Gopikabai
Gopikabai (December 20, 1724 – August 11, 1778) was Peshwin of Maratha Empire, as the wife of Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (also called Nanasaheb Peshwa). She had a very orthodox religious upbringing and belief. After the death of Nanasaheb Peshwa, she tried to expand her power over the Peshwa and the administration. She influenced her son Madhavrao Peshwa, who by sidelining Raghunathrao at her urging, assumed control. However, after trying to interfere in administrative matters, namely to save her brother from punishment, she was confined to Nashik. In 1773 she was freed after the death of Madhavarao and went back to Pune. Afterwards, Gopikabai became part of the priestly class. She developed a rivalry with other women in the Peshwa's household. She was the mother of three successive Peshwas. Childhood Gopikabai was the daughter of Bhikaji Naik Raste of Wai, near Pune. Gopikabai was noticed by Radhabai, the mother of Peshwa Baji Rao I, during her visit to the Raste family. She was impressed by Gopikabai's orthodox observance of religious fasting and rituals and selected her to marry Balaji Bajirao (Nanasaheb), the eldest son of Baji Rao I and grandson of Radhabai. Gopikabai was well versed in priestly religious matters and the prevailing customs followed in priestly Brahmin families. Orthodox upbringing Gopikabai faced severe drawbacks in her later life as she was underexposed or never given proper training in handling court administrative or military matters. Her orthodox religious upbringing was thought to be a major cause of her haughty behaviour and narrow-minded outlook. Some of the crueler decisions which Gopikabai took in later life, including severing relations with her second son Madhavrao are traced to her orthodox upbringing. Gopikabai's religious upbringing left her unable to understand court politics which Shahu and Nanasaheb Peshwa were pursuing. Envy and ego After her husband became Peshwa, Gopikabai was unable to get along with the other women in the Peshwa's household and developed a rivalry with her cousin Anandibai who was married to the Peshwa's brother Raghunathrao. There was also a rift between Gopikabai and Parvatibai, the wife of the Peshwa's cousin Sadashivrao Bhau which occurred when Shahu and Nanasaheb Peshwa selected Parvatibai's niece Radhikabai to marry her eldest son Vishwasrao. Gopikabai insisted on sending Vishwasrao along with Sadashivrao Bhau (Bhausaheb) to battle against Abdali as she did not want Bhausaheb to take all the accolades after defeating Abdali and wanted Vishwasrao to play a bigger role. She did this to ensure that Vishwasrao becomes the next Peshwa after Nanasaheb. She suspected Nanasaheb of planning to make Bhausaheb the next Peshwa. Death of Nanasaheb Peshwa Gopikabai blamed Radhikabai for being a bad omen and causing the death of her son Vishwasrao during the Third battle of Panipat. Instead of giving emotional support, Gopikabai continually nagged Nanasaheb Peshwa that he was responsible for the death of her son which was a major cause of Nanasaheb Peshwa's death from depression at Parvati near Pune. Ascendency and reign of Madhavrao After the death of Nanasaheb Peshwa, a