451:, blind and feeble, was in pursuit of Najaf Quli Khan and trying to quell the rebellion stirred up by him, an incident occurred at Gokalgarh that brought the Begum closer to Shah Alam. Seeing that the emperor's troops were wavering in their resolve to attack the rebel leader, she advanced with a force of 100 men and whatever big guns she had and opened fire on Najaf Quli Khan and his men. This did the trick and Najaf sought the Begum's help to make his peace with Shah Alam. Thankful for her intervention, the emperor bestowed special honours on her at the royal court and declared her to be "his most beloved daughter". Not only that, she was also confirmed in her estate at Sardhana, which was the subject of a dispute with Louis Balthazar alias Nawab Zafaryab Khan, another son of her late husband, General Sombre, by his first wife, Badi Bibi (senior wife).Until his death, Emperor Shah Alam and his major wives treated her almost as a relative, and embraced her when she entered the zenana (women) quarters. as the English visitor Ann Deane noted in late December 1808: " ....and afterwards I accompanied her to the royal residence ......we then ascended ....to the zenanah .... the begum now led the way through crowds of eunuchs ....Here we were met by the queen Dowager....an ugly, shriveled old woman, whom the begum embraced."
33:
460:
243:
517:
196:
356:
472:
274:
on horseback and the Begum in a palanquin. Misinformed that Le
Vassoult had been shot, she stabbed herself but survived. Her lover, however, died of a self-inflicted wound to the head. One version has it that she suggested a suicide pact but only nicked herself when the unsuspecting Le Vassoult shot
402:
of
Badshahpur-Jharsa was ruled by Begum Samru. She built a palace for herself between Badshahpur and Jharsa. Jharsa was the place of Samru's principal cantonment. Parts of her fort compound have been completely lost to encroachments. Palace building is located between Gurgaon and Jharsa village,
294:
feet tall, wore a turban and rode on horseback as she led her troops to battle. So invincible did she seem that the superstitious spread the word that she was a witch who could destroy her enemies just by throwing her cloak towards them. Her army occupied the left of the
407:
of
Gurugram district. The Jharsa place is built in Islamic style. A 1882 land revenue settlement report records that the idol of Sitla Mata was brought to Gurugram 400 years earlier (15th century). Begum Samru claimed the offering to Sitla Mata temple of Gurugram during the
187:. Her inheritance was assessed at approximately 55.5 million gold marks in 1923 and 18 billion deutsch marks in 1953. Her inheritance continues to be disputed to this day. An organisation named "Reinhards Erbengemeinschaft" still strives to resolve the inheritance issue.
444:(the name of the place being derived from the number of those who constituted the force, estimated at 30,000). Thanks to the Begum's parleys, the Sikhs did not enter the city and went back to Punjab after getting a generous monetary gift from Shah Alam.
279:
met the Begum in 1802, in a fit of enthusiasm he gave her a hearty kiss, which appalled her troops. But with her customary tact, Begum Samru pacified them by saying that it was only "the kiss of the Padre to a repentant child". The Begum, though only
206:
Begum Samru was of slight stature, (never growing more than 4'8'' tall), fair complexion and distinguished by exceptional leadership abilities of an uncommon order. More than once, she headed her own troops in action. She was reportedly of
347:, who descended from Walter Reinhardt Sombre, from his first wife. Several stories and novels have been written based on her political and diplomatic astuteness and on crucial battles fought by troops directly commanded by her.
233:
A soldier of fortune, Sombre moved from
Lucknow to Rohilkhand (near Bareilly), then to Agra, Deeg and Bharatpur and back to the Doab. Farzana helped him in those times of intrigue and counter-intrigue.
