Tarabai Tarabai ( 1675 – 1761 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 1709 but was deposed by Rajaram ' s second queen Rajasabai , who put her son Sambhaji II on the throne . Tarabai was without any political power till 1730 after which she went and resided with Chhattrapati Shahu at Satara , again without any political power . Rani Tarabai or the ( dowager ) Queen Tarabai ( b . 1675 - d . 1761 ) was the wife of Chatrapati Rajaram Maharaj , and the daughter in law of the great Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj . Incidentally she was also the niece of Shivaji ’ s wife Soyrabai ( Rajarams mother and her mother in law ) and the daughter of Hambirao Mohite the famed Sarsenapati ( commander in chief ) of the Maratha army . 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 " . Rani Tarabai or the ( dowager ) Queen Tarabai ( b . 1675 - d . 1761 ) was the wife of Chatrapati Rajaram Maharaj , and the daughter in law of the great Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj . Incidentally she was also the neice of Shivaji ’ s wife Soyrabai ( Rajarams mother and her mother in law ) and the daughter of Hambirao Mohite the famed Sarsenapati ( commander in chief ) of the Maratha army . Rani Tarabai or the ( dowager ) Queen Tarabai ( b . 1675 - d . 1761 ) was the wife of Chatrapati Rajaram Maharaj , and the daughter in law of the great Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj . Incidentally she was also the neice of Shivaji ’ s wife Soyrabai ( Rajarams mother and her mother in law ) and the daughter of Hambirao Mohite the famed Sarsenapati ( commander in chief ) of the Maratha army .