his subjects to admire the
beauty of these brilliants. Accordingly Shah Jahaan ordered his court
artisans and jewelers to design and construct a throne that would surpass
all other thrones ever created, in beauty and brilliance, and the result was
the most splendorous throne ever created in the history of mankind.
Tavernier who saw the throne in 1665, during a visit to the court of
Aurangzeb, the son and successor of Shah Jahaan, gives a vivid description
of the throne in his book of travels. He describes the throne as having the
shape of a bed or platform 6ft. by 4 ft., supported by four golden legs of
about 2 ft. in height, encrusted with jewels. The throne was ascended by
silver steps. Twelve columns arising from the horizontal bars of the
platform, supported a canopy. Rows of beautiful pearls were embedded on the
columns and the horizontal bars were encrusted with diamonds, pearls,
rubies, and emeralds. The inside of the canopy made of enamel was thickly
set with rubies, emeralds, garnets, and other precious stones.
Representations of two open peacocks, with gilded tails. and set with
diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones occupied the
back of the throne, and served as the main attraction of the throne, that
gave the throne, its name. The eyes of the peacock was also set with
diamonds. Some of the famous diamonds like the Koh-i-Noor, the Akbar Shah,
the Shah, and the great table diamond were also incorporated in the throne
according to Tavernier.
Is is said that Nadir Shah was so taken up with the throne that he got his
unwilling host the Mogul emperor Muhammad Shah, to make a divan on the same
style, and carried both thrones to Iran on his return trip, together with an
enormous booty that was estimated to cost 700 million rupees at that time,
which according to current estimates would be around $ 5 billion. In the
immediate aftermath of Nadir Shah's assassination in 1747, most of the crown
jewels of Iran were looted by his commanders and generals who were close to
him. The Peacock thrones were dismantled and the diamonds, rubies, emeralds,
pearls, and other precious stones and the gold were stolen and never
recovered.
After Nadir Shah the throne of the Iranian Monarchy came to be known as the
Peacock Throne until its final end in 1979 following the Islamic revolution.
Several thrones that were made by the rulers of the Qajar dynasty, copying
the features of the original throne, were also known as the Peacock Throne.
Examples of such thrones are the Naderi Throne built by Fath Ali Shah in
1812, and the throne built by Fath Ali Shah's successor Muhammad Shah
in 1836.
The Peacock Throne at the Topkapi Museum in
Istanbul
In the treasury of the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul there are several thrones
that belonged to the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire who ruled over the
centuries. But, the most unique and dazzling of all these thrones, that has
become the most popular exhibit in the entire museum, that genuinely amazes
the thousands of visitors who see it every day, is the Peacock throne, which
was previously thought to be the throne of Shah Ismail captured by Sultan
Salim after the Battle of Caldiran. But recent research carried out on the
documents related to the throne had revealed that the throne actually
belonged to Nadir Shah, and entered the treasury in 1758, eleven years after
his death.
The throne which is on display in the third salon of the treasury of Topkapi
Palace, Istanbul, is undoubtedly of Indian origin and considered to be a
masterpiece of 18th century Indian craftsmanship. The throne which is in the
form of a high-edged table or platform stands on four stout intricately
carved legs. A separate stool with matching carved legs as the legs of the
throne served both as a step to ascend the throne as well as a foot rest.
The throne is covered with a cushion decorated with gold braid and pearls.
The entire throne is covered with a red and green enamel wash, over
which are intricate floral designs in gold and set with rubies, emeralds and
pearls. There are eight short vertical columns rising from the edge of the
platform and except for the space between the front two columns, where the
monarch is supposed to sit, all other spaces are covered with vertical
decorative panels. The exterior as well as the interior of these vertical
panels are heavily encrusted with jewels. The overall effect of the entire
throne is so dazzling that visitors who see it for the first time are
awe struck and spellbound by its appearance and are unable to conceal their
amazement.
The above description of the Topkapi Peacock Throne when compared with the
Tavernier's description of Shah Jahaan's Pea Cock throne, brings out some
fundamental differences.
1. Shah Jahaan's Peacock Throne had twelve vertical columns that supported a
canopy, but the Topkapi Peacock Throne has only eight short columns, without
a canopy.
