A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Juliana, court of the Mogul Emperors of Hindostan
JULIANA,
A woman who possessed great influence at the court of the Mogul Emperors of Hindostan, in the early part of the last century. She was born in Bengal, in 1658, and was the daughter of a Portuguese named Augustin Diaz d'Acosta. Being shipwrecked, she went to the court of the great Mogul, Aurengzebe, whose favour she conciliated by presenting him with some curiosities. Being appointed superintendent of the harem of that prince, and governess of his son, Behadur Shah, she rendered important services to the latter, who succeeded to the crown in 1707, under the title of Shah Aulum. He was obliged to defend his authority against his brothers by force of arms; and in the battle, Juliana, mounted on an elephant by his side, encouraged and animated both him and his troops, and he was indebted to her for the complete victory he obtained. Her services were rewarded with the title of princess, the rank of the wife of Seu Omrah, and a profusion of riches and honours. Shah Aulum often said, "If Juliana were a man, she should be my vizier." Jehander Shah, who became Emperor of Hindostan in 1712, was equally sensible of her merit; and though she experienced some persecution when that prince was deposed, in 1713, by his nephew, she speedily recovered her influence, and retained it till her death in 1733.