Soyarabai
Soyarabai Bhosale (née Mohite) (died 1681) was one of the eight wives of Shivaji, the founder of Maratha empire in western India. She was mother of Shivaji's second son, Rajaram. She was the younger sister of Maratha army chief Hambirrao Mohite. She was executed in 1681, after she failed to dethrone Sambhaji, her stepson, and the elder son of Shivaji.
| Soyarabai | |
|---|---|
| Maharani of the Maratha Empire | |
| Born | 1632 |
| Died | 1681 CE |
| Spouse | Shivaji |
| Issue |
|
Early life
Born Soyarabai Shirke, she was married to Shivaji at a very young age in 1660.[1] The marriage took place when Shivaji visited his father Shahaji at Bangalore with his mother Jijabai. Tukabai (née Mohite), the stepmother of Shivaji and paternal aunt of Soyarabai insisted on the marriage.
After the death of Jijabai in (1674), Soyarabai gained prominence in Shivaji's family and by extension, in the Maratha court politics.[2] Soyrabai bore two children to Shivaji, a daughter Balibai and son Rajaram.
After Shivaji's death
Many historians blame her for Shivaji's death. She was ambitious and she wanted her son Rajaram Raje to succeed Shivaji instead of the elder son Sambhaji Raje. Sambhaji Raje was not kept informed on the Shivaji's death and he was absent when Shivaji was cremated. After Shivaji's death in 1680, with the help of some of the courtiers, Soyarabai got her ten-year-old son, Rajaram Raje, on the vacant throne on 21 April 1680.[3] Her stepson and heir presumptive Sambhaji, was able to remove him from power with the help of Soyrabai's own brother and army chief Hambirrao Mohite. He imprisoned courtiers and formally assumed power as the Chhatrapati on 20 July 1680.
After Sambhaji seized power from Soyrabai, she tried every means to dethrone him.[4] Soyarabai's henchmen tried to poison Sambhaji in August 1681, but he survived. and ordered the execution of Soyarabai.
After Sambhaji's death at the hands of the Mughals, Rajaram became the next Chhatrapati. During his reign, the Marathas were engaged in continuous warfare with Mughals.
In Popular Culture
- Ayesha Kaduskar portrays a young Soyarabai while Ruchita Jadhav portrays the older Soyarabai in the 2011 series Veer Shivaji
- Snehlata Vasaikar played Soyrabai in the Marathi series Swarajyarakshak Sambhaji
- Elakshi Gupta plays Soyrabai in the 2019 Bollywood film Tanhaji
- Ruchi Savarn portrays Soyarabai in the 2019 Marathi film Fatteshikast
References
- Jaswant Lal Mehta (1 January 2005). Advanced Study in the History of Modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6.
- Sushila Vaidya (1 January 2000). Role of women in Maratha politics, 1620-1752 A.D. Sharada Pub. House. ISBN 978-81-85616-67-4. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- . Gordon, Stewart (1993). The Marathas 1600–1818 (1st publ. ed.). New York: Cambridge University. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-521-26883-7. Retrieved 5 June 2016
- Jaswant Lal Mehta (1 January 2005). Advanced study in the history of modern India 1707-1813. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-932705-54-6. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
