Sujana Bai Bhonsle or Sujan Bai Bhonsle was the

Maratha The Marathi people (; Marathi: , ''Marāṭhī lōk'') or Marathis (Marathi: मराठी, ''Marāṭhī'') are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are native to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-A ...

queen of

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also known as Thanjai, previously known as Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the 12th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of southern Indian religion, art ...

of king

Ekoji II Ekoji II Bhonsle (1694 or 1696–1737) aka Venkoji II or Vyankoji II of the Bhonsle dynasty was the eldest surviving son of Maratha king of Thanjavur Tukkoji who succeeded to the throne on the death of his father in 1736. His reign was remarkab ...

of the

Bhonsle The Bhonsle (or Bhonsale, Bhosale, Bhosle) are a prominent group within the Maratha clan system of India. History Earliest members The earliest accepted members of the Bhonsles are Mudhoji Bhonsle and his kin Rupaji Bhonsle, who were the vi ...

dynasty. She ruled the state from the death of her husband in 1737 until she was deposed in 1738.

Reign

Sujana Bai ascended the throne on the death of her husband Ekoji II in 1737 and ruled the state for a year. Her reign is notable for intrigues of Sayyid who held the actual power behind the throne. In the end, taking matters onto her own hands she drove out the pretender Katturaja. Katturaja sought the help of the French and invaded Thanjavur. Sujana Bai was deposed and Katturaja ascended the throne as Shahuji II.

References

{{authority control History of Thanjavur Indian queens regnant 18th-century Indian women politicians 18th-century Indian politicians 18th-century Indian people Year of birth missing Year of death missing