Third Anglo Maratha War

Important wars and battles in Indian History

Third Anglo-Maratha War 1817-19 A.D

The conflict between the English and the Pindaris paved the way for the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818) as the English suspected that the Marathas were providing clandestine help to the Pindaris.

The Peshwa with a view to increasing the income of the state introduced certain stringent measures in his revenue affairs. The English accused him of maladministration and oppression. On the other hand, Sindhia and Holkar were involved in a tussle in the border regions in order to satisfy their increasing demand for revenue.

Relentless intervention of the British Residents in the internal affairs, particularly in the dispute regarding succession of the Indian states almost shattered their admin­istrative structure. Moreover, bitter factional feuds sprang up among the subdued chiefs. But in no time, the real intentions of the English were exposed to the Maratha sardars and in 1817 they decided to give their last fight for freedom against the English. The English had posted huge troops very near to the Maratha kingdom for suppressing the so called Pindari adventurers.

Although the Peshwa Baji Rao II accepted the Subsidiary Alliance of the English, but he became eager to make himself free from the English control. With the help of his trusted minister Trimbak Rao, Baji Rao II tried to form an anti English confederacy. But Elphinstone, the British Resident of Puna had a strong disliking for Trimbak Rao and he used to keep a close watch over the latter’s activities. The Gaikawad of Baroda had close links with the English. In 1815 Gaikawad sent his Prime Minister Gangadhar Shastri to the Peshwa headquarters at Puna for negotiating on certain important issues. But Trimbak Ralo hatched a plot against Gangadhar Shastri and eventually murdered him. The murder of Gangadhar made Elphinstone angry and he told Peshwa to submit Trimbak Rao to the hands of the English. After much hesitation, Baji Rao II surrendered Trimbalk Rao to Elphinstone. The English kept Trimbak under confinement in the fortress of Thana. This incident gave a serious blow to the dignity of the Peshwa and he was out to take revenge against the English. In the beginning of 1817, the Peshwa made serious attempts to organize against the English a confederacy of the Maratha Chiefs. For this purpose, Baji Rao II sent one of his ministers, Balaji Kunjar to several Maratha sardars. He also opened negotiations with the Pathan Chief Amir Khan and the Pindaris. He repaired the old forts of his kingdom and tried to increase the strength and efficiency of his army. Elphinstone realised that the Marathas were preparing for a final show­down with the English.

By this time, Earl of Moira, better known as the Marques of Hastings came as the Governor General (1813). With his arrival the British policy of neutrality had thoroughly been reversed. The English compelled the Maratha leaders to make pacts with them. After the death of Raghuji Bhonsle a dispute regarding succession arose. Ignoring the claim of his on Parsaji Bhonsle his nephew Appa Sahib became the successor to Raghuji’s kingdom. By the terms of .the Nagpur Treaty signed on May 27, 1816, Appa Sahib accepted the Subsidiary Alliance of the English. On June 13, 1817, the Peshwa was also compelled to sign a treaty with the English at Puna. The Peshwa pledged not to take any initiative to form an anti English confederacy. He also ceded Konkan along with some other territories to the English. By the terms of the Gwalior Treaty signed on 5 November, 1817, Daulat Rao Sindhia promised to cooperate with the English.

But not a single Maratha chief did accept these humiliating treaties imposed upon them by the English. They desired to make a last effort to free themselves from the British control.

On 5 November, 1817, the Third Anglo-Maratha War or conflict began. Bapu Gokhale suffered defeat at the hands of the English in two successive battles. Peshwa Baji Rao II fled to Purandar. At this stage, Appa Sahib Bhonsle and Malhar Rao Holkar, the son of Jaswant Rao Holkar, declared war against the English. On 27 December, 1817, the English defeated Bhonsle in the battle of Sitabaldi and defeated Holkar on 21 December in the same year. On January 6, 1818, Holkar was compelled to accept Subsidiary Alliance by the terms of the Treaty of Mandasore.

