Government of India
Personal Armour of Emperor Akbar
Keywords: Emperor Akbar,
Arms and Armour,
The Ain-i-Akbari
Publisher: Sir Ratan Tata Collection
Description: Historical Significance :- This is the only known and dated personal armour of Emperor Akbar, as supported by an inscription which lies at the collar at the upper end of the rib of this armour. This reads as ‘The personal garment of the emperor of lofty fortune, Akbar. Year A. H. 989 = CE 1581.’ Akbar was known to have a choice of khass or a personal arsenal, a fact that is elaborately mentioned in his chronicle. It is noted that Akbar always retained thirty swords as khass and that every day one would be sent to his bedchamber. Akbar often used to gift swords from this collection. He was so conscious about the quality of the armour that once, as reported by Abul Fazl, he tested a plated armour for its strength by making it a target but no impression was made on it. Though there are literary references to it, yet none of his khass or personal arms are known so far except this armour.
Cultural Significance :- The fact that great care was taken to manufacture this armour is evident from the high quality of the steel that was used, and the beautiful gold damascened work, which characterizes it. The Ain-i-Akbari mentions that Akbar personally inspected the manufacture of arms and armour. The attention to fine details, the strength and the decoration that is seen on this piece is an evidence of the high level of workmanship in weapons manufacturing in the Mughal times.
Artistic Significance :- ""This armour or the cuirass was common during the Mughal period and seems to have been more popular than the coat-of-mail. It consists of two pieces, a breastplate and a backplate. The present breastplate is forged in one piece and was probably moulded to the shape of Akbar's torso. The backplate, which was attached on hinges, is now missing. The high neck collar, intended to protect the throat, is not a common feature of Indian armours.
The helmet is a hemispherical bowl with a spike at the apex. Along the lower border are several perforations for sewing the lining strap and the leather to which the camail was sewn. The helmet is decorated with very fine and delicate gold damascening along the vertical axis and also on the spike. The two arm guards also have decorations in koftgari along the edges.
The breastplate is decorated on the sides and on the lower rim. In the center on either side of the rib are incised verses from the Koran in fine Nastaliq script. Near the collar at the upper end of the rib is another inscription.
Style :- Mughal
Source: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
Type: Armoury and Weapons
Received From: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
| DC Field | Value |
| dc.coverage.spatial | North India |
| dc.coverage.temporal | 1581 A.D. |
| dc.description | Historical Significance :- This is the only known and dated personal armour of Emperor Akbar, as supported by an inscription which lies at the collar at the upper end of the rib of this armour. This reads as ‘The personal garment of the emperor of lofty fortune, Akbar. Year A. H. 989 = CE 1581.’ Akbar was known to have a choice of khass or a personal arsenal, a fact that is elaborately mentioned in his chronicle. It is noted that Akbar always retained thirty swords as khass and that every day one would be sent to his bedchamber. Akbar often used to gift swords from this collection. He was so conscious about the quality of the armour that once, as reported by Abul Fazl, he tested a plated armour for its strength by making it a target but no impression was made on it. Though there are literary references to it, yet none of his khass or personal arms are known so far except this armour. Cultural Significance :- The fact that great care was taken to manufacture this armour is evident from the high quality of the steel that was used, and the beautiful gold damascened work, which characterizes it. The Ain-i-Akbari mentions that Akbar personally inspected the manufacture of arms and armour. The attention to fine details, the strength and the decoration that is seen on this piece is an evidence of the high level of workmanship in weapons manufacturing in the Mughal times. Artistic Significance :- ""This armour or the cuirass was common during the Mughal period and seems to have been more popular than the coat-of-mail. It consists of two pieces, a breastplate and a backplate. The present breastplate is forged in one piece and was probably moulded to the shape of Akbar's torso. The backplate, which was attached on hinges, is now missing. The high neck collar, intended to protect the throat, is not a common feature of Indian armours. The helmet is a hemispherical bowl with a spike at the apex. Along the lower border are several perforations for sewing the lining strap and the leather to which the camail was sewn. The helmet is decorated with very fine and delicate gold damascening along the vertical axis and also on the spike. The two arm guards also have decorations in koftgari along the edges. The breastplate is decorated on the sides and on the lower rim. In the center on either side of the rib are incised verses from the Koran in fine Nastaliq script. Near the collar at the upper end of the rib is another inscription. Style :- Mughal |
| dc.source | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai |
| dc.format.extent | Helmet: (Ht: 29.9 × Dia: 20.2 cm); Breastplate: (Ht: 42.2 × Dia: 37.3 cm); Armguards: (L: 32.6 × Dia: 11 cm) |
| dc.format.mimetype | image/jpg |
| dc.publisher | Sir Ratan Tata Collection |
| dc.subject | Emperor Akbar, Arms and Armour, The Ain-i-Akbari |
| dc.type | Armoury and Weapons |
| dc.format.medium | image |
| dc.format.material | Steel |
| DC Field | Value |
| dc.coverage.spatial | North India |
| dc.coverage.temporal | 1581 A.D. |
| dc.description | Historical Significance :- This is the only known and dated personal armour of Emperor Akbar, as supported by an inscription which lies at the collar at the upper end of the rib of this armour. This reads as ‘The personal garment of the emperor of lofty fortune, Akbar. Year A. H. 989 = CE 1581.’ Akbar was known to have a choice of khass or a personal arsenal, a fact that is elaborately mentioned in his chronicle. It is noted that Akbar always retained thirty swords as khass and that every day one would be sent to his bedchamber. Akbar often used to gift swords from this collection. He was so conscious about the quality of the armour that once, as reported by Abul Fazl, he tested a plated armour for its strength by making it a target but no impression was made on it. Though there are literary references to it, yet none of his khass or personal arms are known so far except this armour. Cultural Significance :- The fact that great care was taken to manufacture this armour is evident from the high quality of the steel that was used, and the beautiful gold damascened work, which characterizes it. The Ain-i-Akbari mentions that Akbar personally inspected the manufacture of arms and armour. The attention to fine details, the strength and the decoration that is seen on this piece is an evidence of the high level of workmanship in weapons manufacturing in the Mughal times. Artistic Significance :- ""This armour or the cuirass was common during the Mughal period and seems to have been more popular than the coat-of-mail. It consists of two pieces, a breastplate and a backplate. The present breastplate is forged in one piece and was probably moulded to the shape of Akbar's torso. The backplate, which was attached on hinges, is now missing. The high neck collar, intended to protect the throat, is not a common feature of Indian armours. The helmet is a hemispherical bowl with a spike at the apex. Along the lower border are several perforations for sewing the lining strap and the leather to which the camail was sewn. The helmet is decorated with very fine and delicate gold damascening along the vertical axis and also on the spike. The two arm guards also have decorations in koftgari along the edges. The breastplate is decorated on the sides and on the lower rim. In the center on either side of the rib are incised verses from the Koran in fine Nastaliq script. Near the collar at the upper end of the rib is another inscription. Style :- Mughal |
| dc.source | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai |
| dc.format.extent | Helmet: (Ht: 29.9 × Dia: 20.2 cm); Breastplate: (Ht: 42.2 × Dia: 37.3 cm); Armguards: (L: 32.6 × Dia: 11 cm) |
| dc.format.mimetype | image/jpg |
| dc.publisher | Sir Ratan Tata Collection |
| dc.subject | Emperor Akbar, Arms and Armour, The Ain-i-Akbari |
| dc.type | Armoury and Weapons |
| dc.format.medium | image |
| dc.format.material | Steel |
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