Legend has it that the Kohinoor was found at the Kollur Mine and was owned by Kakatiyas. However, the origin of the diamond cannot be verified, since several theories exist about it.
Alauddin Khilji:
Alauddin Khilji was the second king of the Khilji Dynasty who rules the Delhi Sultanate and looted the gem during the invasion of Southern India. It remained in his possession from 1323 to 1339.
Babur:
Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire. After winning the kingship over Delhi and Agra, he received the diamond as a tribute in 1526 from Ibrahim Lodi, Sultan of Delhi.
Shah Jahan:
When Shah Jahan became the Mughal Emperor, he decided to use many of the precious jewels in his treasury to make the Peacock Throne, an exquisite artefact, in 1635. The Kohinoor adorned the marvellous throne as well.
Nader Shah:
Nader Shah became the next owner of the beautiful jewel. He massacred Delhi, and among the vast wealth he looted, he also took the imperial Peacock Throne back to Persia in 1738.
Ahmad Shah Durrani:
After Nader Shah was murdered, Kohinoor was passed on to his grandson. He gave the diamond to Ahmad Shah Durrani, founder of the Afghan Empire, in return for his support in 1751.
Shuja Shah Durrani:
The next owner was Shuja Shah Durrani, grandson of Ahmad Shah Durrani. In 1813, he fled with the diamond to Lahore and took shelter under Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire.
Ranjit Singh:
Shuja gave the diamond to Ranjit Singh in 1813 for his hospitality and protection from the Kabul war. Ranjit Singh often affixed the diamond to the front of his turban.
Gulab Singh:
After many twists and turns, Gulab Singh, Raja of Jammu, became the owner of the diamond. In 1841, he presented it to Emperor Sher Singh to win his favour. The diamond changed hands multiple times in the next course of events.
Duleep Singh:
Duleep Singh was the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire during the ongoing second Anglo-Sikh war and the youngest owner of the Kohinoor at age five. The British East India Company annexed the most talked about stone.
Queen Victoria:
On July 3, 1850, Kohinoor was presented to Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. It was given to her by the Deputy Chairman of the East India Company. The diamond was cut and mounted in a honeysuckle brooch and a circlet worn by the Queen.
Queen Alexandra:
After Queen Victoria's death, the Kohinoor was set in the Crowd of Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII. After Queen Alexandra's death, the jewel was transferred to Queen Mary's crown in 1911.
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother:
Finally it was put in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth (Mother of Elizabeth II) for her coronation on 12 May 1937.
Kohinoor at Present:
The Kohinoor is on display, still set in Queen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother's crown, at the Tower of London, seen and idolised by millions of visitors every day.