2. Shah Jahaan's Peacock Throne was ascended by steps covered with silver,
but the Topkapi Peacock Throne was ascended by a short stool serving both as
a step and footrest.
3. The main attraction of the Shah Jahaan's Peacock throne were the
representations of two open peacocks with gilded tails and set with diamonds,
emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, occupying the back of the throne. but in
the Topkapi Peacock Throne this representation is conspicuously missing.
Thus the Topkapi Peacock Throne is in all probability the second throne
which Nadir Shah got his host Emperor Muhammed Shah to make before he left
Delhi in 1739. This throne was said to be a divan made on the same
broad pattern as the original Peacock Throne. The Topkapi Peacock Throne
closely resembles the divan that was made for Nadir Shah in 1739.
The question next arises how this divan-like second Peacock Throne ended up
in the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, the capital city of neighboring Turkey.
In 1943, four years after Nadir Shah's successful Indian campaign, he
attacked the Ottoman Turks, but was forced to conclude a truce, due to
revolts at home. Subsequently he resumed hostilities with the Turks again,
and won a great victory over them near Yerevan in Armenia, in 1746. Nadir
Shah's plans were to extend his campaign right into the heart of Turkey, and
he moved into Anatolia (Asia Minor). Having lost the battle at Yerevan
Sultan Mahmud of Turkey, was in no mood for a fresh battle, and he sued for
peace. Nadir Shah in a surprising change of heart accepted the offer and
finally a peace treaty was concluded at Kasri Sirin in 1746, to the
satisfaction of both parties. To celebrate the successful conclusion of the
peace treaty both parties agreed to a diplomatic exchange of gifts, in order
to foster goodwill and consolidate the relationship between the two parties.
Among the valuable gifts which Nadir Shah selected to be sent to his
counterpart in Turkey, Sultan Mahmud, was the divan-like Peacock Throne,
which he had brought down from Delhi during his Indian campaign. Nadir Shah
appointed his two trusted lieutenants Mohammed Mahdi Han and Sanli Mustafa
Han as emissaries entrusted with carrying the valuable gifts to Istanbul.
Sultan Mahmud on his part got a dagger decorated with large emeralds and
rubies as a special gift to Nadir Shah, together with loads of other
valuable gifts, and sent it to Esfahan in the custody of his emissary Ahmet
Pasha. The two caravans carrying the gifts and the emissaries met on May 30,
1747, near Baghdad. The exchange of gifts took place, after both parties
inspected each others gifts, and the emissaries then started their journey
homewards. As the Ottoman emissaries reached the city of Hamadan, news
reached them that Nadir Shah had been killed by his own troops in a
rebellion. The emissaries immediately began moving and eventually reached
the safety of Ottoman lands, and thus prevented the gifts from being looted.
Having reached Istanbul safely the emissaries handed over the gifts to
Sultan Mahmud, who was indeed pleased by the dazzling throne received from
his unlucky friend Nadir Shah. The two Iranian emissaries refused to return
to Iran after their leader's death, and were granted political asylum in
Turkey by Sultan Mahmud. This explains how one of the peacock Thrones
escaped destruction, and is now preserved in the Topkapi Museum. The
original Peacock Throne however was destroyed immediately after Nadir Shah's
death, and all the jewels and the gold stolen.
The Naderi Throne
The Naderi Throne is believed to have been constructed during the period of
Fath Ali Shah in 1812, as evident from the verses written on the throne
which attribute it to him. There is controversy as to why the throne is
known as the Naderi Throne if it is not related to Nadir Shah. One
explanation for this is that the throne resembled at least in part the
original Peacock Throne of Nadir Shah. Another explanation is that the term
"Nader" in the Persian language means rare or unique, so that the name
Naderi Throne does not refer to Nadir Shah at all, but in actual fact is a
reference to a rare or unique throne.
Unlike the original Peacock Throne which was like a raised platform, the
Naderi Throne was more like a chair, and resembled thrones used by
rulers of the ancient Archaemenid dynasty in the 5th century BC, and the
Safavid dynasty in the 17th century AD.