1019:
303:
and hers was the only part of the
Maratha force that was not driven in disarray from the battlefield. Having annihilated an advance by the 74th Highlanders and a picket detachment commanded by a
1031:
250:
On the death of Walter
Reinhardt in 1778, she succeeded to his principality yielding about ÂŁ90,000 per annum. Over time, she became powerful, ruling over a large area from Sardhana,
270:, an Irishman. The Begum favoured the Frenchman and when, in 1793, the rumour spread that she had married him, her troops mutinied. The couple sought to escape secretly by night -
693:
561:
1112:
1043:
559:
Begum Samru appears as the antagonist in the
British colonial author William Browne Hockley's short story "The Natch". Sir Walter Scott's Old Mother Montreville in
432:, the predecessor and father of Akbar Shah, regarded Begum Samru as his daughter. He did so because the Begum had saved Delhi from an invasion by a force of 30,000
548:
1243:
1200:
262:
family of
Sardhana, who became her closest friend and remained so until her death. Even after Begum Umdaa was married, Begum Samru took out time to visit her to
1087:
266:
in good and bad. Farzana was courted by some of the
European officers who were associated with her husband. Among them were Le Vassoult, a Frenchman, and
1138:
553:
1313:
1303:
32:
1338:
975:
271:
254:. Her conduct in the internal management of her estate was highly commendable. On 7 May 1781, aged around thirty, Begum Samru was baptized
1278:
951:
459:
420:
district was disbanded and
Gurugram was made a new district. In 1821, the Bharaswas cantonment was also moved to Hidayatpur in Gurugram.
645:
1328:
1323:
328:
1318:
1308:
1333:
428:
The palace built by her in Sardhana near Meerut was the centre of much activity during the reign of Mughal Emperor, Akbar Shah.
1298:
1293:
703:
242:
743:
1348:
1248:
764:
1212:
825:
790:
412:
month and the revenue from the offerings given to the deity for rest of the month was distributed among the prominent
1185:
680:
613:
876:
List of Inscriptions on Christian Tombs and Tablets of Historical Interest in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
853:
1273:
258:, by a Roman Catholic priest. Throughout her life, she had only one friend, Begum Umdaa, belonging to the other
744:"Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 22, page 105 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library"
1268:
1258:
1146:
899:
584:
525:
320:
276:
92:
1343:
1173:
1113:"Lara Dutta Plays Begum Samru In 'Beecham House' & The Story Behind This Historical Figure Is Incredible"
1283:
344:
323:
and afterwards lived on good terms with the British, receiving visitors including the Bishop of Calcutta,
1288:
999:
874:
1263:
404:
343:
She died at Sardhana in January 1837 at the age of 85, bequeathing the greater part of her property to
504:
in 1806. Her palatial building still stands in Chandni Chowk, New Delhi. It is currently owned by the
1253:
919:
486:
481:
177:
173:
972:
843:, p. 238 "She was originally said to be a Kashmiri dancing girl named Farzana Zeb un-Nissa."
267:
215:
169:
126:
948:
200:
1072:
915:
505:
332:
1238:
1233:
1020:
Hope for decrepit French memorial in Gurugram as official issues directions for restoration
172:. This mercenary army consisted of Europeans and Indians. She is also regarded as the only
165:
520:
Inscription on the Statue of Begum Samru at the Basilica of Our Lady Of Graces in Sardhana
214:
When she was in her early teens, she married (or started living with) a mercenary soldier
8:
698:
383:
62:
639:
1208:
1181:
1066:
936:
895:
821:
676:
609:
464:
524:
Begum Samru died on 27 January 1836 at the age of 82 or 83 and was buried under the
300:
500:, a later day mughal, to the Begum when he ascended the throne after the death of
222:, who was operating in India. Walter Reinhardt Sombre, then 45 years old, came to
983:
979:
955:
932:
230:
of 14, says Johan Lall in his "Begum Samru - Faded Portrait in a Gilded Frame".
