Why this matters now
Anglo-Maratha Wars are tested for: Maratha Confederacy under Peshwa (Pune) + Gaekwad (Baroda) + Holkar (Indore) + Scindia (Gwalior) + Bhonsle (Nagpur); 1st War triggered by EIC-Bombay supporting Raghunathrao via Treaty of Surat 1775; Warren Hastings reversed; Treaty of Salbai 17 May 1782 (status quo ante); 2nd War — Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance; Treaty of Bassein 31 Dec 1802 with Peshwa Baji Rao II; Battle of Assaye 23 Sept 1803 (Arthur Wellesley); Treaties of Deogaon + Surji-Anjangaon 1803; 3rd War under Lord Hastings; Pindari raids; Battles of Kirki (5 Nov 1817) + Sitabaldi (26 Nov 1817) + Mahidpur (21 Dec 1817); Peshwa Baji Rao II surrendered 3 June 1818 — pensioned at Bithur; Maratha Confederacy ended.
First War (1775-82)
Cause: Succession dispute at Pune after Peshwa Madhavrao’s death 1772. Raghunathrao (claimant) approached Bombay Council; Treaty of Surat 6 March 1775: Bombay would help Raghunathrao become Peshwa in exchange for Salsette + Bassein. Warren Hastings (Calcutta) reversed.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1775 | Treaty of Surat. Bombay sent army under Col Keating. |
| 1776 | Convention of Purandhar (Mar 1776) — superseded Treaty of Surat. Hastings reversed. |
| 1779 | Convention of Wadgaon (12-13 Jan 1779) — Bombay army defeated by Marathas (Mahadji Scindia); British surrendered all territory gained since 1773. |
| 1780 | Hastings sent army under Goddard; captured Ahmedabad. |
| 1781 | Maratha-Mysore-Nizam Triple Alliance against British. |
| 17 May 1782 | TREATY OF SALBAI with Mahadji Scindia — STATUS QUO ANTE. British gave up Raghunathrao claim. 20 years peace. |
Significance: Maratha-British peace lasted 20 years.
Second War (1803-05)
Cause: Maratha civil war after Madhavrao II Peshwa’s death 1795. Peshwa Baji Rao II defeated by Holkar at Battle of Hadapsar (Pune) 25 Oct 1802. Fled to Bassein; signed Treaty of Bassein 31 Dec 1802 with British.
Treaty of Bassein 1802:
- Peshwa accepted Subsidiary Alliance — 6,000-strong British force stationed in Peshwa territory.
- Peshwa ceded territory worth Rs 26 lakh/yr for upkeep.
- Peshwa would not enter any war/treaty without British consent.
Scindia + Bhonsle + Holkar rejected the treaty (Maratha sovereignty violated). War began.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 23 Sept 1803 | Battle of ASSAYE — Arthur Wellesley defeated Scindia + Bhonsle armies decisively. |
| 1 Nov 1803 | Battle of Argaon. |
| 17 Dec 1803 | Treaty of Deogaon with Bhonsle of Nagpur — ceded Cuttack + Balasore. |
| 30 Dec 1803 | Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon with Scindia of Gwalior — ceded Delhi-Agra-Ganga-Yamuna doab. |
| 1804-05 | Holkar war — defeated by Lake at Deeg 1804 + Bharatpur 1805. Treaty of Rajghat 24 Dec 1805 with Holkar. |
Third War (1817-18) + Pindari War
Cause: Pindari raids (irregular horsemen from Central India) into British territories 1810-17 from Maratha protection. Lord Hastings (GG 1813-23) decided to crush Pindaris + Marathas.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 13 June 1817 | Treaty of Poona — Peshwa forced to abandon Maratha Confederacy + accept harsher Subsidiary Alliance. |
| 5 Nov 1817 | BATTLE OF KIRKI/KHADKI — Peshwa Baji Rao II attacked British Residency Pune; defeated. |
| 26 Nov 1817 | BATTLE OF SITABALDI — Bhonsle of Nagpur defeated. |
| 17 Dec 1817 | Battle of Nagpur. |
| 21 Dec 1817 | BATTLE OF MAHIDPUR — Holkar defeated. Treaty of Mandsaur 6 Jan 1818. |
| 1818 | Pindari camps destroyed; leaders Chitu killed, Karim Khan captured. |
| 3 June 1818 | Peshwa Baji Rao II surrendered at Mahabaleshwar to General John Malcolm. |
| 1818 | Peshwa pensioned at Bithur (Kanpur) at Rs 8 lakh/yr. Adopted son Nana Saheb would later lead 1857 revolt. |
Aftermath: Maratha Confederacy ended. Peshwa office abolished. Bombay Presidency expanded vastly. Scindia, Holkar, Gaekwad, Bhonsle reduced to vassals via Subsidiary Alliance. Effectively the end of Indian political resistance until 1857.
