Yesubai

Yesubai was the wife of the second Maratha Chhatrapati Sambhaji.

Yesubai was the daughter of Pilajirao Shirke, a Maratha sardar (chieftain), who was in the services of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Yesubai was by various accounts extremely beautiful, wise and prudent. She was fiercely loyal to the goals of her father-in-law, Shivaji, of establishing and perpetuating the Maratha Empire. She aided her husband, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in the daily affairs of state, giving just and wise suggestions. She was 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. She was the most favourite wife of Sambhaji Maharaj, and was his lifelong faithful companion, friend and beloved. They had a daughter Laxmi and a son called Shahaji, but he was renamed by Aurangzeb as Shahu to obliterate any memories of his great-grandfather, Shahaji Maharaj. She was very honest woman. After her husband's death, she herself came up with a spiritual mind and took the responsibilities of the Maratha power. She, even being a woman, fought with the British and won against them.

She suffered a lot when Raigad was captured. She was made prisoner along with 50-60 people 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 Aurangzeb and that 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 Moghul emperor Azam released Shahu to divide Maratha Empire. The Moghuls, however, kept Yesubai captive for another decade or so to ensure that Shahu kept to the terms of the treaty he signed with the Moghuls upon his release.