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The Anglo Maratha Wars 

The Anglo-Maratha Wars, spanning from 1775 to 1819, were a series of conflicts between the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company. 

The Maratha Hindu princes lacked unity, allowing the East India Company to gradually diminish their power through a combination of diplomacy and warfare. 
Ultimately, the British emerged victorious, leading to the dissolution of the Maratha Confederacy.

The Anglo-Maratha Wars consisted of three major conflicts:

1. First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782)
2. Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805)
3. Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1819)

First Anglo Maratha War

Factors that set the stage for the onset of the conflict.

• After the death of Madhavrao Peshwa, the prime minister of the Maratha Empire, in 1772, his brother Narayanrao assumed the position of Peshwa. 
• However, Narayanrao's reign was short-lived as he was assassinated by his own palace guards in August 1773. This event led to a power struggle within the Maratha Empire. 
• Narayanrao's widow, Gangabai, gave birth to a son named 'Sawai' Madhavrao, who was the rightful heir to the throne. 
• Supported by a group of influential Maratha chiefs known as the Baarbhai, led by Nana Phadnavis, the infant Madhavrao was declared the new Peshwa. 
• Under the regency of the Baarbhai, efforts were made to install Madhavrao as the ruler, while Raghunathrao, another contender for the position, sought British assistance to maintain his own power.
• In 1775, Raghunathrao signed the Treaty of Surat with the British, ceding the territories of Salsette and Bassein (Vasai) and promising a share of revenues in return for military support. 
• However, the Calcutta Council condemned the treaty and sent Colonel Upton to Pune to annul it. 
• The subsequent Treaty of Purandhar in 1776 invalidated the Treaty of Surat and marginalized Raghunathrao, who was given a pension.
• Although the British retained control over Salsette and Broach districts, the Bombay government rejected the new treaty and provided refuge to Raghunathrao. 
• Tensions escalated further in 1777 when Nana Phadnavis violated a treaty with the British by granting the French a port on the west coast. In response, the British sent a military force towards Pune, marking a significant turning point in the complex political landscape of the Maratha Empire.

Treaty of Purandhar 

The Treaty of Purandar, signed on 1 March 1776, nullified the Treaty of Surat. British troops led by Colonel Keating were defeated by Haripant Phadke in the Battle of Adas in May 1775. 

Under the new treaty, the British secured Salsette and retained control of the Salsette and Broach districts. Raghunath Rao's cause was abandoned, and Sawai Madhav Rao was recognized as the new Peshwa.

The trajectory of the war

• The First Anglo-Maratha War began in 1775. The British and Maratha armies clashed on the outskirts of Pune.
•  The Marathas had more soldiers, but the British had better weapons and artillery. The Maratha army was led by a talented general named Mahadji Scindia.
• Scindia lured the British force into the ghats (mountain passes) at Talegaon. He trapped them on all sides and attacked their supply camp at Khopoli. The Marathas also practiced a scorched earth policy, destroying crops and polluting wells.
• As the British began to retreat to Talegaon, the Marathas attacked, forcing them to flee to Wadgaon. The British force was besieged on all sides by the Marathas and was cut off from food and water.
•  By mid-January 1779, the British had surrendered and signed the Treaty of Wadgaon. The treaty required the Bombay administration to return all lands obtained by the British since 1775.

What was the Outcome?

• The First Anglo-Maratha War ended with the signing of the Treaty of Salbai in 1782. The treaty was signed by the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire. The treaty established a twenty-year period of peace between the two parties.
• The treaty was negotiated by Warren Hastings, the Governor General of Bengal, and Mahadji Scindia, the Maratha general.
•  The treaty required the Marathas to return all territories that they had captured from the British since 1775. The British also agreed to recognize Madhavrao II as the Peshwa of the Maratha Empire.
• The Treaty of Salbai was a significant victory for the British East India Company. It marked the end of the First Anglo-Maratha War and gave the British a stronger foothold in India. The treaty also helped to establish the British as the dominant power in India in the years to come.The Treaty of Salbai, signed on May 17, 1782, and confirmed by Hastings and Phadnis, included the following key provisions:
• Salsette would remain under British control.
• The Marathas would regain all the territory lost since the Treaty of Purandar (1776), including Bassein.
• Fateh Singh Gaekwad would retain his previous land in Gujarat and continue serving the Peshwa.
• Raghunathrao would not receive additional assistance from the British but would be provided a maintenance stipend by the Peshwa.
•  Haidar Ali was required to return all land taken from the English and the Nawab of Arcot.
• The English would retain their previous trading privileges.
• The Peshwa would refrain from supporting any other European power.
• Both the Peshwa and the English committed to maintaining peace among their respective allies.
• Mahadji Scindia would act as a mutual guarantee for the treaty's observance.

Second Anglo Maratha War

The Second Anglo-Maratha War took place in India between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire. Spanning from 1803 to 1805, this conflict marked a crucial milestone in India's history.

