Yesubai Bhonsale

Maharani Yesubai Bhosale (born Jivubai Shirke) was the empress consort of the Maratha Empire. She was the wife of the second Maratha Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and the mother of Chhatrapati Shahu I.[1][2]

Maharani Yesubai
Empress of the Maratha Empire
Rani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Jankibai Raje Sahib Bhonsle
Empress consort of the Maratha Empire
Tenure20 July 1680 - 11 March 1689
PredecessorSaibai
Soyarabai
SuccessorJankibai
Born1658
Died1730
SpouseSambhaji
IssueBhavani Bai
Shahu I
HouseBhosale
FatherPilajirao Shirke
ReligionHinduism

Early life and Marriage

Yesubai was the daughter of Pilajirao Shirke, an illustrious Maratha sardar, who was in the services of Chhatrapati Shivaji. At a very young age she was married to Shivaji's elder son and heir apparent, Sambhaji. Yesubai was by various accounts extremely beautiful, wise and prudent. She took interest in political affairs and aided her husband in affairs of state. Yesubai is described to be extremely loyal to her husband Sambhaji, and was very proud of his audacity and other qualities. She did not hesitate to go against her own brother Ganoji Shirke when he unjustly demanded of "jangir" from Sambhaji.[3]

She bore Sambhaji two children, a daughter, Bhavani Bai and son, Shahuji.

Maharani of the Marathas

When her husband was crowned as the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire she became his chief Empress. Maharani Yesubai took part in the administration of Chhatrapati Sambhaji, who was constantly busy in the work of warfare against Mughals.[4] By all accounts Yesubai was a loving and a loyal consort to Sambhaji. She was his closest confidant and aided her husband in affairs of state throughout her reign as the Maharani.

On the expected and sad end of her husband she appointed her brother-in-law, Rajaram the Chhatrapati and on her command Rajaram left the capital fort to safety at Vishalgarh.[5]

Yesubai heroically defended the fort, but due to treachery it fell on November 13, 1689.[6] Yesubai was captured along with her young son and suffered jail of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb. She was placed under the care of his daughter, Zeb-un-Nissa, who developed a close and loving relationship with her son.[7] It is due to Zeb-un-Nissa, Shahuji wasn't converted to Islam.[8]

To create civil war amongst the Marathas, the newly crowned Muhammad Azam Shah set Shahu free.[9] Shahu emerged victorious and was crowned the Chhatrapati of the Maratha Empire after winning against his aunt Tarabai . In 1719 Bajirao I freed Yesubai after attacking the Mughals. Yesubai returned to Satara and lived there until her death in 1731.

References
  1. Vaidya, Sushila (2000). Role of Women in Maratha Politics, 1620-1752 A.D. Sharada Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-85616-67-4.
  2. Gate, Smita (1998). Development of Women: The Maharashtra Experience in Women's Policy Implementation. Yeshwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration.
  3. Gate, Smita (1998). Development of Women: The Maharashtra Experience in Women's Policy Implementation. Yeshwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration.
  4. Joshi, Pandit Shankar (1980). Chhatrapati Sambhaji, 1657-1689 A.D. S. Chand.
  5. Mehta, Jl. Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-1015-3.
  6. Mehta, Jl. Advanced Study in the History of Medieval India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN 978-81-207-1015-3.
  7. G.S.Chhabra (2005). Advance Study in the History of Modern India (Volume-1: 1707-1803). Lotus Press. ISBN 978-81-89093-06-8.
  8. Mukherjee, Soma (2001). Royal Mughal Ladies and Their Contributions. Gyan Books. ISBN 978-81-212-0760-7.
  9. Parameswaran, Uma (2010-12-24), "Malgonkar, Manohar", The Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century Fiction, Oxford, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, doi:10.1002/9781444337822.wbetcfv3m004, ISBN 9781444337822, retrieved 2021-12-09
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