208:
870:
324:
296:
1032:
200-year-old memorial in Gurugram dedicated to the Begum who commanded an army
516:
1227:
768:
634:
538:
493:
476:
251:
81:
794:
660:
195:
501:
448:
437:
429:
316:
223:
791:""Reinhard's Erbengemeinschaft" R.E.G.: Chronology of the Heir Community"
536:
The Begum Samru is depicted as a prominent noble lady in TV drama series
308:
156:(dancing) girl in 18th century India, and eventually became the ruler of
649:. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 210.
543:
441:
413:
387:
368:
355:
312:
304:
219:
471:
363:
She built palaces at Sardhana, Chandni Chowk in Delhi and Jharsa. The
246:
Section of an illustration of Begum Samru and her army, made 1805–26
994:
992:
497:
417:
364:
259:
157:
116:
77:
409:
399:
395:
989:
542:
first aired June 2019. The role was portrayed by Indian actress
638:
579:
574:
496:, now called Bhagirath Palace, was built in a garden gifted by
403:
which is used as the official residence cum camp office of the
391:
372:
350:
263:
227:
161:
153:
111:
58:
725:
433:
311:
before marching from the field in good order. She inducted
378:
184:
1044:
Gurugram plan a misdirected govt move from history to myth
546:. She also features as a prominent character in the novel
152:), a convert Catholic Christian, started her career as a
765:""Reinhard's Erbengemeinschaft" R.E.G.: The Inheritance"
375:
in Gurugaon in Haryana was also ruled by Begum Samru.
694:"India's forgotten power broker—what was her secret?"
168:
army, inherited from her European mercenary husband,
307:, her army then withstood a cavalry charge from the
319:in September 1803, she was induced to surrender to
933:"Forming an Identity: A Social History of the Jats
608:. Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press. p. 48.
1225:
854:"Begum Samru: From an orphan to an estate ruler"
892:The Recollections of Skinner of Skinner's Horse
183:Begum Sumru died immensely rich but without an
164:. She was the head of a professionally trained
1244:Converts to Roman Catholicism from Sunni Islam
1131:
958:, natgeotraveller.in; accessed 28 August 2014.
1085:
1068:Tour Through the Upper Provinces in Hindostan
908:
759:
757:
673:The Indian Mutiny and the British Imagination
315:into her irregular armies. After the fall of
351:Palace at Chandni Chowk, Jharsa and Sardhana
226:and fell for the charms of Farzana, then a
754:
603:
31:
1172:
1055:Yashpal Gulia, 2012, Heritage of Haryana.
925:
840:
691:
968:
966:
964:
633:
629:
627:
625:
515:
470:
458:
454:
379:Jharsa palace and cantonment in Gurugram
354:
327:, Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army
241:
194:
1015:
1013:
889:
144:– 27 January 1836), popularly known as
74:27 January 1836 (aged 82–83)
1226:
1205:Farzana: The Woman who Saved an Empire
1088:"History is bunk at this Delhi palace"
1071:. London: C and J.Rivington. pp.
865:
863:
818:Farzana: The Woman Who Saved an Empire
1314:19th-century Indian women politicians
1304:18th-century Indian women politicians
1064:
961:
869:
622:
1339:Women artists from Jammu and Kashmir
1025:
1010:
815:
1279:Women in Jammu and Kashmir politics
860:
692:Borpujari, Priyanka (5 July 2019).
275:himself dead. When British General
13:
1086:Madhur Tankha (9 September 2013).
675:by Gautam Chakravarty, Cambridge;
531:
423:
14:
1360:
1329:19th-century Indian women artists
1324:18th-century Indian women artists
180:in 18th- and 19th-century India.
174:Catholic ruler in Northern India
16:Ruler of Sardhana (c. 1753–1836)
1319:19th-century Indian politicians
1309:18th-century Indian politicians
1105:
1079:
1058:
1049:
1037:
942:
883:
846:
834:
809:
604:Pennington, Reina, ed. (2003).
