If you want to think of a beautiful throne, go no further than the Peacock Throne which epitomizes the power, prowess, and immense wealth of the one who sits on it. The name itself connotes gaudiness and lavishness, as a peacock struts and shows off its beautiful colors. The Peacock Throne was kept in Delhi, which served as the then capitol of the territory.
On this day March 20th, in 1739, after Nadir Shah had occupied Delhi he would take the Peacock Throne with all its jewels for himself. The Peacock throne is made of gold, stands at a bit above 6 feet, and is encrusted with many diamonds, pearls, and over 200 rubies and emeralds. The original Peacock Throne seems to have disappeared, or perhaps was dismantled and sold for all its good. It is now used as a metaphor to represent the kingship of Persian and Ottoman kings, much like when a reporter says “the Whitehouse declared” which really means the president or a member of his cabinet. In literary terms this is known as metonymy.
Nadir Shah has been referred to as the Persian Napoleon and Alexander II due to his prowess as a military conqueror. His mentors and were Timur and Genghis Kahn who both were military leaders who dominated Asia. Nadir Shah created the Afsharid Dynasty, which crumbled soon after his assassination in 1747.