The throne could be easily dismantled into 12 different sections, and
reassembled again when required. In other words the throne was meant to be
portable and easily carried as the king moves around in his domain, and
especially when he moved to his summer residences.
The throne which is 2.25 meters in height, is made out of wood, but covered
with sheets of gold and encrusted with jewels such as diamonds, rubies,
emeralds and spinels. The total number of jewels covering the throne is
exactly 26,733. On the backrest of the throne there are four very large
emeralds and four very large spinels. The largest emerald and the largest
spinel weigh 225 carats and 65 carats respectively. The largest ruby on the
throne weighs 35 carats.
The most attractive part of the throne which is the backrest is designed in
the form of a peacock tail, with figures of symmetrically placed pairs of
ducks and dragons incorporated. The motif shows two pairs of ducks, a pair
of dragons, and a floral pattern in the center. A lion motif is depicted on
the front panel of the footstool, and the front panel of the seat shows a
leaf pattern.
The Naderi Throne's moment of glory in the
20th century. The 1967 coronation of Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi.
The Naderi Throne reawakened to its former glory in 1967, when it was
selected by Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last ruler of the world's most
ancient monarchy, to be used on the day of his coronation in the Grand Hall
of the famous Golestan Palace. Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi who ascended the
Iranian Throne in 1941, had actually vowed not to have his coronation until
he was able to bring growth and development to his country and emancipate
his people socially and economically. In the early 1960s, he embarked on the
most ambitious development program ever carried out in the history of Iran,
known as the "White Revolution," which included sweeping changes that
had never been attempted before in the long history of the country. The most
popular of these changes was the sweeping land reforms, that re-distributed
lands belonging to a few rich landlords and the clergy (wakf properties), among
2.5 million landless families. Among the other popular measures included in
the program were profit sharing among workers and farmers, setting up of
agricultural co-operatives, creation of the "Health Corps" and the "Literacy
Corps" to serve the rural population, emancipation and enfranchisement of
women, and the undertaking of massive agricultural and industrial projects.
The successful implementation of the "White Revolution" brought about a
massive wave of popular support for the Shah and at the height of this
popularity, Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, finally decided to have his
coronation on October 26, 1967, 25 years after ascending the throne. The
event that was one of the most glittering and splendorous events ever
held in the long history of the Iranian monarchy, had unlike in the past, a
worldwide audience, given wide coverage by the international press and brought to the homes of millions of
television viewers around the world. The coronation ceremony was also unique
in another respect, as it was an occasion that had a triple significance,
viz. the coronation of the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the coronation of the
Shahbanou Empress Farah Diba, and the declaration of the Shah's son Prince
Reza Cyrus as the Crown Prince of Iran, with the Shahbanou acting as
regent, in case the Shah dies before the Crown Prince attains maturity.
Empress Farah became the first empress ever to be crowned in the 2,500-year
history of the Iranian monarchy, and for this a special crown was designed
and created by Van Cleef and Arpels of Paris.
The coronation took place in the Grand Hall of the Golestan Palace in the
presence of 500 distinguished guests that included the monarchies of other
countries, world leaders, and diplomats. Besides this 5,000 other
distinguished invitees were also accommodated in special enclosures
constructed in the gardens of the Golestan Palace, just outside the Grand
Hall.
The climax of the coronation ceremony was when the Shah entered the Grand
Hall, preceded by the commanders of the Imperial Navy, Air Force and the
Army. The Shah walked along the red carpet, acknowledging the bows and
courtesies that came from the distinguished guests who lined up on either
side of the red carpet. After the Shah reached the Naderi Throne placed on
top of a raised platform at the end of the hall, he turned round and stood
still for a moment facing the invited guests in the Hall. All the guests
remained standing. His Imperial Majesty then bowed towards the right and the
left, acknowledging the homage of the guests, and inviting everyone to take
their seats, climbed the Naderi throne and sat on it.
