Understanding the Third Anglo-Maratha War and Resulting Treaties

The question asks about a specific treaty signed in 1818 between the British and the Holkar chief as a consequence of the Third Anglo-Maratha War. The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1819) was the final major conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. This war led to the complete collapse of the Maratha Empire and the establishment of British supremacy.

During this war, the British fought against various Maratha chiefs (confederacies) including the Peshwa, Scindia, Holkar, and Bhonsle. Several treaties were signed with these chiefs at different points during or immediately after the conflict.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine the given options to determine which treaty fits the description: signed in 1818 between the British and the Holkar chief as a result of the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

• Treaty of Purandar: There were two significant Treaties of Purandar. One in 1665 (between Shivaji and the Mughals) and another in 1776 (between the British and the Marathas during the First Anglo-Maratha War). Neither fits the time period (1818) or the specific war (Third Anglo-Maratha War).
• Treaty of Gwalior: This treaty was signed in 1817 between the British (led by Lord Hastings) and Daulat Rao Scindia of Gwalior. While it was part of the lead-up to and conduct of the Third Anglo-Maratha War (specifically related to Scindia's support against the Pindaris and British control over Rajputana states), it was with Scindia, not the Holkar chief, and it was signed in 1817, not 1818.
• Treaty of Surat: The Treaty of Surat was signed in 1775 between the British and Raghunathrao (a claimant to the Peshwa seat), leading to the First Anglo-Maratha War. This treaty is much earlier and not related to the Third Anglo-Maratha War or the Holkar chief.
• Treaty of Mandeshwar: This treaty was signed on 6 January 1818 between the British and Malhar Rao Holkar II, the ruler of the Holkar state of Indore. It was a direct consequence of the Third Anglo-Maratha War and the defeat of the Holkar forces at the Battle of Mahidpur in December 1817. By this treaty, the Holkars accepted the Subsidiary Alliance, ceded territories to the British and their allies (like the Rajput states), and lost their status as an independent power. This treaty perfectly matches the criteria mentioned in the question: signed in 1818, between the British and the Holkar chief, as a result of the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

Conclusion based on Treaty Details

Based on the historical context and the details of each treaty, the Treaty of Mandeshwar is the treaty signed between the British and the Holkar chief in 1818 as a result of the Third Anglo-Maratha War.

The treaties related to the Third Anglo-Maratha War and its aftermath include:

• Treaty of Poona (June 1817) with the Peshwa.
• Treaty of Gwalior (November 1817) with Scindia.
• Treaty of Mandeshwar (January 1818) with Holkar.
• Treaty of Nagpur (December 1817) with Bhonsle (Raja of Nagpur).

The question specifically asks about the treaty with the Holkar chief in 1818, which is the Treaty of Mandeshwar.

Therefore, the Treaty of Mandeshwar is the correct answer.

Revision Table: Key Treaties of Anglo-Maratha Wars

Additional Information: Impact of the Third Anglo-Maratha War

The Third Anglo-Maratha War had profound implications for the history of India:

• It marked the end of the Maratha Empire as a significant political power.
• The office of Peshwa was abolished, and Baji Rao II, the last Peshwa, was pensioned off and sent to Bithur near Kanpur.
• Most of the Peshwa's territories were annexed by the British and formed the Bombay Presidency. A small princely state of Satara was created under a descendant of Shivaji.
• The other Maratha chiefs (Scindia, Holkar, Bhonsle, Gaekwad) accepted the Subsidiary Alliance system and became princely states under British paramountcy, losing their independence.
• The British East India Company became the undisputed dominant power in India.
• The war effectively paved the way for complete British control over most of the Indian subcontinent.
• The Subsidiary Alliance system, widely used by the British, was a key tool in integrating Indian states into the British administrative and political framework.