Takht-i-Jahangir

"Takht-i-Jahangir" (throne of Jahangir) was a throne built by Jahangir (31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627) in 1602 and is located at the "Diwan-i-Khas" (hall of private audience) at the Red Fort in Agra.

History

The throne was built in 1602 in Allahabad and kept at the Allahabad Fort. Even after Jahangir became king when his father, emperor Akbar died in 1605, the throne remained there. It was only in 1610, that it was brought from Allahabad to Agra by Jahangir.

When the Army of the British East India Company first attacked the Agra Fort in 1803 under General Gerard Lake, a cannon ball fired by the artillery struck the "Takht", but did not manage to destroy it. It caused a superficial crack on one side and bounced on to make a hole through the wall opposite the throne.

tructure

The throne was made of black onyx, imported by Jahangir, who was also known as Salim, from Belgium. It is 10 feet 7 inches long, 9 feet 10 inches broad and 6 inches thick. Its octagonal pedestals are each 1 foot 4 inches in height. At the top, it gently slopes from the centre to the sides like the shell of a tortoise. Persian inscriptions, dated 1602 are carved, in ornamental cartouches on its sides, in praise of Jahangir, whom they state as "Shah" and "Sultan". This amounted to defiance of Akbar, who was at that time alive and on the throne. When the throne was finally brought to Agra, Jahangir had two inscriptions carved on top of the two western pedestals, stating that he had been only the heir to the throne, and that he had only assumed the title of "Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir Badshah" (Badshah Jahangir), only after his righteous accession.

"Nyaya ke Zanjeer"

Behind the "Takht-i-Jahangir" were Jahangir's "Nyaya ke Zanjeer" (Chains of Truth), which consisted of 60 bells made of gold. If anybody, regardless of their position, desired justice, they could pull the chains to make the bells ring, and they were sure to be granted justice.

References

* [http://www.hat.net/album/asia/india/05_cities_and_maharajas/29_agra/detail049.htm Hat.net]