Soyarabai

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For 14th century Varkari saint, see Sant Soyarabai.

Soyarabai
Died1681 CE
SpouseShivaji
IssueRajaram I

Soyarabai Bhosale (nèe 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, the elder son of Shivaji.

Early life[]

Born Soyarabai Mohite, 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.[citation needed] She was ambitious and she wanted her son Rajaram to succeed Shivaji instead of the elder son Sambhaji. Sambhaji 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, 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 July 20, 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. Many plotters including Soyarabai's and Yesubai's relatives from the Shirke family were also executed.[4]

In Popular Culture[]

  • portrays a young Soyarabai while portrays the older Soyarabai in the 2011 series Veer Shivaji
  • Elakshi Gupta plays Soyrabai in the 2019 Bollywood film Tanhaji

Notes[]

References[]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ . 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
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b 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.

See also[]

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