416:families of the area. In 1818,
1334:Dancers from Jammu and Kashmir
1000:"A queen's magnificent church"
783:
736:
718:
685:
666:
654:
597:
585:Prostitution in colonial India
526:Basilica of Our Lady of Graces
447:In 1787(?), when the emperor,
440:in 1783. They had encamped at
93:Basilica of Our Lady of Graces
1:
1299:Women in 19th-century warfare
1294:Women in 18th-century warfare
1165:
890:Skinner, James (April 2006).
384:Begum Samru Place at Gurugram
138:
50:
1034:, Hindustan Times, Jun 2018.
1022:, Hindustan Times, Jun 2018.
973:Begum Samru Palace, Gurugram
590:
345:David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre
160:, a small principality near
7:
1349:18th-century Indian artists
1249:People from Meerut district
820:. I.B. Tauris. p. 27.
568:
10:
1365:
871:Blunt, Edward Arthur Henry
511:
606:Amazons to fighter pilots
565:is based on Begum Samru.
199:Begum Samru's Household.
122:
107:
99:
88:
70:
42:
30:
23:
508:, Chandni Chowk Branch.
492:Begum Samru's palace in
487:Indian Rebellion of 1857
338:
237:
178:principality of Sardhana
978:1 February 2020 at the
646:Encyclopædia Britannica
463:Chandani Chowk palace.
331:and Italian adventurer
216:Walter Reinhardt Sombre
190:
170:Walter Reinhardt Sombre
127:Walter Reinhardt Sombre
37:Portrait of Begum Samru
1274:Indian Roman Catholics
1139:"Flashman Rides Again"
726:"The Sardhana Project"
663:The Church of Basilica
562:The Surgeon's Daughter
549:Flashman and the Cobra
521:
489:
468:
360:
247:
203:
201:Chester Beatty Library
1269:Indian female royalty
1259:Indian former Muslims
916:"Forming an identity"
528:which she had built.
519:
506:Central Bank of India
479:, Delhi, 1857, after
474:
462:
455:Chandani Chowk palace
358:
333:Jean-Baptiste Ventura
245:
198:
135:Joanna Nobilis Sombre
103:Joanna Nobilis Sombre
1344:18th-century dancers
1149:on 24 September 2015
954:1 April 2013 at the
931:Nonica Datta, 1999,
856:. 11 September 2020.
816:Keay, Julia (2013).
797:on 29 September 2007
771:on 29 September 2007
359:Sowar of Begum Samru
150:Farzana Zeb un-Nissa
47:Farzana Zeb-un-Nissa
1284:Indian women in war
1065:Deane, Ann (1823).
1006:. 2 September 2012.
894:. Leonaur Limited.
730:www.sardhana.org.uk
699:National Geographic
176:, as she ruled the
63:Maratha Confederacy
1289:Stabbing survivors
1180:. Viking Penguin.
1174:Dalrymple, William
1143:Telegraphindia.com
1004:The Indian Express
522:
490:
475:Samru's Palace at
469:
405:district collector
361:
248:
204:
1264:Indian courtesans
1046:, Times of India.
937:Oxford University
748:dsal.uchicago.edu
554:Robert Brightwell
465:Illustrated Times
132:
131:
1356:
1218:
1191:
1159:
1158:
1156:
1154:
1145:. Archived from
1135:
1129:
1128:
1126:
1124:
1109:
1103:
1102:
1100:
1098:
1083:
1077:
1076:
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1029:
1023:
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929:
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880:
867:
858:
857:
850:
844:
838:
832:
831:
813:
807:
806:
804:
802:
793:. Archived from
787:
781:
780:
778:
776:
767:. Archived from
761:
752:
751:
740:
734:
733:
722:
716:
715:
713:
711:
702:. Archived from
689:
683:
670:
664:
658:
652:
650:
642:
640:"Sardhana"
631:
620:
619:
601:
301:battle of Assaye
293:
292:
288:
285:
143:
140:
100:Other names
65:
52:
35:
21:
20:
1364:
1363:
1359:
1358:
1357:
1355:
1354:
1353:
1254:Kashmiri people
1224:
1223:
1222:
1215:
1199:
1195:
1188:
1178:The Last Mughal
1168:
1163:
1162:
1152:
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1137:
1136:
1132:
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1120:
1111:
1110:
1106:
1096:
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1084:
1080:
1063:
1059:
1054:
1050:
1042:
1038:
1030:
1026:
1018:
1011:
998:
997:
990:
984:Haryana Tourism
980:Wayback Machine
971:
962:
956:Wayback Machine
947:
943:
939:Press, page 12.
