Begum Samru
Begum Samru, d. 1836, ruler of Sardana, in West U.P. Originally named Zebunissa, she was a Kashmiri dancing girl, and became the concubine of the Alsatian adventurer, Samru, or Sombre (Walter Reinhart) who had an extensive estate , at Sardana, near Meerut. She was converted to Roman Catholicism and was lawfully married to him in 1793. She also succeeded to his extensive estate after his death in 1798. She later married another adventurer, the Frenchman, Levassoult who was in command of her troops. She played a very prominent role in contemporary affairs, particularly in aiding Emperor Shah Alam. After defeat of her troops at Assaye in 1803 during the Anglo-Mahratha war she submitted to Lord Lake, and lived on very friendly terms with the British. She amassed a huge fortune and built a Catholic church at Sardana. She died over 80 y ears of age on 27 January 1836.
