Between the British East India Company and Maratha Empire in India, during 1775–1782, the First Anglo-Maratha War was fought. The war started with the agreement of Surat and ended with the agreement of Salbai. There was a continuous series of battles at the end of which the Treaty of Salbai was signed in 1782. This brings the first Anglo-Maratha war to an end.

Background And Course

• The third Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao died in 1761 due to sudden shock after he vanquished at the Third Battle of Panipat.
• Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao son Madhavrao I succeeded him. Madhavrao I was able to recover some of their Maratha power and territories which they almost lost in the Battle of Panipat.
• The English were clearly aware of the growing Maratha power.
• When Madhavrao I died, there was a struggle for power in the Maratha camp.
• Narayanrao became the Peshwa but his uncle wants to become the Peshwa. For this, he needs the help of the Englishmen.
• During 1775 the agreement of Surat was signed. Raghunathrao conceded Salsette and Bassein to the English and in return, he was given soldiers.
• The British and army of Raghunathrao attacked the Peshwa and won the battle.
• Under Warren Hastings the British Calcutta Council cancelled this agreement and a new treaty; in 1776 the agreement of Purandhar was signed between the Calcutta Council and Minister of Maratha.
• Raghunathrao was given the only pension and Salsette was held on by the British.
• But the British establishment at Bombay breached this treaty and protected Raghunathrao.
• During 1777, Nana Phadnavis crossed his agreement with the Calcutta Council and approved a port on the west coast to the French.
• This led the British to take the soldiers towards Pune. There was a battle at Wadgaon near Pune in which the Marathas under Mahadji Shinde secured a conclusive victory over the English.
• The English were forced to sign the agreement of Wadgaon in 1779.

Central India And Deccan

• After capturing Bassein, Goddard stepped towards Pune. In April 1781 he was defeated in the Battle of Bhor Ghat.
• In central India, Mahadji put himself at Malwa to challenge Camac. Initially, he had the support and British forces under Camac, being harassed, had to retreat to Hadur.
• In February 1781 the British defeated Shinde of the town of Sipri, but after every move they made that was defeated by his much larger army, until they made a desperate raid in late March, seizing not only their supplies but even weapons and elephants.
• Then the military threat from Shinde's forces to the British was reduced. The contest was equally balanced.
• Mahadji had a significant victory over Camac, but later they paid off the loss in 1781 through the Battle of Durdah. Colonel Murre came with his new forces in April 1781 to assist Popham and Camac.
• After the defeat of Mahadji at Sipri, Mahadji Shinde aroused. Finally, he defeated the forces of Murree on July 1, 1781. From that time Mahadji was too powerful to be defeated.

Treaty Of Salbai

• On 17 May 1782, the agreement of Salbai was signed and approved by Hastings in June 1782 and by Nana Phadnavis.
• The treaty ended the First Anglo-Maratha War, restored the status, and established peace between the two parties for 20 years.

Results

• The East India Company preserved Salsette and Broach.
• It also took a promise from the Marathas that they will retake their possessions in the Deccan from Hyder Ali.
• Marathas also promised that they will not give any territories to the French.
• Raghunathrao was to receive a pension every year.
• All territories taken by the British after the Treaty of Purandhar were surrendered back to the Marathas.
• The English accepted Madhavrao II as the Peshwa.

Battle Of Wadgaon

• On the outskirts of Pune, the British and the Maratha armies met each other.
• The Maratha army came at the number of 80,000 soldiers and the British came with 35,000 highly superior ammunition and weapons.
• However, the Maratha army was led by a General named Mahadji Shinde. Mahadji gathered the British army into the valleys near Talegaon and trapped the British.
• Once trapped, the Maratha cavalry annoyed the enemy from all the sides and attacked the British supply at Khopoli.
• The Marathas also used an earth policy that is burning the farmland and poisoning wells and rivers.
• As the British started to withdraw to Talegaon, the Marathas attacked, forcing them to go back to the village of Wadgaon.
• Here, the British army was rounded from all the sides by the Marathas and cut off from food and water.
• Finally the British surrendered by mid-January 1779 and signed the Treaty of Wadgaon that forced the Bombay government to quit all territories acquired by the British since 1775.

