Tarabai, the senior widow of Rajaram Chhatrapati after being released by her stepson Sambhaji II of Kolhapur was given asylum by Chhatrapati Shahu, her nephew.
In the 1740s, during the last years of Shahu's life, Tarabai brought a child to him: Rajaram II.
She presented the child as her grandson, and thus, a direct descendant of Shivaji.
Shahu adopted the child, and after his death in 1749, Rajaram II succeeded him as the Chhatrapati.
The next year, Peshwa Balaji Rao left to fight against the Nizam of Hyderabad.
In his absence, Tarabai urged Rajaram II to remove him from the post of Peshwa.
When Rajaram refused, she imprisoned him in a dungeon at Satara, on 24 November 1750.
She claimed that he was an impostor, and that she had falsely presented him as her grandson.
Tarabai was unsuccessful in getting support from other ministers and the would-be Nizam Salabat Jung.
However, she managed to enlist the help of another noblewoman, Umabai Dabhade.

Umabai Dabhade was the matriarch of the Dabhade family, whose members held the title of Senapati (commander-in-chief) and controlled several territories in Gujarat.
Her husband had been killed by the Mughals, and her eldest son had been killed by Balaji Rao's father for a rebellion against Chhatrapati Shahu.
However, Shahu had forgiven the Dabhades and allowed them to retain their jagirs and titles on the condition that they would remit half of the revenues collected from Gujarat to his treasury.
Umabai's minor son Yashwant Rao was made the titular Senapati, while she held the actual executive power in Maratha territories of Gujarat.
The Dabhades never actually shared any revenues, but Shahu did not want to take any action against a grieving mother.
However, after Shahu's death Peshwa Balaji Rao faced an empty treasury and pressurized the Dabhades to share Gujarat revenues as per the agreement.
Umabai personally met him in 1750 and argued that the agreement was void because the Dabhades had signed it under force.
The Peshwa refused to entertain this argument.

Umabai dispatched 15,000 troops led by her lieutenant Damaji Rao Gaekwad in support of Tarabai's rebellion.
Gaekwad initially advanced towards Pune, prompting the Peshwa's mother Kashibai and his grandmother Radhabai to flee from Pune to Sinhagad.
While encamped at Pargaon near Pune, he received a letter from the Peshwa loyalist Mahadji Purandare, who denounced him as a traitor.
Subsequently, Gaekwad changed course and started advancing towards Satara.
Mahadji's brother Trimbakrao Purandare led a 20,000-strong force against him.
Gaekwad defeated him at Nimb, a small town north of Satara.
He then marched to Satara, where he was received by Tarabai.
However, Trimbakrao re-formed his army and on 15 March 1751, he attacked Gaekwad's army, which was encamped on the banks of the Venna River.
Gaekwad was defeated in this battle, and forced to retreat with heavy losses.
Trimbakrao kept pursuing him and cornered his force near a gorge in the Krishna river valley.

Meanwhile, on hearing about the rebellion, Balaji Rao left the Mughal frontier, and quickly advanced towards Satara, covering 400 miles in 13 days.
He reached Satara on 24 April, and stormed the Yavateshwar garrison, defeating Tarabai's forces.
He then joined Trimbakrao, who had been keeping a watch on Gaekwad's army.
Gaekwad was compelled to declare ceasefire and meet Balaji Rao to discuss the terms of a peace treaty.
Balaji Rao demanded from him half of Gujarat's territories in addition to a war indemnity of ₹ 2,500,000.
Damaji refused to sign an agreement, stating that he was only a subordinate, and asked Balaji Rao to consult Umabai.
On 30 April, Balaji Rao launched a surprise evening attack, and Damaji's camp surrendered without resistance.
Balaji Rao then surrounded the Satara fort, and asked Tarabai to release Chhatrapati Rajaram II, whose physical and mental condition had deteriorated considerably.
Tarabai refused, and Balaji Rao left for Pune, since a siege of the well-provisioned and strong Satara fort would not be easy.