Holkar also left his claim over the Rajput territories and gave the entire region situated in the south of the river Narmada to the English. The English also annexed the kingdom of Appa Sahib Bhonsle. The Peshwa fought two more battles with the English – at Koregaon on January 1, 1818, and at Peshti on February 20, 1818. He suffered defeat in both the battles and his able general Bapu Gokhale died in the second. On 3 June, 1818, Peshwa Baji Rao II surrendered to the English. Baji Rao II had to stay on a pension of 8 lakhs a year. His dominions were placed under the English contrail. Satara was given to Pratap, a descendant of Sivaji. With the suppression of the Marathas there was no power left to resist the growth of the British power in India. British influence and authority spread throughout the country with magical celebrity.

Second Anglo Maratha War

Important wars and battles in Indian History

Second Anglo Maratha War 1803-1806 A.D.

The Marathas had lost almost all their top-ranking leaders by the time Wellesley came to India as Governor-General. Mahadji Scindia, Ahalyabai, Nana Fadnavis had been dead.

This removal of the leading personalities led to a selfish struggle among the Marathas. Peshwa Baji Rao II, Daulat Rao Scindia, Yaswant Rao Holkar, etc. entered into a mutual struggle.

Baji Rao, supported by Daulat Rao, nought to ward off Yaswant Rao’s invasion of Poona, but was sig- rally defeated. Baji Rao fled to the English camp and signed a subsidiary alliance with them. This alliance is known as the treaty of Bassein (1802).

According to the provisions of this treaty a sub­sidiary force of not less than 6,000 regular infantry, with the usual proportion of field-artillery and European artillery men was to be static tied within Peshwa’s territory in perpetuity and for its main­tenance territories yielding annual revenue of twenty-six lacs were handed over to the English by the Peshwa. The Peshwa also pledged not to enter into any communication or entertain any European power hostile to the English. In this way the Peshwa sold his independence for his protection.

The treaty of Bassein, in the words of Dean Hutton “a step which changed the footing in which we (the English) stood in West­ern India. It trebled the English responsibilities in an instant”. It was, no doubt, a landmark in the history of the English supremacy in India and brought the English Company in a definite, superior relation with the formal head of the Maratha Confederacy.

There has been a tendency among some of the British writers to over-estimate the importance of the treaty of Bassein. Owen holds that “the Treaty by its direct and indirect operations gave the Company the Empire of India”. But it may be pointed out that in 1803 the British suzer­ainty over India was not a foregone conclusion and much had to be achieved before such position was attained by the British. Lord Castlereagh, the President of the Board of Control, in a paper en­titled Observation on the treaty of Bassein criticized the treaty by saying that it appeared “hopeless to govern the Maratha Empire through a feeble and perhaps disaffected Peshwa”.

The article of the treaty which provided for the Peshwa’s acceptance of the British arbitrations in his disputes with other powers was according to Cast­lereagh fraught with the danger of involving the English “in the end­less and complicated distractions of the turbulent. (Maratha) Empire”. Wellesley’s optimism that there was no reason to justify apprehension of hostility with the Maratha chiefs was belied, for, war with the Marathas was not long in coming. Wellesley, however, hoped that if was would actually break out the treaty of Bassein would be of much help to meet the Marathas. Arthur Wellesley; brother of Lord Wellesley, called the treaty of Bassein “a treaty with a cipher (the Peshwa)”.

Baji Rao II was replaced as Peshwa by the British, but the way in which Baji Rao got himself reinstated as Peshwa made him a 6tooge of the British and the prestige of the Maratha confederacy, particularly of Peshwaship was lost.

The abject surrender of Baji Rao to the British which meant surrender of national independence of the Marathas was regarded as a great insult by the other Maratha chiefs who sank their mutual jealousies and for a time made a combined effort to retrieve the position.

The Peshwa, Baji Rao II, soon became repentant for what he had done and secretly encouraged the Maratha combination against the British. Daulat Rao Scindia, Raghuji Bhonsle combined their forces and tried to enlist Jaswant Rao Holkar’s support. But even in the face of such national peril, Holkar kept himself out of the com­bination. Gaikwar also remained neutral.

The Scindia and Bhonsle mobilized their troops. The total strength of the combined forces was 250,000 men besides 40,000 troops trained by the Frenchmen. The British troops numbered £5,000. Hostilities began in August, 1803.