Three officers then walked into the hall carrying the Qur'an, the holy
book of Islam, the Imperial Crown of Iran, and the new crown of the Empress
of Iran. Four other officers carried the other coronation regalia such as
the emerald belt, the royal sword, the jewel studded imperial robe and the
royal scepter. The coronation began with the recital of verses from the Holy
Qur'an by the spiritual leader of the country Imam Djomeh. The Imam recited
a special prayer for the coronation and later presented the holy book to the
Shah, who after standing up and receiving it, kissed it and placed it on
the cushion covered tray on which it was brought. Then the other rituals of
the coronation followed. An officer carrying the emerald belt came forward,
and the Shah took the belt from the tray and placed it around his waist,
with the large green emerald facing forward. Then the officer carrying the
royal sword approached the Shah, and he took the sword and hung it on the
belt. This was followed by two members of the royal household bringing the
jewel studded imperial robe and placing it around the shoulders of the Shah.
Then came the final moment, the actual coronation, for which the nation had
been waiting for 25 years. The officer carrying the Imperial Crown of Iran,
moved forward, and the Shah took the crown from the blue cushion covered
tray, and while still standing in front of the Naderi Throne facing the
invited guests, placed it on his head, thus crowning himself, as Napoleon I
did on December 2nd, 1804. The glorious moment was marked by a 101 gun
salute, that reverberated through the capital Teheran. People of all walks
of life cheered the long awaited moment and prayers were said in the
mosques. To wrap up the rituals of the coronation, another officer moved
forward and handed over the royal scepter to the Shah, which he received,
and later remounted the Naderi Throne.
The coronation of the Empress Farah Diba quickly followed, and was performed
by his Imperial Highness Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. This was followed by
the formal presentation of the Crown Prince, Reza Cyrus, to the nation. Then
after speeches made by the Prime Minister and the President of the Senate,
His Imperial Highness Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi addressed the nation from
his throne, in which he thanked the Almighty God for the strength and
opportunity given to him to serve his people, and prayed for the protection
of his country and his people. He said the only purpose of his life was the
honor and glory of his people and his country. He said that his only hope
was the maintenance of the country's independence and sovereignty, and the
progress of the people of Iran, and said, that he was prepared to lay
down his life to accomplish this goal.
The Sun Throne
Like the Naderi Throne, the Sun Throne was also constructed under the orders
of Fath Ali Shah who reigned between 1797 and 1834. The construction of the
throne was supervised by the Governor of Esfahan, Mohammed Hussein Khan Sadr
Isfahani. A motif of the sun, encrusted with jewels was incorporated on the
top of the throne, from which the throne gets its name. Subsequently Fath
Ali Shah married a lady by the name of Tavous Khanoum Tajodoleh, and the
throne came to be known as Takht-e-Tavous or the Peacock Throne. Tavous in
the Persian language means Peacock.
Thus Fath Ali Shah's Peacock Throne is often confused with Nadir Shah's
Peacock Throne. Whereas Fath Ali Shah's Peacock throne was designed and
constructed in the early 19th century in Iran, Nadir Shah's Peacock Throne
was constructed in India on the orders of the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahaan, in
the mid-17th century. Again, while Fath Ali Shah's Peacock Throne get its
name from his Queen whose first name was Tavous, meaning peacock in Persian,
Nadir Shah's Peacock Throne gets its name from the representation of two
open peacocks, with gilded tails encrusted with jewels, occupying the back
of the throne.
Fath Ali Shah was succeeded by his grandson Muhammad Shah (1834-48). who was
succeeded by his son Nasser-ed-Din Shah (1848-96). During the reign of
Nasser-ed-Din Shah certain alterations were made to the Sun Throne, by the
addition of some panels bearing Arabic calligraphic verses.
The Sun Throne was displayed at the Golestan Palace its original home since
it was constructed by Fath Ali Shah in the early 19th century. The Golestan
Palace was constructed during the reign of Shah Tahmasp I of the Safavid
dynasty. The palace was reconstructed by Karim Khan Zand, and subsequently
was chosen by kings of the Qajar dynasty as their residence and court.
Nasser-ed-Din Shah and the two rulers of the Pahlavi dynasty also made
modifications to the palace. On September 6th, 1980, after the Iranian
Islamic revolution the Sun Throne was relocated to the vault of the
Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, where it has been put on
permanent display with the Iranian Crown Jewels.