Later, a section of Tarabai's troops in the Sa
Tarabai, the senior widow of Rajaram Chhatrapati after being released by her stepson Sambhaji II of Kolhapur was given asylum by Chhatrapati Shahu, her nephew. In the 1740s, during the last years of Shahu's life, Tarabai brought a child to him: Rajaram II. She presented the child as her grandson, and thus, a direct descendant of Shivaji. Shahu adopted the child, and after his death in 1749, Rajaram II succeeded him as the Chhatrapati. The next year, Peshwa Balaji Rao left to fight against the Nizam of Hyderabad. In his absence, Tarabai urged Rajaram II to remove him from the post of Peshwa. When Rajaram refused, she imprisoned him in a dungeon at Satara, on 24 November 1750. She claimed that he was an impostor, and that she had falsely presented him as her grandson. Tarabai was unsuccessful in getting support from other ministers and the would-be Nizam Salabat Jung. However, she managed to enlist the help of another noblewoman, Umabai Dabhade.
Umabai Dabhade was the matriarch of the Dabhade family, whose members held the title of Senapati (commander-in-chief) and controlled several territories in Gujarat. Her husband had been killed by the Mughals, and her eldest son had been killed by Balaji Rao's father for a rebellion against Chhatrapati Shahu. However, Shahu had forgiven the Dabhades and allowed them to retain their jagirs and titles on the condition that they would remit half of the revenues collected from Gujarat to his treasury. Umabai's minor son Yashwant Rao was made the titular Senapati, while she held the actual executive power in Maratha territories of Gujarat. The Dabhades never actually shared any revenues, but Shahu did not want to take any action against a grieving mother. However, after Shahu's death Peshwa Balaji Rao faced an empty treasury and pressurized the Dabhades to share Gujarat revenues as per the agreement. Umabai personally met him in 1750 and argued that the agreement was void because the Dabhades had signed it under force. The Peshwa refused to entertain this argument.
Umabai dispatched 15,000 troops led by her lieutenant Damaji Rao Gaekwad in support of Tarabai's rebellion. Gaekwad initially advanced towards Pune, prompting the Peshwa's mother Kashibai and his grandmother Radhabai to flee from Pune to Sinhagad. While encamped at Pargaon near Pune, he received a letter from the Peshwa loyalist Mahadji Purandare, who denounced him as a traitor. Subsequently, Gaekwad changed course and started advancing towards Satara. Mahadji's brother Trimbakrao Purandare led a 20,000-strong force against him. Gaekwad defeated him at Nimb, a small town north of Satara. He then marched to Satara, where he was received by Tarabai. However, Trimbakrao re-formed his army and on 15 March 1751, he attacked Gaekwad's army, which was encamped on the banks of the Venna River. Gaekwad was defeated in this battle, and forced to retreat with heavy losses. Trimbakrao kept pursuing him and cornered his force near a gorge in the Krishna river valley.
Meanwhile, on hearing about the rebellion, Balaji Rao left the Mughal frontier, and quickly advanced towards Satara, covering 400 miles in 13 days. He reached Satara on 24 April, and stormed the Yavateshwar garrison, defeating Tarabai's forces. He then joined Trimbakrao, who had been keeping a watch on Gaekwad's army. Gaekwad was compelled to declare ceasefire and meet Balaji Rao to discuss the terms of a peace treaty. Balaji Rao demanded from him half of Gujarat's territories in addition to a war indemnity of ₹ 2,500,000. Damaji refused to sign an agreement, stating that he was only a subordinate, and asked Balaji Rao to consult Umabai. On 30 April, Balaji Rao launched a surprise evening attack, and Damaji's camp surrendered without resistance. Balaji Rao then surrounded the Satara fort, and asked Tarabai to release Chhatrapati Rajaram II, whose physical and mental condition had deteriorated considerably. Tarabai refused, and Balaji Rao left for Pune, since a siege of the well-provisioned and strong Satara fort would not be easy.
Later, a section of Tarabai's troops in the Sa
Balaji Baji Rao