Tarabai

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Tarabai (1675-1761) was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India. Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji the Great.

[edit] War with the Mughals

The Marathas were continually at war with the Mughals, and in 1700 the Maratha capital Satara was besieged and surrendered to the Mughals. At about the same time Rajaram, who was the king at that time, died. Then Tarabai assumed control in the name of her son, Sambhaji II.

Tarabai was skilled in cavalry movement, and made strategic movements herself during wars. She personally led the war and continued the onslaught on the Mughals. A truce was offered to the Mughals in such way that it was promptly rejected by the Mughal emperor, and Tarabai contuined the Maratha resistance.

By 1705, Marathas had crossed the Narmada and entered Malwa, which was in Mughal possession. There they defeated several Mughal garrisons. Many well-known commanders, including Udaji Pawar and Hybatrao Nimbalkar, excelled in this offensive. This aggressive Maratha strategy brought ruin upon the Mughals. They were defeated and withdrew from Maratha country. During this uncermonious withdrawal, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb died at Ahmednagar.

[edit] Political intrigues

In order to divide the Maratha onslaught, the Mughals released Shahu on certain conditions. He immediately challeneged Tarabai and Sambhaji II for leadership of the Maratha polity. Shahu eventually prevailed thanks to his legal position and in part to the Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath' diplomacy, and Tarabai was sidelined for some time. She established a rival court in Kolhapur in 1713.

After Shahu's death in 1749, Tarabai helped conduct Ramaraja to the kingship. Afterwards, however, she denounced Ramaraja on the grounds that he was not her grandson as he claimed. During this period of weakened royal power, Tarabai exercised great influence in the Maratha state. She headed one of several factions vying for control within the increasingly fractious confederacy.

[edit] Legacy

Hailed as Bhadrakali, her name is still celebrated in countryside in parts of Maharashtra. Noted historian Jadunath Sarkar has written about her, "In that awful crisis her character and strength saved the nation".

Preceded by Chhatrapati Rajaram

Regent of the Maratha Empire 1700–1708

Succeeded by Chhatrapati Shahuji

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Tarabai is also the name of a small town in São Paulo, Brazil.