UPSC: Third Anglo-Maratha War

Third Anglo-Maratha War

Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817 – 1818)

Background and course

After the second Anglo-Maratha war, the Marathas made one last attempt to rebuild their old prestige.
They wanted to retake all their old possessions from the English.
They were also unhappy with the British residents’ interference in their internal matters.
The chief reason for this war was the British conflict with the Pindaris whom the British suspected were being protected by the Marathas.
The Maratha chiefs Peshwa Bajirao II, Malharrao Holkar and Mudhoji II Bhonsle forged a united front against the English.
Daulatrao Shinde, the fourth major Maratha chief was pressured diplomatically to stay away.
But the British victory was swift.

Results

The Treaty of Gwalior was signed in 1817 between Shinde and the British, even though he had not been involved in the war. As per this treaty, Shinde gave up Rajasthan to the British. The Rajas of Rajputana remained Princely States till1947 after accepting British sovereignty.
The Treaty of Mandasor was signed between the British and the Holkar chief in 1818. An infant was placed on the throne under British guardianship.
The Peshwa surrendered in 1818. He was dethroned and pensioned off to a small estate in Bithur (near Kanpur). Most parts of his territory became part of the Bombay Presidency.
His adopted son, Nana Saheb became one of the leaders of the Revolt of 1857 at Kanpur.
The territories annexed from the Pindaris became the Central Provinces under British India.
This war led to the end of the Maratha Empire. All the Maratha powers surrendered to the British.
An obscure descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji was placed as the ceremonial head of the Maratha Confederacy at Satara.
This was the last major war fought and won by the British. With this, the British controlled most parts India directly or indirectly.

Reasons for Maratha Loss

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