The British troops were under Arthur Wellesley, later Duke of Wellington, and General Lake. Arthur Wellesley occupied Ahmednagar in the Deccan and in the battle of Assaye he signally defeated the combined force of the Scindia and Bhonsle. The battle of Assaye (Sept. 23, 1803) has been described as a triumph more splendid than any recorded in Deccan history by Grant Duff. Scindia’s European officers deserted him. In the battle of Delhi Scindia was completely routed and both Delhi and Agra were captured by General Lake. At Laswari in Alwar State Scindia sustained defeat at the hands of General Lake.

In the meantime Bhonsle’s army was also defeated in the battle of Argaon and he was compelled to sign the treaty of Deogaon (Dec. 18,1803) with the English. By this treaty Bhonsle ceded the Province of Cuttack including Balasore and all his terri­tory west of the river Warda. A British Resident was posted at Nagpur. Scindia after his defeat at Laswari signed the treaty of Surji Arjangao (Dec. 30, 1803) surrendered all his territories between the Ganges and the Jumna and his forts and territories north of Jai­pur, Jodhpur and Gohad. Ahmandnagar, Broach and all territories west of the Ajanta hills were also surrendered. It was also stipula­ted that Scindia would not exercise any influence over the Mughal Emperor. A British Resident was placed in Scindia’s court. By a separate treaty on February 27, 1804, Scindia signed a subsidiary alliance with the English.

The success of the English in the Second Anglo-Maratha War secured them numerous important advantages. In fact, even Welles­ley did not anticipate so quick and complete success. By this war while the Maratha power was broken and disjointed, it gave a great extension to the British Empire in India. The new acquisition of territories linked up the British possessions of Bengal and Madras.

As a result of this war, the titular Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was brought under the English protection. Extension of territories up-to the borders of Jaipur, Jodhpur etc.. offered opportunities to the English to enter into friendly alliance with Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bundi, Macheri, and the Jat Kingdom of Bharatpur.

The French trained battalions of the Marathas were disbanded and the Nizam and the Peshwa who became more apprehensive of the British, hence fell more under their influence.

According to Munro, as a result of the Second Anglo-Maratha War, the British became the “complete masters of India, and nothing can shake our power, if we take proper measure to confirm it”. Wel­lesley felt that the treaties entered into after the Second Anglo-Mara­tha War afforded the “only possible security for the permanent tranquillity and prosperity of these valuable and important possessions”.

But the too narrow and exacting interpretation of the treaties that were at the close of the Second Anglo-Maratha War did not really make the British possessions secure. At least despatches of Lord Castlereagh did not subscribe to Lord Wellesley’s view. Arthur Wel­lesley, brother of Lord Wellesley, observed very rightly that “Our enemies are much disgusted and complain loudly of our conduct and want of faith; and in truth I consider the peace to be no means secure”.

Fourth Anglo Mysore War

Important wars and battles in Indian History

Fourth Anglo Mysore War 1799 A.D.

• Name of the Battle: Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
• Venue: South India
• Year: 1799

Among all the heroes who fought against the British on the Indian subcontinent, the king of Mysore, Tipu Sutan’s name always remains at the top as the most prominent hero in the history of India. He had very few equals. He was a great warrior, fought many battles, had high knowledge of the art of administration and was well-educated. During his rule, Mysore prospered and he always wanted to make Mysore a much stronger and powerful state.

The fourth Mysore war was fought between Tipu Sultan and East India Company under General Lord Mornington. It was the last conflict of the Anglo-Mysore wars that took place in South India, in which Tipu Sultan was defeated and the Kingdom of Mysore became a princely state of the British, along with Coimbatore, Uttara Kannada, and Dakshina Kannada.

The reasons that led to the battle

When Tipu Sultan was defeated in the third Anglo-Mysore war, he wanted to take revenge on the British and wanted to get back his lost territory. He wanted to make Mysore a strong state. To avenge his humiliating defeat, he sought the help from the rulers of the countries like France, Turkey, Arabia and Kabul, He wanted to drive the British out of India. He supported the revolutionary France Government in 1798. When Napolean came to power, Tipu was an ally of the French. The growing friendliness between Tipu Sultan and the French made the British cautious.

