Tarabai Bhosale (née Mohite; c. 1675 – 9 December 1761) was a prominent figure in the history of the Maratha Empire, serving as the queen consort of Chhatrapati Rajaram Bhosale and later as regent for their son, Shivaji II. She is renowned for her military leadership and strategic acumen during the prolonged conflict with the Mughal Empire under Emperor Aurangzeb. Tarabai’s life intersected significantly with Gingee Fort (also known as Jinji or Senji Fort) in present-day Tamil Nadu, where she resided during a critical phase of Maratha resistance. This article explores her biography, with a particular focus on her connection to Gingee.
Early Life
Tarabai was born around April 1675 in the Maratha Kingdom, likely in Satara (present-day Maharashtra, India). She was the daughter of Hambirrao Mohite, a distinguished Maratha general and commander-in-chief under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire. Her aunt, Soyarabai, was one of Shivaji’s queens and the mother of Rajaram. From a young age, Tarabai was trained in military skills, including cavalry tactics and administration, which prepared her for her future role in the empire’s defense.
Her family background in the Mohite clan provided her with strong ties to the Maratha nobility, influencing her early exposure to warfare and governance.
Marriage and Accession
At the age of eight, Tarabai married Rajaram Bhosale in 1682, becoming his second wife. Rajaram was the younger son of Shivaji Maharaj and succeeded his half-brother Sambhaji as Chhatrapati in 1689 following Sambhaji’s execution by the Mughals. The early years of Rajaram’s reign were marked by intense Mughal aggression led by Aurangzeb, who sought to crush Maratha independence.
In 1689, as Mughal forces besieged the Maratha capital at Raigad, Rajaram and his family, including Tarabai, escaped southward. Rajaram established a temporary base at Gingee Fort, a strategic stronghold in the Carnatic region, while Tarabai initially remained at Panhala Fort for safety. This period set the stage for Tarabai’s deeper involvement in the empire’s survival.
The Gingee Period
Gingee Fort became a pivotal chapter in Tarabai’s life and Maratha history. Captured by the Marathas under Shivaji in 1677 from the Bijapur Sultanate, the fort served as a southern outpost and symbol of resistance. In 1690, Rajaram relocated his court to Gingee to evade Mughal pursuit, transforming it into the de facto capital of the Maratha Empire for several years.
Tarabai joined Rajaram at Gingee around 1694, at the age of 19, undertaking a perilous journey through enemy territory to reunite with her husband. The fort soon came under a prolonged Mughal siege led by General Zulfikar Khan, lasting from 1690 to 1698—the longest in Mughal history. During this time, the Marathas, under commanders like Santaji Ghorpade, fiercely defended the impregnable fortress, often dubbed the “Troy of the East” for its resilience.
Amid the siege, Tarabai gave birth to her only child, Shivaji II, in 1696. With Rajaram frequently ill and incapacitated, Tarabai assumed command of the defenses, directing military operations and boosting morale among the troops. Her leadership was instrumental in prolonging the resistance, allowing Maratha forces to conduct guerrilla raids on Mughal supply lines. The siege strained Aurangzeb’s resources, contributing to the broader weakening of Mughal power in the Deccan.
In 1697, Rajaram and Tarabai escaped Gingee disguised as commoners, returning to Maharashtra to reestablish their base at Satara. The fort fell to the Mughals in 1698 after a betrayal, but the Marathas’ eight-year hold had already inflicted significant damage on the enemy. Tarabai’s time at Gingee not only marked the birth of her heir but also honed her skills as a warrior queen, preparing her for future challenges.
Regency and Leadership
Rajaram died in March 1700 at Sinhagad Fort, leaving the four-year-old Shivaji II as heir. Tarabai proclaimed herself regent, adopting the title of Maharani and leading the Maratha forces against Aurangzeb. She personally commanded armies, adapted Mughal tactics, and launched offensive raids into Mughal territories, including crossings of the Narmada River by 1705 and incursions into Malwa, Gujarat, and even Hyderabad.
Her strategies exhausted Aurangzeb’s forces, culminating in his death in 1707. Historian Jadunath Sarkar praised her as an “administrative genius” whose resolve saved the Maratha nation during its darkest hour. In 1706, Tarabai was briefly captured by Mughals but escaped after a daring Maratha ambush.
Tarabai’s regency ended in 1708 when Shahu, Sambhaji’s son released from Mughal captivity, claimed the throne, sparking a civil war. Tarabai established a rival court at Kolhapur in 1709, crowning Shivaji II as Raja. Internal conflicts continued, including her deposition in 1714 by another of Rajaram’s wives, Rajasbai, leading to imprisonment. Tarabai was freed in 1730 but held limited power.
In the 1740s, she introduced a claimant as her grandson, Rajaram II, who was adopted by Shahu. She attempted to oust Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao in 1750 but reconciled in 1752. Tarabai died in Satara in 1761 at the age of 86.