Lyon and Lucknow may be several thousand miles apart but they are linked by two things: a weaving heritage and one of history's great adventurers, Major-General Claude Martin. Soldier, harem keeper, indigo farmer, palace builder and hot-air balloonist, Martin's life could only perhaps have taken place in the 18th century. A tropical Barry Lyndon, he was born in 1735 to generations of vinegar brewers but, thirsting for adventure, Martin fled Lyon with the Compagnie des Indes. His mother ordered him not to return until he was "in a carriage", and he fought against the British in the Carnatic Wars prior to defecting to the East India Company (enlisting in the Bengal Army) once the French lost their colony of Pondicherry in 1761.
Distrusted by both colonies as a deserter and not-quite-a-gentleman, Martin nevertheless distinguished himself as a strategist and surveyor, with a Machiavellian turn of mind that thrived in the cut and thrust of colonial derring-do. Managing to get himself appointed to the plum role of superintendent of the arsenal for the Nawab of Awadh, Asafud-Daula, at Lucknow, Martin began to amass his fortune. Shadowy was the provenance of most of his riches-backdoor sion with Enlightenment-era treasures, including ranks of classical statues and a philosophical library with many Oriental manuscripts. In true potentate fashion, he installed seven Indian mistresses and two African eunuchs, Mahboob and Amber, whom he acquired from an Arab trader.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2022-Ausgabe von VOGUE India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2022-Ausgabe von VOGUE India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Current affairs
Elif Shafak’s work abounds with references, memories and a deep love of Istanbul. She talks to AANCHAL MALHOTRA about the significance of home and those who shape our recollections of the past
A drop of nostalgia
A whiff of Chanel N°5 L'Eau acts as a memory portal for TARINI SOOD, reminding her of the constant tussle between who we are and who we hope to become
Wild thing's
Zebras hold emerald-cut diamonds, panthers morph into ring-bracelets that move and a turtle escapes to become a brooch -Cartier's high jewellery collection Nature Sauvage is a playground of the animal kingdom.
Preity please
Two surprise red-carpet appearances and a movie announcement have everyone obsessing over Preity Zinta. The star behind the aughties’ biggest hits talks film wardrobe favourites, social media and keeping it real.
Honeymoon travels
Destination locked, visas acquired, bookings madewhat could stand between a newly-wed couple and pure, unadulterated conjugal bliss in some distant, romantic land? A lot, finds JYOTI KUMARI. Styled by LONGHCHENTI HANSO LONGCHAR
La La Land
They complete each other’s sentences, make music together and get lost on the streets of Paris—this is the love story of Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth.
A SHORE THING
Annalea Barreto and Mavrick Cardoz eschewed the big fat Goan wedding for a DIY, intimate, seaside affair that was true to their individual selves.
7 pheras around the buffet
Celebrating the only real love affair each wedding season: me and a feast.
Saving AI do
From getting ChatGPT to plan your wedding itinerary to designing your moodboard on Midjourneytech is officially third-wheeling the big fat Indian wedding
Love bomb me, please
Between breadcrumbing, cushioning and situationships, the language of romance seems to be lost in translation. SAACHI GUPTA asks, where has the passion gone?