19 Facts About Tarabai

Maharani Tarabai Bhosale was the regent of the Maratha Empire from 1700 until 1708.

Tarabai was the queen of Rajaram I, and daughter-in-law of the kingdom's founder Shivaji I Tarabai is acclaimed for her role in keeping alive the resistance against Mughal rule in Konkan, and acting as the regent of the Maratha Empire during the minority of her son, Shivaji II.

Tarabai defeated Mughal forces of Aurangzeb in several battles and expanded the Maratha Empire.

Tarabai was the daughter of Hambirrao Mohite, Commander-in-Chief of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom.

Hambirrao's sister Soyarabai was the queen of Shivaji and the mother of his younger son Rajaram I Tarabai married Rajaram at the age of 8 in 1682, becoming his second wife.

Tarabai was skilled in cavalry movement and made strategic movements herself during wars.

Tarabai personally led the war and continued the fight against the Mughals.

In 1706, Tarabai was captured by Mughal forces for a brief period of 4 days, but she escaped after the Mughal camp - in which she was being held - was ambushed by the Marathas.

Tarabai established a rival court in Kolhapur in 1709, and established her son Shivaji II as the first Chhatrapati of Kolhapur, known as Shivaji I of Kolhapur.

Tarabai later reconciled with Shahu I in 1730 and went to live in Satara but without any political power.

Tarabai claimed that Rajaram had been concealed after his birth for his protection and had been raised by the wife of a soldier.

When Balaji Baji Rao left for the Mughal frontier, Tarabai urged Rajaram II to remove him from the post of Peshwa.

Tarabai claimed that he was an impostor and she had falsely presented him as her grandson to Shahu.

Tarabai stormed the Yavateshwar garrison in Satara, defeating Tarabai's forces.

Tarabai surrounded the Satara fort and asked Tarabai to release Rajaram II, whose physical and mental condition had deteriorated considerably.

Tarabai refused and Balaji Baji Rao left for Pune, since a siege of the well-provisioned and strong Satara fort would not be easy.

In Pune, Balaji Baji Rao treated her respectfully and after some reluctance, Tarabai accepted Balaji Baji Rao's superiority.

Tarabai agreed to dismiss her lieutenant Baburao Jadhav, whom Balaji Baji Rao disliked.

At this oath ceremony, Tarabai swore that Rajaram II was not her grandson.