Background 

• The Maratha Empire, a formidable Hindu dominion that held sway over a major portion of the Indian subcontinent in the 18th century, found itself facing the expanding influence of the British East India Company. Initially, the British had established their presence in India through trade during the early 1700s. As time passed, they gradually expanded their control over different regions, posing a threat to the Marathas.
• Although the Marathas suffered significant losses and territorial setbacks in the First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782), they rebounded under the leadership of Peshwa Baji Rao II, reclaiming much of their lost power by the early 1800s. Concurrently, the British solidified their position in India and harbored ambitions for further expansion.

Trajectory of the War

• The Second Anglo-Maratha War arose from the British's ambition to expand their territorial dominion and control in India. They sought to eliminate the Maratha Empire as a potential threat to their authority and influence in the region.
•  Another contributing factor was the internal strife and disputes among the Maratha chiefs and the weakening of the empire, which made it susceptible to British aggression.
• In 1803, hostilities commenced when the British launched an offensive against the Marathas. 
• Led by Sir Arthur Wellesley, later known as the Duke of Wellington, the British forces possessed advanced weaponry and tactical superiority, granting them a significant edge over the Marathas. 
• The Marathas, relying on traditional warfare methods, proved unable to match the British forces.
• The British secured several victories in notable battles, including the Battle of Assaye and the Battle of Aragon, further undermining the Maratha forces. Internal divisions and rivalries among the Maratha chiefs further weakened their military capabilities. 
• Ultimately, in 1804, Peshwa Baji Rao II was compelled to surrender to the British, marking the end of the war.

Outcome of war 

• The consequences of the Second Anglo-Maratha War had a profound impact on India. The once-mighty Maratha Empire, which had held considerable power in the region, suffered substantial weakening and ceded a significant portion of its territories to the British.
• Moreover, the war marked a turning point in India's history as it paved the way for British supremacy and control over the country, a dominance that endured for nearly a century. 
• The political landscape was also reshaped by the war, with the exile of Peshwa Baji Rao II to Bithur, where he would later mentor Nana Sahib, a prominent figure in the Indian nationalist movement.
• Additionally, the war played a crucial role in fueling the growth of the Indian independence movement, which aimed to liberate India from British rule. 
• The repercussions of the Second Anglo-Maratha War thus reverberated across the socio-political fabric of the nation, leaving a lasting impact on its trajectory.

Third Anglo Maratha War

The Third Anglo-Maratha War was the final conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire. 

The war was fought between 1817 and 1818, and it resulted in the defeat of the Marathas and the consolidation of British rule in India.

What triggered the War?

• The war was triggered by a number of factors, including the Maratha desire to restore their lost territory, the British' oppressive rule over Maratha nobles and chiefs, and the British' dispute with the Pindaris, who the British believed were being protected by the Marathas.
• The war began in November 1817, when the Marathas invaded the British Residency in Pune. 
• The Peshwa, Bajirao II, led the Maratha forces, and he was initially successful, defeating the Maratha chiefs in places like Ashti, Nagpur, and Mahidpur.
• However, the British were able to regroup and launch a counter-offensive. They defeated the Marathas at the Battle of Mahidpur in December 1817, and the Peshwa was forced to flee.
• The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Mandsaur in January 1818. The treaty deposed the Peshwa and granted him a pension, and it also gave the British control over most of the Maratha territories.
• The Third Anglo-Maratha War was a major turning point in the history of India. It marked the end of the Maratha Empire and the consolidation of British rule in India. 
• The war also had a significant impact on the Indian independence movement, as it helped to inspire the nationalist leaders who would eventually lead India to independence.

Significance of the war 

The war had a profound impact on the social, political, and economic landscape of India. It led to the decline of the Maratha Empire, the rise of the British Raj, and the transformation of Indian society.

Factors leading to the Marathas' defeat:

• Lack of cohesive and organic unity within the Maratha state, resulting in  
• Failure to implement effective efforts for community development, knowledge dissemination, and fostering unity since Shivaji's reign.
• Vulnerability exposed when facing a European force structured on superior Western models.
• Fragmentation of power within the Maratha empire due to the establishment of semi-independent kingdoms by powerful rulers.Internal conflicts and rivalries among different factions of the Maratha confederacy. Maratha leaders frequently sided with opposing forces, lacking unity.
• Inferior leadership, military organization, and weaponry compared to the English.instability and Weakening of the Maratha army due to internal treason.
• Inadequate adoption of modern military techniques and underestimation of artillery.
•  Failure to devise a sound economic strategy and lack of international trade opportunities.
• English advantage in intelligence gathering through a well-established spy network.
•  Preservation of social stratification obstructing a cohesive political system within the Maratha state.

The aftermath: from the culmination of the three wars

The Anglo-Maratha Wars I, II, and III left a profound impact on Indian history. During this time, the British already had control over the Mughal Empire. However, they were unable to establish dominion over the southern regions of India, which were governed by Maratha chieftains.

Through treaties with princely states, the British managed to acquire substantial territories and holdings in India, solidifying India as the prized possession of the British Empire. As a consequence, the Maratha Empire crumbled, leading to British governance over the entirety of India.