UPSC angle
Know ANGLO-MARATHA WARS 3 WARS 1775-1818; MARATHA CONFEDERACY: Peshwa Pune+Gaekwad Baroda+Holkar Indore+SCINDIA Gwalior+Bhonsle Nagpur; FIRST WAR 1775-82: Peshwa Madhavrao died 1772 succession dispute, RAGHUNATHRAO approached Bombay, TREATY OF SURAT 6 March 1775 (Bombay help Raghunathrao for Salsette+Bassein), Warren Hastings REVERSED via Convention of Purandhar Mar 1776, Bombay Col Keating campaign, CONVENTION OF WADGAON 12-13 Jan 1779 Bombay army defeated by MAHADJI SCINDIA British surrendered all post-1773 territory, Hastings sent GODDARD captured Ahmedabad 1780, Maratha-Mysore-Nizam Triple Alliance 1781, TREATY OF SALBAI 17 MAY 1782 with Mahadji Scindia STATUS QUO ANTE British gave up Raghunathrao 20 yrs peace; SECOND WAR 1803-05: Madhavrao II Peshwa died 1795 civil war, PESHWA BAJI RAO II defeated by Holkar BATTLE OF HADAPSAR Pune 25 Oct 1802, fled Bassein, TREATY OF BASSEIN 31 DEC 1802 Subsidiary Alliance 6000 British force in Peshwa territory + Rs 26 lakh/yr cession + no war/treaty without British consent; Scindia+Bhonsle+Holkar rejected; BATTLE OF ASSAYE 23 SEPT 1803 ARTHUR WELLESLEY defeated Scindia+Bhonsle decisively; Battle of Argaon 1 Nov 1803; TREATY OF DEOGAON 17 Dec 1803 with Bhonsle (Cuttack+Balasore); TREATY OF SURJI-ANJANGAON 30 Dec 1803 with Scindia (Delhi-Agra-Ganga-Yamuna doab); Holkar war 1804-05 defeated by Lake at Deeg 1804 + Bharatpur 1805; TREATY OF RAJGHAT 24 Dec 1805 with Holkar; THIRD WAR 1817-18 + PINDARI: Pindari raids 1810-17 from Maratha protection, LORD HASTINGS GG 1813-23 crush Pindaris+Marathas; Treaty of Poona 13 June 1817; BATTLE OF KIRKI/KHADKI 5 NOV 1817 Peshwa attacked British Residency Pune defeated; BATTLE OF SITABALDI 26 NOV 1817 Bhonsle Nagpur defeated; Battle of Nagpur 17 Dec; BATTLE OF MAHIDPUR 21 DEC 1817 HOLKAR defeated TREATY OF MANDSAUR 6 JAN 1818; Pindari camps destroyed Chitu killed Karim Khan captured 1818; PESHWA BAJI RAO II SURRENDERED 3 JUNE 1818 Mahabaleshwar Gen John Malcolm; Peshwa pensioned BITHUR Kanpur Rs 8 lakh/yr; adopted son NANA SAHEB later 1857 revolt; Maratha Confederacy ENDED, Peshwa office abolished.
Frequently asked questions
How many Anglo-Maratha Wars were fought?
Three: 1st (1775-82), 2nd (1803-05), 3rd (1817-18, fought alongside Pindari War).
What was the Treaty of Bassein 1802?
Signed 31 December 1802 between Peshwa Baji Rao II + British. Peshwa accepted Subsidiary Alliance — 6000-strong British force in Peshwa territory + ceded Rs 26 lakh/yr revenue. Sparked the 2nd Anglo-Maratha War as Scindia, Bhonsle, Holkar rejected it.
What was the Battle of Assaye?
Fought 23 September 1803 in Maharashtra — Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) decisively defeated Scindia + Bhonsle armies. Wellesley called it his finest battle.
When did the Maratha Confederacy end?
3 June 1818 when Peshwa Baji Rao II surrendered to General John Malcolm at Mahabaleshwar after the 3rd Anglo-Maratha War. Peshwa pensioned at Bithur, Kanpur (Rs 8 lakh/yr); his adopted son Nana Saheb would later lead the 1857 revolt.