British Struggle with Marathas: A Comprehensive History

The British Struggle with Marathas was a series of conflicts fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. The conflict began in 1758 and lasted until 1818. The British were ultimately successful, and by 1818 they had firmly established their control over most of India. In this article, we will take a closer look at the causes and effects of the British Struggle with Marathas.

A Brief Note On British-Maratha Struggle

The British-Maratha struggle was a series of wars fought between the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company. Three territorial battles in India between both the Maratha Empire and also the British East India Company were known as the Anglo-Maratha Wars. The British as well as the Marathas battled three Anglo-Maratha wars between them in the late 18th century and the early 19th century. The British, under the rule of the East India Company, were also expanding their territory in India at this time.

As the Mughal Empire crumbled, the Marathas, one of the empire’s most persistent opponents, had an opportunity to rise to power.

They reigned over a large area of land and collected tribute from territories that were not directly under their control.

They were at Lahore by the middle of the 18th century, pondering being rulers of the North Indian empire and serving as kingmakers at the Mughal court.

The First Anglo-Maratha War

The British’s rising intervention in the Marathas’ domestic and external affairs, as well as the power struggle between Madhav Rao and Raghunath Rao, were the main causes of the first Maratha war.

Peshwa Madhav Rao’s younger brother, Narain Rao, succeeded him as Peshwa after his death, although it was his uncle, Raghunath Rao, who wanted to be Peshwa.

In exchange for Salsette and Bessien, as well as revenues from the Surat and Bharuch districts, he sought the help of the English to kill him and declare him Peshwa.

Raghunath Rao was promised help by the British, who provided him with 2,500 troops.

The Peshwa was invaded and defeated by the English and Raghunath Rao’s unified force.

The Second Anglo-Maratha War

The second Anglo-Maratha war broke out in 1803 after Yashwantrao Holkar of Indore, Scindia of Gwalior and Daulatrao Shinde of Amber refused to accept the terms of the Treaty of Bassein. Baji Rao II, the Maratha peshwa of Poona (now Pune) in India, and the British signed the Treaty of Bassein on December 31, 1802. It was a pivotal moment in the disintegration of the Maratha confederacy. In 1818, the East India Company annexed the peshwa’s domains in western India as a result of the treaty. The British, under Lord Wellesley, then launched a series of campaigns against these chieftains which resulted in their defeat. In 1805, Bajirao II made peace with the British after suffering a crushing defeat at the Battle of Punniar.

The Third Anglo-Maratha War

The Marathas’ increased ambition to recapture their lost territory and the British’s excessive control over Maratha nobles and chiefs were the two fundamental causes of the third and last conflict between the British and the Marathas.

The British war with the Pindaris, whom the British believed were being protected by the Marathas, was another reason for the conflict.

During the years 1817 and 1818, the battle took place in Maharashtra and the neighboring areas.

The Maratha chiefs were beaten in locations such as Ashti, Nagpur, and Mahidpur when the Peshwa invaded the British Residency in November 1817.

On November 5, 1817, the Treaty of Gwalior was signed, and Sindia was reduced to the status of a bystander in the conflict.

Aftermath Of The Anglo-Maratha Wars

The three Anglo-Maratha wars resulted in the decline of Maratha power in India. The Marathas were no longer a major force to reckon with and their territory was greatly reduced. Moreover, they had to pay huge sums of money as indemnity to the British. The Maratha economy was severely crippled and they never really recovered from it. As for the British, these wars helped them consolidate their position in India and paved the way for their further expansion.

Conclusion

The first, second, and third Anglo-Maratha wars were all significant historical occurrences in India. The British had already gained control of the Mughal Empire at the time. The British, on the other hand, were still unable to take control of regions governed by Maratha chieftains in the south. As a result of treaties with princely states, the British acquired significant assets and territory in India, and India was unquestionably a jewel in the crown of the British Empire. The Maratha Empire came to an end as a result of these conflicts. India was completely ruled by the British. In actuality, India became British property after the wars, with the British mapping and defining the country totally on their terms and conditions, in an Orientalist fashion.