Chhatrapati Shivaji and his queen Soyarabai named their son:

Rajaram (Rajaram I), born in 1670, was the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji and his queen Soyarabai.

About Rajaram:

• He was the younger half-brother of Sambhaji, who was Shivaji's son by his first wife, Saibai.
• After Shivaji's death in 1680, Soyarabai and some ministers tried to place the young Rajaram on the throne, but Sambhaji took power.
• Rajaram was kept under watch during Sambhaji's reign.

His reign (1689-1700):

• After Sambhaji was captured and executed by the Mughals in 1689, Rajaram became the Maratha ruler.
• The Mughals besieged Raigad, and Rajaram escaped to the south.
• He made the fort of Gingee (Jinji), in present-day Tamil Nadu, his base.
• The Mughals besieged Gingee for about eight years (1690-1698), before capturing it; Rajaram escaped back to Maharashtra.
• During this period, Maratha commanders such as Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav carried on a guerrilla war against the Mughals all over the Deccan.
• Rajaram encouraged his commanders by granting them the right to collect revenue from lands they conquered (saranjams), which helped spread Maratha power.
• He died in 1700 at Sinhagad.

After his death:

• His widow, Tarabai, ruled on behalf of their young son, Shivaji II, and led the Maratha resistance against Aurangzeb with great courage.
• After Aurangzeb's death in 1707, the Mughals released Sambhaji's son, Shahu, who claimed the throne.
• A civil war between Tarabai and Shahu followed; Shahu won (Battle of Khed, 1707) and ruled from Satara.
• Tarabai's line later ruled the separate state of Kolhapur.

Shivaji's family:

• Shivaji had several wives, including Saibai (mother of Sambhaji), Soyarabai (mother of Rajaram) and Putalabai.
• His mother was Jijabai, and his father was Shahji Bhonsle.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Sambhaji was the son of Saibai.
• ✗Shahu was Sambhaji's son.
• ✗Shivaji II was Rajaram's son.