Lord Wellesley arrived at Madras on 26 April 1798 and he wanted to take a drastic step to stop the alliance between the French and Tipu Sultan. He was hell bent upon declaring a war against Tipu which the Court of Directors of the East India Company were against. Lord Wellesly revived the Triple Alliance of 1790 and the Nizam was brought to his side under a subsidiary alliance. As per this treaty, the Nizam gave up his French troops and accepted a subsidiary force of the British for his protection. Lord Wellesley then asked Tipu Sultan to make a similar subsidiary alliance with the British which he refused out-rightly. Thus, Wellesley wanted to see the end of Tipu Sultan and this led to the fourth and final battle between Mysore and East India Company. Wellesley declared war against Tipu Sultan on 22 February 1799. The primary objective of the British was to control the rising power of Tipu Sultan in South India and strengthen its position in the region.

The strength of the warring forces

The British East India Company had about 26,000 soldiers, including 4,000 Europeans and the rest, Indians. The Nizam of Hyderabad who supported the British provided the British army with ten battalions and over 16,000 cavalry. Many soldiers were sent by the Marathas. Thus, the British East India company had a total of over 50,000 soldiers in the fourth Mysore war. On the other hand, Tippu Sultan had only about 30,000 soldiers.

Aftermath of the battle: winner and loser

• Winner: British East India Company
• Loser: Tipu Sultan, the King of Mysore

A three month campaign was launched by the British using two forces of army, one led by General George Harris from Vellore and the other led by Colonel James Stuart from Cannanore. Both the troops marched into Mysore in 1799 and attacked Tipu Sultan and his men from all sides. The British were also supported by the Nizam. The fourth Mysore war was of short duration. But the tiger of Mysore fought bravely but was not successful in blocking the march of the British towards his capital. On 5 March 1799, he suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Stuart at Sedaseer, forty miles west of Seringapatam. On 27 March 1799, he lost another battle at Malvelley, which was thirty miles east of Seringapatam. Eventually the Bombay force of the British too joined in. Tipu started losing his men and force. The English wanted a peace retreat by Tipu Sultan under certain conditions, which Tipu refused. Tipu Sultan continued his fight against the British. His burning desire to avenge the British went on, till he fell in the battlefield and breathed his last on 4 May 1799.

The larger implications of the battle

The fourth Mysore war was the last of the Anglo Mysore wars. An indirect control of the capital of Tipu Sultan, Seringapatam and Mysore came under the hands of the British. They re-established the Wodeyar dynasty to the Mysore throne. Fateh Ali, Tipu's young successor, was sent into exile. The Kingdom of Mysore became a princely state of British India. The members of the family of Tipu Sultan were first kept at Vellore and later they were deported to Calcutta.

The overall place and significance of the battle in the Indian history

With the death of Tipu Sultan, the supremacy of the English was more or less established in the Indian subcontinent. The fall of Seringapatam, the capital of Tipu Sultan, marked the end of Muslim rule over Mysore. This also led to the beginning of the British rule in Mysore. After Tipu, there was no person who was as powerful and brave like him to challenge the British authority in India or any state in India. The fall of Seringapatam paved the path towards the removal and destruction of all other remaining obstacles in the way of British supremacy like as the Marathas and the others. The whole of Mysore lay before the British and Tipu’s domain was partitioned. Marathas and Nizam took over few territories of Tipu. British conquered Nilagiri, Canara, and Coimbatore districts. Mysore became a princely state of the British and Krishna Raja, a boy of 8 years of Odayar dynasty, was given the throne of Mysore by the British. And Mysore lost its independence. The new princely state of Mysore that was formed was completely under the British dominion and also under subsidiary alliance (the Subsidiary Treaty signed on 6 April 1801). The British could also interfere in the administration of the empire. As a result of the fourth Mysore war, the British got complete control and power of South India. Lord Wellesley was given the title of Marquees by the British Government after this war.

Third Anglo Mysore War

Important wars and battles in Indian History

Third Anglo Mysore War 1789-92 A.D.

