Tara Bai, also known as Tararani, was a prominent figure in Maratha history during the 18th century. She was the queen and regent of the Maratha Empire and played a significant role in shaping the destiny of the Maratha state during a crucial period.
Tara Bai was born in 1675 and married Rajaram Bhosale, the younger brother of the renowned Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji. After Shivaji’s death in 1680, his half-brother, Rajaram, ascended the throne. However, Rajaram’s reign was short-lived, and he passed away in 1700. Following his death, Tara Bai became the queen and took on the role of regent for her son Shivaji II, who was a minor at the time.
Tarabai Bhonsle was the wife of Rajaram Bhonsale, the third Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire. Following the death of Rajaram, she became the regent of the empire from 1700 to 1708. She is widely known for role in keeping alive the flame of Maratha resistance against the invading Mughal Empire
Tara Bai was a feminist, rights activist, writer and social reformer.
She was also an iconic and courageous Maratha queen, showing all the characteristics of a true warrior.
During her regency, the Maratha Empire faced numerous challenges, particularly from the Mughal Empire, which sought to expand its territories into the Deccan region where the Marathas held influence. Tara Bai displayed strong leadership and military acumen in defending the Maratha kingdom from external threats. She formed alliances with other Maratha chieftains and managed to keep the empire intact during this tumultuous period.
Tara Bai’s rule was characterized by her determination to preserve Maratha independence and protect her son’s rights as the legitimate heir to the throne. She successfully resisted the Mughal forces led by Aurangzeb’s son, Prince Muazzam (later known as Emperor Bahadur Shah I), and maintained the sovereignty of the Maratha state.
After the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the Mughal Empire began to weaken. Providing some respite to the Marathas, after the death of her husband, Tarabai quickly took charge of the army and caught Aurangzeb by surprise and countered the invasions courageously. In 1700, she dispatched around 50000 troops towards Chanderi, which is present-day Madhya Pradesh. By 1702, her armies had reached Khadesh, Berar and Telangana.
Rani Tarabai, the daughter-in-law of Shivaji and an indomitable and shrewd queen. Rani Tarabai was the wife of Rajaram, Shivaji’s son from his second wife Soyrabai. After Shivaji’s death in 1680, his first son Sambhaji took over the throne. As he was captured (and later killed), Rajaram was brought into power.
However, internal conflicts and power struggles within the Maratha nobility posed challenges to Tara Bai’s regency. Eventually, her control over the empire diminished as her nephew, Shahu Maharaj, who was the legitimate heir of Shivaji, asserted his claim to the throne.
In 1707, Shahu Maharaj was released from captivity by the Mughals, and he sought to reclaim the Maratha throne. This led to a power struggle between Tara Bai and Shahu Maharaj, known as the “War of 27 years” or the “War of the Maratha Succession.” The conflict ended in 1734 when Tara Bai had to cede her authority to Shahu Maharaj, who became a ruler of the Maratha Empire.
The armies of Shahu Maharaj and Maharani tarabai fought a battle at Khed on the bank of the Bheema. Shahu Maharaj won the battle.
The Battle of Khed was fought on 12 October 1707 between the army led by Shahu I, and the army of the Tarabai. The battle took place at Khed, near Bhima River to the north of Pune.
After relinquishing her regency, Tara Bai retired from active politics and lived in obscurity until her death in 1761. She remains an important figure in Maratha history, remembered for her courage, resilience, and dedication to protecting the Maratha Empire during a critical phase in its existence.
