Did you know that many believe that Koh-i-Noor diamond, one of the most famos diamonds in the world and once the largest known diamond in the world, is cursed?
The Kōh-i Nūr, which means “Mountain of Light” in Persian, is a 105 carat (21.6 g) diamond (in its most recent cut) that was once the largest known diamond in the world.
The Kōh-i Nūr originated in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India along with its double, the Darya-ye Noor (the “Sea of Light”).
It has belonged to various Hindu, Mughal, Turkic, Afghan, Sikh and British rulers who fought bitterly over it at various points in history and seized it as a spoil of war time and time again.
It was most recently seized by the East India Company and became part of the British Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1877.
It was traditionally known as Madnayak or the King of Jewels, before being renamed Kohinoor in 18th century by Afghan Ahmad Shah Abdali.
The Curse of Kohinoor Diamond dates back to a Hindu text from the time of the first authenticated appearance of the diamond in 1306. The Curse of the Kohinoor Diamond reads:
“He who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all
its misfortunes. Only God, or a woman, can wear it with impunity.”
The history and lives of the rulers who owned the Koh-i-Noor diamond were filled with violence, murders, mutilations, torture and treachery.
Whether or not people believe in the Curse of the Kohinoor Diamond, the history of the stone is undeniable – and the threat of the Koh-i-Noor curse is enough to make people cautious.
The British Royal family were obviously aware of the Curse of the Kohinoor and from the reign of Queen Victoria, when the Kohinoor diamond came into their possession, it has always gone to the wife of the male heir to the British throne.
Yeap, all the men who owned it have either lost their throne or had other misfortunes befall them!