The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1819) was a critical struggle in India between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire. During the battle, the Company gained control of the majority of India. It started with a British East India Company assault of Maratha land, and although being outnumbered, the Maratha army was annihilated. This article will explain to you about the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-19) which will be helpful in Modern Indian History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-19) - Background

• Lord Hastings' imperialistic objective was to impose British supremacy. The East India Business's monopoly on commerce in China (save tea) expired with the Charter Act of 1813, and the company sought other markets.
• The Pindaris, who came from a variety of castes and classes, served as mercenaries in the Maratha forces. The Pindaris were unable to find regular work when the Marathas became weak.
• As a result, they began looting nearby lands, including the Companies. The English accused the Marathas of harboring the Pindaris.
• Amir Khan and Karim Khan, two Pindari chiefs, surrendered, while Chitu Khan escaped into the forests.
• Other Maratha chiefs were hurt by the treaty of Bassein, which was regarded as "a treaty with a cipher (the Peshwa)." They viewed the pact as a complete loss of independence.
• Lord Hastings' efforts against the Pindaris were considered a violation of the Marathas' authority, and they served to reunite the Maratha confederacy.
• During the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1817, a remorseful Bajirao II made one final attempt by gathering the Maratha leaders against the English.

Course of War

• At Poona, the Peshwa assaulted the British Residency. Nagpur's Appa Sahib assaulted the Nagpur residence, and the Holkar prepared for war.
• However, at that time, the Marathas had lost practically all of the ingredients necessary for a power to thrive.
• All of the Maratha states' political and administrative situations were chaotic and ineffective. Following the death of Jaswantrao Holkar, Tulsi Bai, the Holkars' favourite mistress, Indore.
• Despite being a brilliant and intellectual lady, she was unable to effectively rule the realm due to the influence of some worthless men such as Balram Seth and Amir Khan.
• The Bhonsle in Nagpur and the Scindia in Gwalior were both in decline.
• So, by retaliating forcefully, the English were able to prevent the Peshwa from exerting his control over the Maratha confederacy once more.

Result of the Third Anglo - Maratha War

• At Khirki, Bhonsle was defeated at Sitabuldi, while Holkar was defeated at Mahidpur.
• A number of significant treaties were signed.
• The Treaty of Poona, with Peshwa, was signed in June 1817.
• Treaty of Gwalior with Scindia, November 1817.
• Treaty of Mandsaur with Holkar, January 1818.
• The Peshwa ultimately submitted in June 1818, and the Maratha confederacy was abolished.
• The peshwaship system was phased out. At Bithur, near Kanpur, Peshwa Bajirao became a British retainer.
• Pratap Singh, a direct descendant of Shivaji, was appointed ruler of Satara, a tiny principality created from the Peshwa's domains.

The Treaty of Poona

• The East India Company and Baji Rao II, the Peshwa (ruler) of Pune, signed the Treaty of Poona on June 1, 1817.
• The British gained sovereignty of the land north of the Narmada River and south of the Tungabhadra River as a consequence of the pact.
• Baji Rao had to relinquish his claim to Gaikwad as well.
• Finally, "he was not to connect with any other force in India in any way."

Treaty of Gwalior

• Shinde and the British signed the Treaty of Gwalior in 1817, despite the fact that he had not participated in the war.
• Shinde agreed to hand over Rajasthan to the British under this pact.
• After accepting British authority, the Rajas of Rajputana remained Princely States until 1947.

Treaty of Mandsaur

• On January 6, 1818, at Mandsaur, a peace treaty was signed.
• Holkars agreed to all of the British stipulations outlined in the Treaty of Mandsaur.
• The Holkars lost much of their land to the British at the end of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, and were included into the British Raj as a princely state of the Central India Agency.

The pindaris

• Shinde and Holkar had lost many of their territories to the British after the second Anglo-Maratha war.
• They incentivize the Pindaris to raid British lands. Because of the favour they obtained from the vanquished Maratha chiefs, the Pindaris, who were largely cavalry, were known as the Shindeshahi and the Holkarshahi.
• Setu, Karim Khan, Dost Mohammad, Tulsi, Imam Baksh, Sahib Khan, Kadir Baksh, Nathu, and Bapu were the Pindari chiefs.
• Shindeshahi had Setu, Karim Khan, and Dost Mohammad, while Holkarshahi had the remainder.
• In 1814, the Pindaris were reported to have a total strength of 33,000 men. The Pindaris invaded communities in Central India on a regular basis.
• The attack against the Pindaris went off without a hitch. The Pindaris were assaulted, and their dwellings were encircled and burned down.
• The Pindaris were assaulted from the south by General Hislop of the Madras Residency, who pushed them across the Narmada river, where Governor General Francis Rawdon-Hastings was waiting with his force.
• In the course of a single war, the Pindari troops were utterly dismantled and scattered.
• They didn't fight the regular soldiers, and even in tiny groups, they couldn't get through the ring of forces that had been established around them.