Our account of the thrones of Iran will not be complete if no mention is
made of another famous throne found in Iran, the Marble Throne, which is 250
years old and belongs to the period of the Zand Dynasty.
The Marble Throne
Two of the famous thrones of Iran, the Sun Throne or Peacock Throne, and the
Naderi Throne were constructed on the orders of one of the most prominent
Shahs of the Qajar dynasty Fath Ali Shah (1797-1834), who succeeded the
founder of the dynasty, Agha Mohammed Khan Qajar. Fath Ali Shah protected
and expanded the collection of Iranian Crown Jewels, which was scattered in
the immediate aftermath of Nadir Shah's assassination, but was later
reassembled partly by Agha Mohammed Khan Qajar. Fath Ali Shah was also noted
for his extravagance in trying to enhance the splendor of his court, and is
credited with turning out some extraordinary pieces of jewelry for personal
adornment as well as the two famous thrones listed above.
However there is another famous throne of historical importance in Iran,
which is more than 250 years old, and constructed on the orders of Karim
Khan Zand, in 1751, made entirely of yellow marble. This throne was
previously installed in the royal palace of Karim Khan Zand.
After the death of Nadir Shah in 1747, the Iranian State fragmented into
three different states. The largest and most successful of these states was
the one headed by Muhammad Karim Khan Zand (1747-1779), based in central and
southern Iran, with its capital at Shiraz. During this period Teheran was a
small insignificant town. But, Karim Khan Zand ordered the construction of a
citadel, a palace with a harem, and some government offices, and several
towers, in Teheran, in an area previously occupied by a vast garden called
the Chahar Bagh (four gardens), created during the time of Safavid Shah,
Abbas I.
In 1789, Agha Muhammad Khan Qajar who was in the process of re-uniting
Iran after capturing territories previously held by the Zand rulers,
declared Teheran as the new capital of Iran. In 1794, he defeated Lotf Ali
Khan and had captured the entire Zand territory including the capital of
Shiraz.
Under the Qajar rulers, Karim Khan's citadel and palace was eventually
transformed into the Golestan Palace complex and became the residence and
the royal court of the rulers of the Qajar dynasty. In 1791, Agha Muhammad
Khan Qajar ordered the transfer of all decorative items, paintings,
artifacts, and the famous alabaster (marble) throne, belonging to the
royal palace of Karim Khan from Shiraz to the Golestan Palace complex.
The Marble throne is a 250 year old throne built in 1751 for Karim Khan Zand.
The throne was designed and built by Mirza Bab Shirazi Naqqash Bashi and the
royal stone cutter Ustad Mohammed Ibrahim Esfahani, and consists of
sixty-five pieces of yellow marble obtained from Yazd Province. The unique
feature of the throne are the supports which are carved in the shape of men,
women, fairies and demons. After the throne was transferred to the Golestan
Palace complex, a special edifice was built to install the throne, known as
the Iwan Takht-e-Marmar (Marble Throne Verandah), under the orders of the
second Qajar Shah, Fath Ali Shah. The Iwan Takht-e-Marmar is a ceremonial
hall with the Marble Throne installed in the center. The coronation of Qajar
kings and other formal court ceremonies were held in this Iwan. The last
coronation to be held in the Takht-e-Marmar was the coronation of the
founder of the Pahlavi dynasty Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1925. Paintings and
decorations belonging to the Qajar period adorn the walls of the Marble
Throne Verandah. Every Qajar ruler tried to perfect the decorations of his
predecessor and add more adornments of his own to the buildings of the
palace complex.
After Fath Ali Shah constructed new buildings for the Golestan palace
complex, the next ruler who introduced a lot of modifications to the palace
complex during his reign was Nasser-ed-Din Shah. More modifications were
made during the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty, especially during the
coronation ceremony of Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1967, and also prior to
the state visit of Queen Elizabeth II.
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References
1. Encyclopaedia Britannica - 2006
2.
Website of Iran Chamber Society
3. Wikipedia - Peacock Throne
4.
Wikipedia - Takht-e-Taus
5. The Crown Jewels of Iran- Dr Victor E Meen
