Jeanne Dupleix
Jeanne Dupleix was the wife of Joseph François Dupleix, governor general of the French establishment in India in 1742-1754, and known for her influence during his tenure. She acted as his political advisor and is known to have influenced his policy against non-Christians. She was known to the Indians as Joanna Begum.
Family
She was born in 1706 at Pondicherry to Jacques-Théodore Albert and Élisabeth-Rose de Castro, and baptized on 2 June 1706.Her father was from Paris. He was the surgeon of Louis XIV's [East India Company|Company] at Pondicherry. Her mother, Rosa de Castro, was a creole of partly Italian, partly Portuguese and Indian parentage from Madras. Rosa de Castro's father was Portuguese whereas her mother was a local woman.
She had five sisters and two brothers.
She married a Mr. Vincens, one of the superior councillors of the Company, on 5 June 1719. He died at Chandannagar 26 September 1739 at the age of 60.
On 17 April 1741, she married Dupleix who was President of Superior Council of Pondicherry and General Commandent of French Possessions in India.
Children
She had 11 children with Mr. Vincens.After marriage with Dupleix, she gave birth to her 12th child, a boy. The infant was named Joseph as his father, but he died the same day.
Political influence
She was the political adviser of her husband Dupleix during his entire administration of French India. Her antagonism to the native princes of India was seen in action during her husband's negotiations with them.Religious Persecution
From the Private Diary of Ananda Ranga Pillai, it can be confirmed that she indulged in religious persecution against local Hindus. Few extracts from his diary confirm this.- Thursday 17th, March 1746,
- Saturday 31st, December 1746,
- Sunday 8th, September 1750,