Juliana Dias da Costa

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Dona Juliana Dias da Costa (1658-1733) was a woman of Portuguese descent from Kochi taken to the Mughal Empire's court of Aurangzeb in Hindustan, that became Harem-Queen to the Mughal emperor of India Bahadur Shah I, Aurangzeb's son, who became king in 1707.

Dona Juliana's family was protected by the Italian Jesuit Ippolito Desideri after they had fled the Dutch conquest of Portuguese Kochi (Cochin). She ended up in the Mughal court at Delhi, serving the family (wife and mother) of then prince Shah’Alam (BahadurShah I). She continued to do so even after the prince fell in disfavour of his father, Emperor Aurangzeb, and accompanied him into exile. She was rewarded when Shah’Alam became Emperor after his father's death and her influence in the court became great, even though she remained a devout Catholic in a strongly Muslim state. She rode on a war elephant beside Bahadur Shah during battles to defend his authority, and even after his death she continued to be highly considered, although with less influence.

During her period of strongest influence, when BahadurShah I was still alive, she was frequently sought after by foreign powers, such as the Dutch, the Portuguese, the British, and the Vatican. At this point in time she had the opportunity to help her former protecter, the Jesuit Ippolito Desideri, in his mission to evangilize Tibet (the Jesuits even made her a member of their society).

[edit] References

• Salmonson, Jessica Amanda.(1991) The Encyclopedia of Amazons. Paragon House. Page 136. ISBN 1-55778-420-5.

[edit] External links

• Desideri in Tibet by John Brzostoski, with references to Dona Juliana