The beginning of Aurangzeb’s reign, when he took the title ‘Alamgir or “Seizer of the World”, was characterised by great splendour. At his coronation, he sat on the spectacular Jewelled Throne that had been made for Shah Jahan. This had taken seven years to create and would later become legendary, and known as the Peacock Throne. The French goldsmith and jewel merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier who visited the court in the 1660s commented on ‘Alamgir’s love of precious stones and the opulence of his ornaments.