FAQs

Question. What was the First Anglo-Maratha War?

Question. What caused the First Anglo-Maratha War?

Question. What was the Treaty of Salbai?

Question. What were the results of the First Anglo-Maratha War?

Question. What was the Battle of Wadgaon?

MCQs

1. When was the First Anglo-Maratha War fought?

A) 1760-1765

B) 1775-1782

C) 1803-1805

D) 1817-1818

2. Which treaty ended the First Anglo-Maratha War?

A) Treaty of Bassein

B) Treaty of Purandhar

C) Treaty of Salbai

D) Treaty of Wadgaon

3. Who was the Peshwa during the First Anglo-Maratha War?

A) Balaji Baji Rao

B) Madhavrao I

C) Baji Rao II

D) Narayan Rao

4. What was the outcome of the Battle of Wadgaon?

A) A British victory

B) A Maratha victory

C) A stalemate

D) A surrender of both sides

5. Who was Raghunath Rao (Raghoba)?

A) A Maratha general

B) The Maratha King

C) The British ally in the war

D) A claimant to the Peshwa throne

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Analyze the causes of the First Anglo-Maratha War and its impact on the Maratha Empire.

Answer: The First Anglo-Maratha War was primarily caused by internal Maratha power struggles following the death of Madhavrao I. Raghunath Rao (Raghoba), seeking the Peshwa position, allied with the British, which escalated tensions. The war was marked by the Marathas’ ability to effectively counter British forces in several battles, including the Battle of Wadgaon. The war ended in a stalemate with the Treaty of Salbai, restoring the status quo. Despite the Treaty, the Maratha Empire emerged weakened, with the British securing strategic territories like Salsette and Broach. The war highlighted the growing British influence in India and the Marathas' internal divisions.

Q2. Explain the significance of the Treaty of Salbai in the context of the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Answer: The Treaty of Salbai, signed in 1782, played a pivotal role in ending the First Anglo-Maratha War. The treaty restored captured territories to the Marathas and secured British interests in the western coast, particularly the possession of Salsette and Broach. While the treaty effectively ended hostilities, it marked the beginning of British dominance in the region, as it further entrenched their control in strategic areas. The Marathas, while retaining their power, had to make significant compromises, including pledging not to grant territories to the French, who were seen as a threat to British supremacy.

Q3. Evaluate the military and political outcomes of the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Answer: Militarily, the First Anglo-Maratha War was characterized by a series of battles, with both sides achieving victories. The Marathas' victory at the Battle of Wadgaon was significant, as it forced the British to retreat and sign the Treaty of Wadgaon. Politically, the war exposed the internal divisions within the Maratha Empire, as the rivalry for the Peshwa throne undermined the Marathas’ unity. Despite the treaty, the Marathas remained a powerful force, but the British gained strategic control over key coastal areas, setting the stage for further conflicts in the coming decades. The war also laid the groundwork for the eventual decline of the Maratha Empire and the rise of British dominance in India.

Previous Year Questions on the First Anglo-Maratha War

1. UPSC CSE 2023

Question: "Discuss the causes and consequences of the First Anglo-Maratha War."

Answer: The First Anglo-Maratha War was caused by internal power struggles within the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company’s desire to expand its influence. The consequences included the weakening of the Maratha Empire and the entrenchment of British power in India, as the British secured key territories through the Treaty of Salbai.

2. UPSC CSE 2022

Question: "How did the First Anglo-Maratha War shape the future of British and Maratha relations?"

Answer: The First Anglo-Maratha War marked a turning point in British-Maratha relations, highlighting the British as a formidable military power while exposing internal weaknesses within the Maratha Empire. Although the Treaty of Salbai temporarily ended hostilities, it set the stage for future conflicts, leading to the eventual downfall of the Maratha Empire and the establishment of British dominance in India.