The Anglo-Maratha Struggle for Supremacy: Rise & Fall of Maratha Empire

Introduction

The Anglo-Maratha Struggle for Supremacy refers to a series of conflicts between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in the 18th and early 19th centuries. These struggles were characterized by territorial disputes, battles for dominance, and shifting alliances between the British and various Maratha factions. The outcome of these conflicts had significant implications for the balance of power in India and the eventual establishment of British colonial rule over the Indian subcontinent.

The Prominent Maratha families

• Under Bajirao 1 (1720-40), a system of Maratha confederacy was set up wherein each prominent family was assigned a sphere of influence in which they had to rule in the name of Maratha king, Shahu. Which include,
  • Gaekwads of Baroda
  • Bhonsle of Nagpur
  • Holkars of Indore
  • Sindhias of Gwalior
  • Peshwa of Poona 
• Maratha Decline after the Third Battle of Panipat
  • Eventually, the Marathas lost in the third Battle of Panipat (1761). This was accompanied by the death of a young Peshwa, Madhavrao I, in 1772, which weakened the control of Peshwas. 
  • The Maratha confederacies were not as united as earlier, and the English used these divisions to further their goals in new regions such as Bombay.

First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82) 

• Twelve Maratha Chiefs: Disagreements regarding succession within the Maratha leadership resulted in the Twelve Maratha chiefs, headed by Nana Phadnavis, endorsing the infant ‘Sawai’ Madhavrao over Raghunath Rao.
• Treaty of Surat: Raghunath Rao sought help from the English and signed the Treaty of Surat (1775), in which territories of Salsette and Bassein were ceded to the English. 
  • However, the British Calcutta Council disagreed and signed the Treaty of Purandhar, 1776, with the regency renouncing Raghunath Rao and giving him a pension. 
• Treaty of Wadgaon: Nana Phadnavis violated the treaty, and war ensued. The Maratha army was led by Mahadji Scindia, and they used a scorched earth policy to trap the English. 
  • The English surrendered and signed the Treaty of Wadgaon, giving back all territories to the Marathas.
• Treaty of Salbai: Warren Hastings, Governor General in Bengal,  disapproved of the Treaty of Wadgaon. He set up a large force that finally defeated Sindhia and forced him to sign the Treaty of Salbai. Its key provisions are as follows: 
  • Salsette was to remain under the possession of the English, whereas all territory conquered since the Treaty of Purandhar was to be restored to the Marathas.
  • Raghunathrao should only receive a maintenance allowance from the Peshwa and no more support from the English.
  • The Peshwa should not support any other European nation, and both, the Marathas and the English should undertake that their allies should remain at peace with one another

Enroll now for UPSC Online Course

Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-05)

• Death of Nana Phadnavis: Again, The English had a chance to meddle in Maratha affairs because of the divisions among the Marathas. 
  • The British gained an additional advantage in 1800 with the death of Nana Phadnavis.
• Treaty of Bassein (1802): Bajirao II fled in panic as Jaswant Rao marched on him. He signed the Treaty of Bassein (1802) with the English which had the following provisions: 
  • The Peshwa received from the Company a native infantry of over 6000 troops.
  • The Peshwa surrendered the city of Surat as well as ceded extra territories. 
• British Imposition of Conditions on the Peshwa: The Peshwa should not employ Europeans of any nation at war with the English as well as subject his relations with other states to the control of the English.
  • Subsidiary Alliance: The Accepted  by the Peshwa, but the Scindia and Bhonsle families tried to save Maratha’s independence. 
    • Yet, they were both defeated by the English under Arthur Wellesley and the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (1803) and the Treaty of Devgaon (1803) were signed respectively. 
  • Also, the defeat of the Holkars led to the signing of the Treaty of Rajpurghat (1806) 

Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-19) 

• Causes behind the War 
• • Lord Hastings intended to impose British paramountcy. 
  • With the exception of tea, the East India Company’s monopoly on trade in China was terminated by the Charter Act of 1813, so the business required access to new markets.
  • The Pindaris raided territories of the Company for plunder. This led to friction as they accused the Marathas of supporting the Pindaris. 
  • The other Maratha leaders were hurt by the Treaty of Bassein, which was referred to as “a treaty with a Cipher (the Peshwa)”. 
  • They interpreted the treaty as their total capitulation to independence.
• The Peshwa Bajirao II rallied together the Maratha chiefs and attacked the residency at Nagpur. 
  • However, the Marathas had considerably weakened now due to poor administration in Maratha states. 
• Thus, the English struck back and defeated the Peshwa and other families. 
  • The Treaty of Poona (1817) was signed with Peshwa, and similar treaties were signed with Scindia (Treaty of Gwalior, 1817) and Holkar (Treaty of Mandsaur, 1818).
• Eventually, in 1818, the Maratha confederacy was dissolved and the Peshwaship was abolished. Now, Pratap Singh, a descendant of Shivaji was made ruler of Satara. 

Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes

Conclusion

• The Anglo-Maratha Struggle for Supremacy marked a significant period of conflict and upheaval in Indian history. 
• The Marathas, once a formidable power, faced internal divisions and external pressures from the British, ultimately leading to the dissolution of Maratha rule. 
• The outcome of this struggle reshaped the political landscape of India, paving the way for British dominance and the eventual establishment of colonial rule.