Sujana Bai Bhonsle or Sujan Bai Bhonsle was the wife of

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 remarka ...

, the

Maratha The Marathi people (Marathi: मराठी लोक) or Marathis are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group who are indigenous to Maharashtra in western India. They natively speak Marathi, an Indo-Aryan language. Maharashtra was formed as a M ...

ruler of

Thanjavur Thanjavur (), also Tanjore, Pletcher 2010, p. 195 is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is the 11th biggest city in Tamil Nadu. Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Gr ...

of the

Bhonsle The Bhonsle (or Bhonsale, Bhosale, Bhosle) are a prominent group within the Maratha clan system of kunbi origin. They claimed descent from the Sisodia Rajputs but were likely Kunbi tiller-plainsmen. History Earliest members The earliest a ...

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 French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and invaded Thanjavur. Sujana Bai was deposed and Katturaja ascended the throne as Shahuji II.

References

# 'The Maratha Rajas of Tanjore' by K.R.Subramanian, 1928. {{authority control History of Thanjavur Indian female royalty 18th-century Indian women 18th-century Indian people