How Nadir Shah Stormed Delhi In 1739, Marched Through Delhi Gate, Entered The Red Fort And Carried Away The Mughal Peacock Throne

In 1739, Delhi did not merely fall. It was stunned, stripped, and symbolically dethroned. Nadir Shah, the formidable ruler of Persia, invaded India. It was not just a military episode but a seismic moment

that shattered the illusion of Mughal invincibility. When he marched into the heart of the Mughal capital, he walked away with more than gold and jewels. He carried off the very emblem of imperial authority, the legendary Peacock Throne, leaving behind a traumatised city and a permanently weakened empire. For centuries, the Mughal court had projected unmatched splendour. Its ceremonies dazzled visiting envoys, its treasury funded art, architecture and conquest, and its throne was meant to signal divine right. But in a matter of weeks, that image collapsed. What unfolded was a story of brutality, ambition, and loss, one that still haunts South Asian history.

Who Was Nadir Shah, and Why Did He Set His Sights On India?

Nadir Shah did not belong to a royal family. He emerged from the harsh landscapes of Khorasan. He forged his reputation as a ruthless and brilliant military leader. By sheer force of arms and strategic cunning, Nadir Shah seized control of Persia and started calling himself Shah in 1736, founding the Afsharid dynasty. Nadir Shah humbled the Ottomans, managed to crush Afghan rebels, and restored Persian territories that had been lost for years. Yet his wars drained the treasury, and Nadir Shah turned his gaze eastwards. India, rich and politically fragile, beckoned. The Mughal Empire, once feared across Asia, was in visible decline. Court intrigue, factionalism and weak administration had hollowed it from within. Nadir Shah knew that the empire under Muhammad Shah lacked the unity or discipline to resist a hardened army. The invasion was less a gamble and more an inevitability.

What Happened At The Battle Of Karnal?

In February 1739, Persian and Mughal forces met near Karnal, north of Delhi. The battle lasted just three hours. Even after commanding a larger army, Muhammad Shah was outmaneuvered. Nadir Shah’s soldiers used artillery and coordination to devastating effect. The defeat was embarrassing. The Mughal emperor was taken captive and forced to accompany Nadir Shah to Delhi. Word spread quickly that the gates of Hindustan stood open.

How Did Nadir Shah Enter Delhi And Why Did Violence Explode?

When Nadir Shah entered Delhi, the mood was tense but restrained. The keys of the Red Fort were handed over, and negotiations began over tribute. For a brief moment, the city hoped that payment might buy peace. That fragile calm collapsed when a rumour swept through Delhi claiming Nadir Shah had been assassinated. Mobs attacked Persian soldiers, killing several. The rumour was false, but the consequences were brutally real.

Enraged, Nadir Shah ordered a massacre. For hours, Delhi burned. According to reports, the streets were red as thousands were slaughtered. Shops, homes and markets were looted systematically. While the historians still debate the death toll, the contemporary accounts agree it was catastrophic.

What Made The Peacock Throne So Important?

Amid the carnage, Nadir Shah turned his attention to the Mughal treasury. Among its countless luxuries stood the Peacock Throne, known as the Takht-e-Murassa, the jewelled throne. In 1628, Shah Jahan commissioned the throne, and it took seven years to complete. It was unveiled in 1635. It was a masterpiece of excess and artistry, constructed from over a tonne of solid gold and encrusted with some of the rarest gems known to the world. Its design featured diamond-studded peacocks, emerald pillars, precious stones arranged like flowering trees and birds, and enamel panels. It stood in the Diwan-i-Khas of the Red Fort, beneath the famous inscription declaring that if paradise existed on earth, it was here. Trivia worth noting: The throne reportedly cost around one crore rupees to build, nearly twice the cost of the Taj Mahal.

How Much Wealth Did Nadir Shah Take From India?

The Peacock Throne was only part of the haul. Nadir Shah’s loot was staggering even by imperial standards. Historical estimates suggest he carried away wealth worth around Rs 70 crore in 18th-century currency. This included legendary diamonds such as the Koh-i-Noor, huge quantities of gold and jewellery, an entire workshop of skilled artisans. Many carpenters, craftsmen, and stonecutters were taken to Persia forcefully, along with camels, horses, and elephants to transport the treasure. It is said that the spoils were so immense that Nadir Shah was able to abolish taxes in Persia for several years.

What Happened To The Peacock Throne After It Reached Iran?

The throne’s journey did not end in glory. In 1747, after Nadir Shah’s assassination, chaos engulfed his empire. In the turmoil that followed, the Peacock Throne was likely dismantled. Its gold frame was probably melted down, while its gems were scattered across royal treasuries or lost to history. Some stones reappeared decades later in Iranian regalia, influencing the design of later thrones, but the original masterpiece ceased to exist as a single object. What survived was its legend.