{"id":127186,"date":"2024-08-21T19:18:31","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T13:48:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=docs&p=127186"},"modified":"2025-01-10T18:04:03","modified_gmt":"2025-01-10T12:34:03","password":"","slug":"anglo-maratha-wars","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/docs\/anglo-maratha-wars","title":{"rendered":"Anglo-Maratha Wars: The Struggle for Supremacy in 18th and 19th Century India"},"content":{"rendered":"

After the decline of the <\/span>Mughal Empire<\/b><\/a>, the <\/span>Marathas<\/b> emerged as one of its most formidable opponents, seizing the opportunity to <\/span>ascend to power<\/b>. They held sway over a vast expanse of the <\/span>Indian subcontinent<\/b>, extracting tribute even from regions not under their direct rule. By the mid-18th century, they had expanded their aspirations to the <\/span>North Indian empire<\/b>, having an influential presence in<\/span> Lahore <\/b>and playing a pivotal role as kingmakers in the <\/span>Mughal court.<\/b><\/p>\n

Although their ambitions suffered a setback after their <\/span>defeat by Ahmad Shah Abdali <\/b>at the Third <\/span>Battle of Panipat in 1761<\/b>, the Marathas soon regathered their forces. Within ten years, they once again became a dominant force in Indian politics.<\/span><\/p>\n

System of Confederacy<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Formation of the Maratha Confederacy:<\/b> Bajirao I (1720-40)<\/b>, considered greatest of all the Peshwas, had started a confederacy of prominent <\/span>Maratha<\/span><\/a> chiefs to manage the rapidly expanding Maratha power, and to some extent appease the <\/span>Kshatriya section<\/b> of the <\/span>Marathas (Peshwas were brahmins)<\/b> led by the <\/span>Senapati Dabodi<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n