The Unsung Lioness of Maharashtra: Tarabai and the War for Swarajya

 

Shivaji had founded an empire.
Aurangzeb had sworn to destroy it.

But when both were dead, the Maratha throne stood leaderless — and the Mughals marched toward victory.

One woman rose from the shadows.
Tarabai, the widow of a slain king, took command of an empire in ashes — and turned it into a storm.

👑 The Queen Behind the Throne

Tarabai was born in 1675, daughter of the great Maratha general Hambirrao Mohite, and married to Rajaram, Shivaji’s younger son.

When Rajaram died in 1700 during the war against Aurangzeb, the Maratha Empire was under siege.

Mughals had captured forts, scattered the army, and proclaimed the Marathas finished.

There was no adult king.
There was only Tarabai — and her infant son, Shivaji II.

But Tarabai wasn’t waiting for saviors.

⚔️ Warrior. Strategist. Queen.

Tarabai declared her son the rightful Chhatrapati and proclaimed herself regent. Then she took command of the Maratha forces herself.

From her war camp, she:

  • Directed generals and espionage networks

  • Fortified strongholds across the Deccan

  • Created alliances with local chieftains

  • Personally inspired soldiers by appearing in battle armor

The Mughals called her a “tigress in disguise.”

She made Kolhapur her capital and began a counter-offensive — fort by fort, hill by hill.

🐅 The Woman Who Bled Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb, now an old emperor still obsessed with destroying the Marathas, sent massive forces to crush her rebellion.

But Tarabai used guerrilla tactics inherited from Shivaji:
Ambushes, hill raids, deceptive marches, scorched earth.

From 1700 to 1707, she fought and bled the Mughal army — draining the empire's treasury and morale.

When Aurangzeb died in 1707, the Marathas — led by a woman — were still standing.

🤯 The Forgotten Architect of Revival

After Aurangzeb’s death, a power struggle ensued between different Maratha factions.

Tarabai was pushed aside by Shahu, Shivaji's grandson, who had been released by the Mughals to weaken her.

She withdrew from politics… but never stopped watching.

Years later, when Shahu’s descendants struggled to hold power, Tarabai returned, playing kingmaker, plotting alliances, and even briefly placing a puppet ruler on the throne in Kolhapur.

She lived till the age of 86 — a mastermind till the end.

💥 Why Her Story Is Revolutionary

  • She led a kingdom at war with the greatest empire of her time

  • She ruled in an era where women were rarely seen, let alone heard

  • She held off Aurangzeb's 25-year Deccan campaign

  • Her strategic brilliance saved Maratha pride and allowed future leaders like Baji Rao I to rise

Yet — history textbooks give her only a paragraph.

🏛️ Her Legacy Today

  • Statues of Tarabai exist in Kolhapur, Satara, and Pune

  • Her military records and letters are studied by historians

  • In 2023, she was featured in regional textbooks and documentaries

  • Yet few know her as the true savior of the Maratha Empire after Shivaji

📬 Call to Action

Before Rani Lakshmibai, there was Tarabai.
She didn’t just pick up the sword — she picked up the empire.

Subscribe to “Queens Who Built India,” a series uncovering women who didn’t wait for permission — they wrote history.

📚 Affiliate Product Ideas

  1. 📕 Book: “Tarabai: The Warrior Regent of the Marathas” (Historical Biography)
    Why: Uncovered letters, strategy, and leadership insights
    Link: Amazon affiliate

  2. 🎧 Audiobook: “The Lioness of Kolhapur” – Audio Drama Series
    Why: Great for podcast and history-loving audiences
    Platform: Audible, Spotify

  3. 👕 Merch: “Swarajya Lives Through Me” Tarabai T-Shirts & Mugs
    Why: Bold feminist angle + historical pride
    Platform: Print-on-demand or Etsy store

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