29 Dec 1789    Tipu sultan attacks on Travancore 29 Jan 1791     Cornwallis took over the command of the British troops 3 Nov 1791     Tipu sultan captured Coimbatore March 1792      Treaty of Seringapatnam Causes led to Anglo-Mysore Conflict The treaty of Mangalore of 1784 between Tipu Sultan and the English was nothing but a hollow truce. When Lord Cornwallis came to India he was bound by Pitt's India Act to refrain from following a policy of war except for purely defensive purpose. Tipu Sultan was also not satisfied by the treaty of 1784 and so in 1787 sent an emissary to France and Constantinople for support. Cornwallis believed that Tipu allying himself with the French would strike against the English. So he worked on the anti-Tipu suspicions of the Nizams and Marathas. Cornwallis provoked Tipu by signing an agreement with the Nizams for help to recover the district of Balaghat which was in the possession of Mysore. The immediate cause of the war was Tipu's attack on Travancore on December 29, 1789. Tipu's differences with the Raja of Travancore arose over the latter's purchase of Jaikottai and Travancore from the Dutch in the Cochin state and Tipu considered Cochin as his tributary state and thus considered the act of the Raja as violation of his sovereign rights. On the other hand, the Raja of Travancore was entitled to the protection of the English. Thus taking advantage of the situation, the English, making a triple alliance with the Nizams and the Marathas, attacked Tipu Sultan. March to Seringapatnam The war between Tipu and "Triple alliance" lasted for almost two years. The first, under Major-General Medows, did not produce any decisive result and Tipu displayed greater skills and strategy than Medows. So on January 29, 1791, Cornwallis himself took over the command of the British troops. With a large army, Cornwallis marched through Vellore and Ambure to Bangalore. He captured Bangalore in 1791 and approached Seringapatnam, Tipu's capital, by May 13. Tipu displayed great skill in defending and his tactics forced Cornwallis to retreat by cutting off supplies. Treaty of Seringapatnam The fighting was resumed in the summer of 1791. Tipu captured Coimbatore on November 3. But, Cornwallis, with the help of the army sent from Bombay, occupied all the forts in his path to Seringapatnam, where he arrived on February 5, 1792. Tipu displayed all his skills and offered tough resistance but soon realised the impossibility of carrying further the struggle. Tipu had to sue for peace and the Treaty of Seringapatnam concluded in March 1792. The treaty resulted in the surrender of nearly half of the Mysorean territory to the victorious allies. The British acquired Baramahal, Dindigul and Malabar while the Marathas got territory on the Tungabhadra side and the Nizams acquired the territories from the Krishna to beyond the Pennar. Tipu also had to pay a war indemnity of over three millions pounds and hand over his two sons as hostages. Out of this war the Company gained some possessions in the South which added to the strength and compactness of the Company's territories. Cornwallis summed up the Company's gains; "We have effectively crippled our enemy without making our friends too formidable."

Battle of Udgir

Important wars and battles in Indian History

Battle of Udgir - 1770 A.D.

The Battle of Rakshasbhuvan was fought on 10 August 1763.^[1] After the defeat of the Marathas at the Battle of Panipat, their rivals started seizing the opportunity to recover their losses in the past at the hands of Marathas. Particularly, the Nizam of Hyderabad wanted to recover territory he had lost at the battle of Udgir where all of his dukes and earls were killed. He decided to launch a war on the Marathas.

Battle

To boost the morale of his army, on the advice of his Diwan (who was once considered one of wise men in Peshwa reign) Vithal Sundar Pratapwant, the son of Sundar Narayan, who had built the Kala Ram temple at Nasik (Historian Ninad Bedekar mentions Vithal Sundars surname as "Parshurami") he declared Inams and Jagirs to many warriors who had deserted the Marathas and had joined with him to replace his warriors who were killed at Udgir. The main warrior amongst them was Vinayak Dasrao, nephew of Vithal Sundar himself, the other lieutenants being Narsinhrao Dixit Kaygaonkar whose father was killed in one of battle in Bundelkhand fighting for Peshwas, Shankarrao Joshi and Krishnarao Kanitkar.

The latter 3 were given Jagirs of Kaygaon Toke, Badnapur and Limbaganesh whilst Vinayak Dasrao was given Inam of Neurgaon. Vithal Sundar was given Jagir of the most fertile area of Pimpri in Aurangabad District. Amongst these, Krishnaji Kanitkar had given refuge to Sardar Vyankatrao Ghorpade of Ichalkaranji, Sardar Kolhatkar of Pen (Brother-in-law of Bhausaheb Sadashivrao Peshwa) and Sardar Hariba Patwardhan of Sangli during their flight from Scindia's forces during the mutiny of the pretender of Bhausaheb Peshwa. This refuge was given at the request of Sardar Tukoji Holkar.

