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 the monarch in the year 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 herself ended up in the Mughal court at Delhi, serving the family (wife and mother) of the then prince Shah’Alam. She continued to do so after the prince fell into disfavour with his father and accompanied him into exile. She was rewarded when Shah’Alam became Emperor (Shah) Bahadur I upon his father's death and her influence in the court became great, even though she remained a devout Catholic in a Muslim state. She is said to have ridden on a war elephant beside Bahadur Shah during his 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, while Bahadur Shah I was still alive, she was frequently sought out by European powers like the Dutch, Portuguese, the British, and the Pope. At this point in time she also had the opportunity to help her former protector, Desideri, in his mission to evangelise Tibet and the Jesuits even made her a member of their society.

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