Yesubai Sambhaji Bhosle
Yesubai was the wife of the second Maratha Chhatrapati Sambhaji. She was the daughter of Pilajirao Shirke, a Maratha sardar who was in the service of Shivaji Maharaj after defeat Deshmukh Rao, Rana Suryajirao Surve. Jivubai was married to Sambhaji in 1666, a marriage of political alliance, as per Maratha custom she took the name Yesubai. This marriage thus gave Shivaji access to the Konkan coastal. Yesubai had two children, daughter Bhavani bai and then son named Shahu, who later became next Chhatrapti of Maratha Empire.
Yesubai was very good-looking and intelligent at the same time. Yesubai Sambhaji Bhosale had a lot of respect for her father-in-law Shivaji and his vision for building a Maratha Empire. It is said that she used to give great suggestions to her husband Sambhaji in terms of State Administration.she was extremely loyal to her husband Sambhaji, and was very proud of his audacity and other qualities. Another intresting aspect about Yesubai historyis, she did not hesitate to go against her own brother Ganoji Shirke when he unjustly demanded of "Jagir"from Sambhaji. she was the most favourite wife of Sambhaji Maharaj, and was his lifelong companion, friend and beloved. they had a daughter Laxmi and son called Shahaji, but he was renamed by Aurangzeb as Shahu to obliterate any memories of his grandfather Shahaji Maharaj. She was very honest women. After her husband Sambhaji was brutally murdered, she herself came up with a spiritual mind and took the responsibilities of the Maratha power. She even being a women,fought with the British and won against them.
She suffered a lot when Rajgad was captured by Aurangzeb. She was made prisoner along with 50 to 60 Maratha men from the fort and seat of the Maratha government. Aurangzeb never looked after them although they were carried with him, place to place. He paid Yesubai a very low amount for their basic needs. But she never complained. in her life she asked only one thing to Auranzeb and too to see her army general - Santaji's dead head. Aurangzeb accepted her wish of seeing the head of Santaji. When Santaji's head was bought to the Darbar, Aurangzeb was touched to see that Yesubai telling her young son to pay homeage to Santaji's head. After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, his son , the new Moghal emperor Azam released Shahu to divide Maratha Empire. The Moghal, kept Yesubai captive for another 10 year or so to ensure that Shahu kept to the terms of the treaty he signed with the mughal upon his release. Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath Bhat helped Yesubai to get out for Mughal’s prison in 1719 after negotiating a big treaty.