Shivaji II

Shivaji II (9 June 1696 – 4 March 1726) was an imbecile^[1] son of Maratha ruler Chhattrapati Rajaram and his wife Tarabai. Upon the death his father, the infant Shivaji installed as the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire with his mother Tarabai serving as the regent in 1700. His cousin, Shahu upon his release from the Mughals in 1707 successfully challenged Tarabai to become the next Chhatrapati. Tarabai then set up a rival court in Kolhapur. Shivaji II served as Raja of Kolhapur from 1710 to 1714. At that time, he was once again deposed by his step-mother Rajasbai who installed her own son, Sambhaji II on the Kolhapur throne. Shivaji II posthumously became father of a son, later called Ramraja who was brought up in obscurity for his own protection. When Shahu, without a male heir to succeed to his throne, wanted to adopt a son Tarabai disclosed this fact to him in late 1740s. Shahu adopted Ramraja who succeeded Shahu as the Chhatrapati on Shahu's death.

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