Over and above the army of 25,000 of these Jagirdars from the Marathi area and loyal forces of Ismail Khan Panni, Raghoji Jadhavrao IV and Nanasaheb Nimbalkar Khardekar, Nizam was also assisted by General Bussey's French troops. However, the Marathas were being led by young Peshwa Madhavrao (until the skirmish of Chambhar Gonda, Sardar Janoji Bhosle and Shrimant Raghunathrao, uncle of Peshwa were also in the camp), who was assisted by Visaji Tryambak, Sardar Naro Shankar Dani Raje Bahadur, Babu Naik (Chief of Raghuji Bhosle's Nagpur Army who, prior to battle a few months before, had made a friendship treaty with Nizam),Sardar Yashwantrao Wable (Kopergaon) and Sardar Malojiraje III Ghorpade of Mudhol trounced the Nizam's forces at Rakshasbhuvan after the battle was fought for five to six months. Many of Nizam's trusted dukes like Shambhulal, Hamid Ulla Khan, Laxmanrao Khandagale, Rukn Ud Doula, Ramchandra Jadhavrao of Bhalki, Mir Mogal Ali Khan alias Nasir Ul Mulk left Nizam after the throne was encroached by Nizam Ali, brother of dethroned Nizam Salabat Jang and joined Marathas. Ironically Govindrao Ghorpade, who fought on behalf of the Nizam, was killed at the hands of his father, Malojirao Ghorpade, who was with Peshwa. The Nizam's closest aide, Vithal Sundar, was killed by Sardar Mahadaji Shitole Deshmukh of Kasba Pune.

Truce

A truce was reached and a treaty was signed at Aurangabad, whereby the Nizam lost 50 lacs territory including Bhalki and except Telangana and the eastern part of the Godavari river in Maharashtra. They gained the Bidar and Naldurg forts in exchange for Bhalki.

As a part of the settlement, Neurgaon and Limbaganesh became part of the Maratha empire. After the defeat of Peshwa Bajirao II in 1818, the British returned this territory to Nizam IV and these two Jagirs got merged into Nizam State. Unfortunately their descendants did not take care of health, drinking water, irrigation or road facilities in the territories. Even during famine or drought, when Nizam lifted all the taxes on agricultural yields which were very poor, these four Jahigrdars continued to recover their share from peasants. This led to Salar Jung II advising Nizam V to terminate their Jagirs.

As a result the Jagirs of Neurgaon, Badnapur and Kaygaon got merged with the Jagir of Takli/Lad Sawangi. Troops of Limbaganesh got merged with 5000 Mansab of Aamir Nawaz Khan, Talukdar of Naldurg and Collector of Bhir in 1843 which were restored by Sir Sikandar Khan's father during his reign in 1888.

This decisive victory made Madhavrao Peshwa stronger. This was his first battle, fought in 1764. Surprisingly Vithal Sundar's vacant post of Diwan was given to Mir Musa Khan Rukn Ud Daula, a Peshwa lobbyist in Nizam's durbar.

Second Anglo Mysore War

Important wars and battles in Indian History

Second Anglo Mysore War - 1780 to 1784 A.D.

July 1780      Hyder Ali attacked Carnatic
Oct 1780     Hyder Ali captured Arcot
Nov 1781      Hyder Ali defeated at Porto Nova
7 Dec 1782     Hyder Ali died
1784     Treaty of Mangalore 

Declaration of the Second War 

In 1769, after suffering heavy losses in the the first Anglo-Mysore war, the British sued for peace. In the treaty both the parties agreed to help each other in case of an attack from a third party. However the terms of the treaty were not fulfilled by the Madras Government. The British refused to help Hyder Ali when Mysore was attacked by the Marathas in 1771. Hyder found that the French gave more support in terms of his military demands. So in 1780 when the English wanted to attack the French at Mahe, situated on the west coast of Mysore, Hyder Ali did not permit it. Therefore the English declared war against Hyder Ali.

