India, Oct. 30 -- It is generally accepted that the Mughal empire's golden age ended with the death of its 6th emperor, Aurangzeb, in 1707. The capital Delhi too began losing its pre-eminence as regional centres became more powerful.

However, even in its twilight the empire lit up the life of Dona Juliana Dias da Costa (1645-1734), a woman of Portuguese descent who arrived during in the Mughal court during Aurangzeb's time but whose star rose in the court of emperor Bahadur Shah I (reign 1707-1712), and whose memory lives on in the name of Sarai Jullena, a bustling neighbourhood near Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi.

Juliana's arrival in Delhi is the subject of informed speculation but it is well accepted that she was Portuguese...