930:
926:
913:
909:
902:
888:
884:
868:
861:
852:
851:
847:
839:
835:
828:
814:
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798:
789:
788:
784:
774:
772:
763:
762:
755:
742:
741:
737:
724:
723:
719:
709:
707:
690:
686:
671:
667:
659:
655:
632:
623:
616:
602:
598:
593:
571:
534:
532:Popular culture
514:
457:
426:
424:Sardhana palace
381:
353:
341:
329:Lord Combermere
290:
286:
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240:
193:
141:
114:
84:
75:
66:
56:
54:
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38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1306:
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1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
1251:
1246:
1241:
1236:
1221:
1220:
1214:978-1784530556
1213:
1207:. I.B.Tauris.
1196:
1194:
1193:
1186:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1161:
1160:
1130:
1119:. 23 June 2019
1104:
1078:
1057:
1048:
1036:
1024:
1009:
988:
960:
941:
924:
922:, 3 July 1999.
914:Nonica Datta,
907:
900:
882:
859:
845:
841:Dalrymple 2006
833:
827:978-1784530556
826:
808:
782:
753:
735:
717:
706:on 5 July 2019
684:
665:
653:
637:, ed. (1911).
635:Chisholm, Hugh
621:
614:
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533:
530:
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510:
456:
453:
425:
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380:
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352:
349:
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325:Reginald Heber
305:Colonel Orrock
256:Joanna Nobilis
239:
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1216:
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1206:
1202:
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1197:
1189:
1187:0-670-99925-3
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1179:
1175:
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1118:
1114:
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1093:
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1005:
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985:
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950:
945:
938:
934:
928:
921:
917:
911:
903:
897:
893:
886:
879:. p. 16.
878:
877:
872:
866:
864:
855:
849:
842:
837:
829:
823:
819:
812:
796:
792:
786:
770:
766:
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758:
749:
745:
739:
731:
727:
721:
705:
701:
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695:
688:
682:
681:0-521-83274-8
678:
674:
669:
662:
657:
648:
647:
641:
636:
630:
628:
626:
617:
615:9780313327070
611:
607:
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583:
581:
578:
576:
573:
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566:
564:
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557:
555:
551:
550:
545:
541:
540:
539:Beecham House
529:
527:
518:
509:
507:
503:
499:
495:
494:Chandni Chowk
488:
484:
483:
478:
477:Chandni Chowk
473:
466:
461:
452:
450:
445:
443:
439:
435:
431:
421:
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411:
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401:
397:
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386:lies between
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278:
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268:George Thomas
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252:Uttar Pradesh
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118:
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108:Occupation(s)
106:
102:
98:
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91:
87:
83:
82:Mughal Empire
79:
73:
69:
64:
60:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1204:
1177:
1151:. Retrieved
1147:the original
1142:
1133:
1121:. Retrieved
1116:
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920:The Tribune
661:Begum Sumru
272:Le Vassoult
146:Begum Samru
142: 1753
112:Nautch girl
25:Begum Samru
1228:Categories
1166:References
1097:18 January
901:1846770610
544:Lara Dutta
498:Akbar Shah
442:Tis Hazari
388:Badshahpur
369:Badshahpur
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95:, Sardhana
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591:Citations
321:Lord Lake
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569:See also
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209:Kashmiri
158:Sardhana
117:Sardhana
78:Sardhana
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1123:30 July
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410:Chaitra
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238:Ruler
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