Hyder Ali captures Arcot

Hyder Ali arranged a joint front with the Nizam and the Marathas. In July 1780, Hyder Ali with 80,000 men and 100 guns attacked Carnatic. In October 1780 he captured Arcot, defeating an English army under Colonel Braille. In the words used by Sir Alfred Lyall, "the fortunes of the English in India had fallen to their lowest watermark". Meanwhile Sir Eyre Coote, Commander-in-chief in India, sent by Warren Hastings detached the Raja of Berar, Mahadji Sindhi and Nizam from the alliance with the Hyder Ali.

Hyder Ali dies

Undaunted, Hyder Ali boldly continued the war with the British. But in November 1781, Sir Eyre Coote defeated Hyder Ali at Porto Nova. In January 1782, English captured Trincomali, the harbour of Ceylon from Dutch. In 1982, Hyder Ali inflicted a humiliating defeat on the British troops under Colonel Braithwaite. However Hyder was not destined to fight further. On December 7, 1782, Hyder Ali died leaving the unfinished task to his son Tipu Sultan.

Hyder Ali was one of the ablest personalities in the history of India. It would be unfair to describe him as an "absolutely unscurpulous" man, who "had no religion, nor morals, and no compassion, as Dr Smith has done. Though he did not strictly follow the external observances of the religion, he had a sincere religious conscience, and Wilks has described him as the "most tolerant" of all Muhammadan princes.

Treaty of Mangalore

Like his father, Tipu Sultan, was a brave warrior and continued the war against the British. Brigadier Mathews, appointed by the Bombay Government was captured by Tipu in 1783. Then in November 1783, Colonel Fullarton captured Coimbatore. But absolute success eluded both the sides. Tired of the war, the two sides concluded the Treaty of Mangalore in 1784. According to the treaty, both the parties decided to restore each other's conquered territories and free all the prisoners. Thus the second round of struggle too proved inconclusive. Warren Hastings, however, did not like the terms of treaty, and the British did not gained anything from the war.

Anglo Maratha War

Important wars and battles in Indian History

First Anglo Maratha Wars

• Name of the Battle: Anglo-Maratha Wars
• Venue: Pune, Central India, Maharashtra and neighbouring areas
• Year: 1775-82, 1803-05, 1817-18

The three conflicts or wars fought between British East India Company and the Maratha confederacy or the Maratha Empire in India are referred to as the great Maratha Wars or the Anglo-Maratha Wars. The wars started in 1777 and ended in 1818, with the victory of the British and the destruction of the Maratha Empire in India.

The reasons that led to the battle

When the Marathas were defeated in the battle of Panipat, the third Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao could not bear the defeat and died on 23 June 1761. After his death, his son Madhav Rao succeeded him. He was an able and efficient leader who maintained unity among his nobles and chiefs and soon was successful in retrieving the lost power and prestige of the Marathas. The growing importance of the Marathas made the British become more cautious and they wanted to destroy their re-establishment. In 1772 when Madhav Rao died, it opened the doors of the British to attack the Marathas.

• First Maratha War (1775-82): The main cause of the first Maratha war was the increased interference of the British in the affairs, both internal and external, of the Marathas and also the struggle for power between Madhav Rao and Raghunath Rao. After the death of Peshwa Madhav Rao, his younger brother, Narain Rao succeeded him but it was his uncle, Raghunath Rao who wanted to become the Peshwa. And so he sought the help of the English to get him murdered and make him the Peshwa and in return, he promised to hand over Salsette and Bessien to the British, along with revenues from Surat and Bharuch districts. The British promised to help Raghunath Rao and provided him with 2,500 soldiers. The combined armies of the English and Raghunath Rao attacked the Peshwa and they won. The Treaty of Surat was signed on 6 March 1775 but was not approved by the British Calcutta Council and the treaty was annulled at Pune by Colonel Upton, in which the supremacy of Raghunath was renounced and he was promised only a pension. This was rejected by the Bombay government, who gave refuge to Raghunath. In 1777, Nana Phadnis granted the French a port on the west coast, much against the treaty with the Calcutta Council. As a result, the British and the Maratha armies met at Wadgaon on the outskirts of Pune.

