The crown of Bahadur Shah Zafar , the last Mughal emperor, holds significant historical value and is currently part of the Royal Collection in London, where it remains an enduring symbol of India’s rich history. The crown, along with two ornate throne chairs, was acquired by Major Robert Tytler following the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and the subsequent fall of the Mughal Empire . This key moment in Indian history led to the dismantling of the Mughal dynasty, which had ruled over much of India for centuries.
The fall of the Mughal Empire came in 1857 after the British forces successfully defeated Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar , who had been a symbolic leader during the uprising. Zafar, who had nominal control over the Mughal territories, was exiled to Burma (modern-day Myanmar) after the British forces quelled the rebellion. As a result, a significant auction took place in Delhi, marking the formal end of Mughal rule.
The auction, organized to sell off the emperor's prized possessions, saw many valuable items, including Zafar’s crown, precious jewels, and artifacts, sold to the highest bidders. Among those bidders was Major Robert Tytler, a key figure in the Siege of Delhi, who purchased the emperor's crown and two throne chairs. These items, rich in symbolism, were part of the emperor’s regal heritage and were intended to preserve the legacy of the Mughal Empire.
Major Robert Tytler, having participated in the military actions surrounding the rebellion, took these historic ite.
