History

Shrimant Rajaram Raje Bhosale Chhatrapati

Shrimant Rajaram Raje Bhosale Chhatrapati

Chhatrapati

Reign Coronation Full name Born Birthplace Died Place of death Predecessor Successor Consort Wives

16891700 1689 Rajaram Shivaji Bhosale February 24, 1670 Raigad fort March 2, 1700 Sinhagad fort, Maharastra Sambhaji Bhosale Tarabai Bhosale Tarabai Jankibai (Prataprao Gujar Daughter) Tarabai (Hambirrao Mohite Daughter) Rajasbai (Ghatge) Bhosale dynasty Shivaji Bhosale Soyrabai Hinduism

Royal House Father Mother Religious beliefs

Shrimant Rajaram Shivaji Raje Bhonsle Chhatrapati Maharaj (1670- March 2, 1700 Sinhagad)
The younger son of the first Chhatrapati Shivaji, stepbrother of the second Chhatrapati Sambhaji, and took over the Maratha Empireas its third Chhatrapati after his brother's death at the hands of the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb in 1689. He had a very short reign, during which he was engaged in a struggle with the Mughals.

Early life
He was brought up by his mother Soyarabai. He was declared Chhatrapati at the age of 10 (on April 21, 1680) by a faction of the court after Shivaji's death. However, Sambhaji prevailed and assumed the throne. Sambhaji put others to death but brought up his brother as a prince.

Coronation and escape to Jinji

After the death of Sambhaji, Rajaram was crowned at Raigad on March 12, 1689. As the Mughals started laying siege to the region around Raigad on March 25, 1689, the widow of Sambhaji, Rani Yesubai and her minister Ramchandra Pant Amatya sent young Rajaram to the stronghold of Pratapgad through Kavlya ghat. The Maratha army fought with the Mughals and led the new Maratha King, Rajaram to escape through Kavlya ghat to the fort of Jinji in present day state of Tamil Nadu via Pratapgad and Vishalgad forts, where he reached after a month and a half long journey on November 1, 1689. Details of this escape are known from the incomplete poetical biography of Rajaram, the Rajarama charita written by his Rajpurohit Keshav Pandit in Sanskrit.

Siege of Jinji
Aurangzeb deputed Ghazi-ud-din Firoze Jung against the Marathas in the Deccan, and specially sent Zulfiqar Khan to capture the Jingi Fort. He laid siege to it in September, 1690. After three failed attempts, it was finally captured after seven years on January 8, 1698. Rajaram, however, escaped and fled first to Vellore and later to Vishalgarh. Rajaram tried to counter with a siege of the town of Berar, but was checked by Prince Bedarbakht and Zulfiqar Khan had to return.

Maharani Tarabai Of Kolhapur

Tarabai (16751761 CE) was a queen of the Maratha Empire in India.
Her husband was Chhatrapati Rajaram, son of Shivaji. Tarabai was the daughter of the famed Maratha general Hambirao Mohite. She was the niece of Soyarabai, the second wife Chatrapati Shivaji. Tarabai was skilled in cavalry movement, and made strategic movements herself during wars. She personally led the war and continued the insurgency against the Mughals. A truce was offered to the Mughals in such way that it was promptly rejected by the Mughal emperor, and Tarabai continued the Maratha resistance. By 1705, Marathas had crossed the Narmada and made small incursions in Malwa, retreating immediately. The Maratha country was relieved at the news of the death of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb who died at Khuldabad in Aurangabad.

Political intrigues
In order to divide the Maratha onslaught, the Mughals released Shahu on certain conditions. He immediately challenged Tarabai and Shivaji 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. Afterward, 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.

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 Rajaram Chhatrapati

Regent of the Maratha Empire 17001708

Succeeded by Chhatrapati Shahuji

Thank You
By Sneha Gaikwad Don Bosco School, Kalyan(West)