Question

Answer the following question in detail with the help of given points:

Explain the Anglo-Maratha wars in detail-

1. First Anglo-Maratha war
2. Second Anglo-Maratha war
3. Third Anglo-Maratha war

Answer 1

The Anglo-Maratha Wars were fought between the Marathas and the British East India Company in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These wars led to the decline of the Maratha Empire and British dominance in India.

1. First Anglo-Maratha War: The First Anglo-Maratha War occurred as the British aimed to expand their control from Sashti-Vasai to Konkan for trading purposes. They offered asylum to Raghunathrao Peshwa and marched from Mumbai to Pune with him. At Talegaon-Wadgaon, the Marathas defeated the British, forcing them to sign the Wadgaon Treaty in 1779. Later, Nana Phadnavis formed an alliance with the Peshwa, Bhosale of Nagpur, Nizam, and Hyder Ali to counter British expansion. However, the British successfully persuaded the Nizam to break the alliance. In 1795, the Marathas won the Battle of Kharda against the Nizam, further strengthening their position. During these events, a British envoy observed Maratha military tactics in detail. This knowledge later helped Lord Wellesley strategise and defeat the Marathas in the subsequent Anglo-Maratha Wars.
2. Second Anglo-Maratha War: The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805) occurred due to internal conflicts among the Marathas. After Nana Phadnavis' death, tensions grew between Bajirao Peshwa II and Yashwantrao Holkar. When Holkar attacked Pune, Bajirao II sought British protection, leading to the Treaty of Vasai (1802). However, this treaty was opposed by Shinde and Holkar, resulting in war. The British, led by Lord Wellesley, defeated the Marathas at Assaye and Argaon (1803). As a result, the Marathas lost significant territories and had to sign subsidiary alliances, further weakening their power and strengthening British control in India.
3. Third Anglo-Maratha War: The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818) was the final conflict between the Marathas and the British, leading to the end of Maratha rule in India. Peshwa Bajirao II opposed British dominance, leading to battles across Pune, Gwalior, Nagpur, and Indore. The British defeated the Marathas at the Battle of Koregaon (1818). As a result, the Peshwa was removed from power, and Maratha territories were annexed by the British. Bajirao II was granted a pension and spent the rest of his life in Bithoor, near Kanpur. This war ended Maratha sovereignty and strengthened British rule in India.