• Second Maratha War (1803-05): The Second Anglo-Maratha War was the second war fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire between 1803 and 1805 in Central India. The main cause of the second Maratha war due to the defeat of the peshwa Baji Rao II by the Holkars, one of the prominent Maratha clans, as a result of which he accepted British protection by signing the Treaty of Bassein in December 1802. The other Maratha rulers such as the Gwalior's Scindia rulers and the Bhonsle rulers of Nagpur and Berar did not accept this and they wanted to fight against the British. As a result, the second Anglo-Maratha war broke out in Central India in 1803.

• Third Maratha War (1817-18): The two main causes that led to the third and the final conflict between the British and the Marathas were (1) the growing desire of the Marathas to get back their lost territories and (2) excessive control over Maratha nobles and chiefs by the British. The war took place in Maharashtra and neighbouring areas in the year between 1817 and 1818.

Aftermath of the battle: winner and loser

First Maratha War

• Winner: Marathas
• Loser: British

Here, the British army was defeated by the Marathas and the British surrendered by mid-January 1779. The Treaty of Wadgaon was signed in which the Bombay government took hold of all territories conquered by the British since 1775. But, this defeat did not stop the British. They continued to fight against the Marathas, and in May 1782, the Treaty of Salbai was signed.

Second Maratha War

• Winner: British
• Loser: Marathas

In the second Maratha war, the British won and in the period between 1803 and 1805, three major treaties were signed between the Maratha Empire and the Bristish Empire, in which the British got back many of the Indian territories. These treaties were Treaty of Deogaon (1803), Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (1803) and Treaty of Rajghat (1805).

Third Maratha War

• Winner: British
• Loser: Marathas

This final war led to the complete downfall and end of the Maratha Empire in India and the whole of India came under the control of the British East India Company.

The larger implications of the battle 

• First Maratha War: As per the Treaty of Salbai, all Maratha territories were returned. The British took control of Salsette but all the territories occupied by the British were given back to the Marathas.

• Second Maratha War: The armies of Sindia and Bhonsle were defeated by the British at Assaye in September 1803 and at Argaon in November 1803 and on 17 December 1803, the Treaty of Deogaon was signed in which the provinces of Cuttack, Balasore and land west of the river Warda were given to the British and the subsidiary alliance with British was accepted. Later, the Bristish defeated the Sindia army at Aligarh and at Laswar and the Treaty of Surji-Arjunagaon was signed on 30 December 1803. As per this treaty, Sindia agreed to hand over the territories between the Ganga and Yamuna, Ahmadnagar, Broach and parts of Bundelkhand to the British. On 27 February 1804, the Treaty of Burhanpur was signed in which Sindia agreed to enter into subsidiary alliance with British. When the Holkar continued the war with British, the company entered into peace treaty on 24 December 1805 known as the Rajpurghat Treaty. As per this treaty, Yashvanth Rao Holkar agreed to renounce all the areas north of the Bundi hill to the British. This treaty marked the end of the second Anglo-Maratha.

• Third Maratha War: When the Peshwa attacked the British Residency in November 1817, the Maratha chiefs were defeated at various places such as Ashti, Nagpur, Mehidpur etc. On 5 November 1817, the Treaty of Gwalior was signed in which Sindia became a mere spectator in the war. On 6 January 1818, the Treaty of Mandasor was signed between Malhar Rao Holkar and the British, in which the Peshwa was dethroned, which was followed by the pensioning of the Peshwa. More of his territories were annexed with the British and the British established their supremacy in India.

The overall place and significance of the battle in the Indian history

The first, second, and third Anglo-Maratha wars were very significant in the History of India. The Moghul Empire was already under the British control during that time. But, the British still could not get hold of territories in the South as they were dominated by the Maratha chieftains. The Maratha wars started in 1777 and ended in 1818. While the Marathas won in the first battle, they lost against the British in the second and the third wars. Many treaties were signed between the Marathas and the British East India Company, which led to the control of India by the British. The treaties with Princely states made the British the owner of the vast properties and territories of India and India was indeed a jewel in the crown of the British Empire. The Maratha Empire completely ended after these wars. The British completely controlled India. In fact after the wars, India became a complete property of the British, in which the British mapped and defined India, entirely on their own terms and conditions, as per the Orientalist style.