Lord Hastings

• Lord Hastings served as Governor-General of India for 10 years, from 1813 to 1823.
• His administration is remembered for its interventionist and war-mongering policies.
• He pursued a bold forward strategy and fought several wars.
• His harsh and imperialist policies laid the ground for the British Empire's general growth.
• He bolstered British influence in India.
• During his reign, two major conflicts took place: the Gurkha War and the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
• He streamlined judicial procedures and repealed the Censorship Act.
• Lord Hastings' term expired in 1823, and he was succeeded as acting Governor-General by John Adams, a senior member of the Governor General's council.
• Lord Amherst arrived in India as the new Governor General in the same year, 1823. From August 1823 until February 1828, he was in office.

Conclusion

During the battle, the Company gained control of the majority of India. The invasion began with British East India Company forces invading Maratha land, and although being outmanned, the Maratha army was devastated. Governor-General Hastings led the forces, which were backed up by an army led by General Thomas Hislop. The Pindaris, a gang of Muslim mercenaries and Marathas from central India, were targeted first. The final and conclusive struggle between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India was the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

FAQs

Q1: What led to the Third Anglo-Maratha War?

Q2: Which Maratha leaders were involved in the Third Anglo-Maratha War?

Q3: What was the outcome of the Third Anglo-Maratha War?

Q4: How did the British consolidate power after the war?

Q5: What is the historical significance of the Third Anglo-Maratha War?

MCQs

1. When did the Third Anglo-Maratha War take place?

a) 1775–1782

b) 1790–1792

c) 1803–1805

d) 1817–1818

2. Which Maratha leader was deposed after the war?

a) Shahu II

b) Peshwa Baji Rao II

c) Appa Sahib

d) Malhar Rao Holkar II

3. Which treaty ended the Third Anglo-Maratha War?

a) Treaty of Salbai

b) Treaty of Purandar

c) Treaty of Poona

d) Treaty of Mandeswar

4. Which British governor-general led the British forces during the war?

a) Lord Cornwallis

b) Lord Hastings

c) Lord Wellesley

d) Lord Dalhousie

5. What was the impact of the Third Anglo-Maratha War?

a) Strengthened Maratha power

b) Ended British expansion

c) Established British paramountcy

d) Created a new Maratha confederation

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the causes of the Third Anglo-Maratha War and its impact on the Maratha Confederacy.

Answer: The Third Anglo-Maratha War was caused by several factors, including growing British interference in Maratha affairs, the Peshwa's resentment against British control, and internal conflicts within the Maratha confederacy. The British used these conflicts to their advantage, leading to open hostilities. The war resulted in the dissolution of the Maratha Empire, with the Peshwa being exiled. It marked the end of Maratha resistance and the consolidation of British rule in India, bringing large parts of the subcontinent under the East India Company’s control.

Q2: Analyze the role of Peshwa Baji Rao II in the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

Answer: Peshwa Baji Rao II played a crucial role in the events leading to the war. His efforts to regain authority and resist British control alienated other Maratha chiefs, weakening the confederacy. His defeat at the Battle of Koregaon and subsequent exile marked the end of the Peshwa's authority, effectively dismantling the Maratha power structure. His actions, though aimed at restoring Maratha prestige, inadvertently hastened the British conquest.

Q3: Evaluate the significance of the Third Anglo-Maratha War in the context of British expansion in India.

Answer: The Third Anglo-Maratha War was a turning point in the history of British expansion in India. It marked the final step in the conquest of India, with the British defeating the last major indigenous power. The annexation of Maratha territories brought nearly the entire Indian subcontinent under British control. The victory also allowed the British to consolidate their administrative and military power, establishing a foundation for nearly a century of colonial rule.

Previous Year Questions on  Third Anglo-Maratha War

1. UPSC CSE 2019

Question: "Examine the role of Lord Hastings in the Third Anglo-Maratha War." 

Answer: Lord Hastings played a decisive role in the Third Anglo-Maratha War by adopting an aggressive expansionist policy. His strategy involved capitalizing on internal dissensions within the Maratha confederacy, leading to the swift defeat of key Maratha leaders. Hastings's military tactics ensured British victories in battles such as Koregaon and Poona. His success in this war not only dismantled the Maratha power but also marked the beginning of British paramountcy over the entire Indian subcontinent. Hastings's role exemplifies the British policy of divide and rule, which was instrumental in their consolidation of power in India.

2. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: "What were the consequences of the Third Anglo-Maratha War for the Maratha Empire?" 

Answer: The Third Anglo-Maratha War had profound consequences for the Maratha Empire. It resulted in the complete dissolution of the Maratha Confederacy, with the Peshwa being exiled to Bithur and his territories annexed by the British. The war marked the end of any significant native resistance to British rule in India, allowing the East India Company to establish dominance. The defeat also led to the incorporation of Maratha territories into British India, laying the groundwork for future administrative reforms. This war effectively ended indigenous political independence in India, marking the beginning of a new era of British colonial rule.