Zebabad Kingdom, Begum Samru, Zebabad Dar-ul-Zafar Mint, Silver Rupee, AH 12XX/45 RY, "Za Tayed Elah"Couplet, In the name of Shah Alam II, Obv: sikka zad sahab qirani ze tayeed-e-elah, hami dine muhammad, shah alam badshah, (Struck coins like the Sahib-i-qiran by the help of God, Defender of the faith of Muhammad, the emperor Shah Alam), Rev: sana 45 julus, zarb zebabad with epithet dar ul zafar & mint mark, 10.9g, 23.65mm, (KM # 1), choice extremely fine with dotted and linear border on both sides, Exceedingly Rare.

Joanna Nobilis Sombre (1753-1836 AD), a convert Catholic Christian, popularly known as Begum Samru also as Begum Sumru, started her career as a Nutch (dancing) girl in 18th century India, and eventually became the ruler of Sardhana a small principality near Meerut. She came to Delhi with her mother in 1760. On her arrival in Delhi she entered the service of a German mercenary soldier named Walter Reinhardt as a Nutch Girl. From these modest beginnings to the woman ruler of Sardhana was quite an eventful and tumultuous journey. The German Walter Reinhardt had served the French in India who nicknamed him Le Sombre due to his severe nature and it is the corrupted form of this nickname that eventually became the moniker of Begum Samru. Having endeared herself to Walter Reinhardt she would accompany him on his campaigns and eventually in due course love blossomed and they married. This mercenary army consisted of Europeans and Indians. She is also regarded as the only Catholic ruler in India, as she ruled the Principality of Sardhana in 18^th and 19^th century India.

Overa period of time, she became a powerful lady of North India, ruling a large area from Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh. As time passed Reignhardt offered his services to a host of different armies in India and particularly the Mughal Court. Her Support was even acknowledged by the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II. The British East India Company considered her athreat to its territoral ambitions in undivided India. Begum Sumru died immensely rich. Her inheritance continues to be disputed to this day. An organisation named "Reinhards Erbengemeinschaft" still strives to resolve the inheritance issue. During her lifetime she had converted to Christianity from Islam.Her succession too was confirmed by the Mughal Emperor and she began to be known as Begum Samru and for almost 60 years she controlled a good deal of land in the Doab and maintained her own army.

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