Second Anglo-Maratha War

The death of Nana Phadnavis, a strong leader led to a power vacuum in the Maratha Empire and various forces within Maratha Confederacy tried t capture this, leading to Internal conflict and suspicion.

Table of Contents

Second Anglo-Maratha War- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 1: Indian History- Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.

Background of Second Anglo-Maratha War

The First Anglo-Maratha war concluded with the treaty of Salbai in 1782 bringing 20 years of peace between Marathas and British EIC.
After the fall of Tipu Sultan in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, only Marathas were left as a worthy challenger to British Power in India.
Internal differences among various powers in Maratha Confederacy presented an opportunity to the British to intervene and defeat them and rise as the only significant power in India.

Causes of Second Anglo-Maratha War

Death of Nana Phadnavis and Internal Conflicts among Marathas: The death of Nana Phadnavis, a strong leader led to a power vacuum in the Maratha Empire and various forces within Maratha Confederacy tried capture this, leading to Internal conflict and suspicion.
- Maratha Confederacy consisted of five major chiefs, the Peshwas at Pune, the Gaekwads at Baroda, the Holkars at Indore, the Scindias at Gwalior, and the Bhonsle’s at Nagpur.
Unworthy Peshwa of Maratha: After the Death of Madhavrao II, Baji Rao II (son of Raghunathrao) was installed as the Peshwa. He was an unworthy and underconfident ruler.
- He killed the brother of Yashwantrao Holkar when he was visiting Pune. This Angered Yashwant Holkar, who defeated the combined army of Bajirao II and Scindias.
- Bajirao II fled and sought protection from the British.
Treaty of Bassein and Aspirations of British: A frightened Bajirao II signed a treaty of Bassein with the British East India Company. He agreed to to-
- Ceded territory to the British and
- Also agreed to the maintenance of British troops in the Capital.

First Anglo-Maratha War

Course of Second Anglo-Maratha War

Beginning: Other partners of the Maratha confederacy like Scindias and Bhosale opposed to the Treaty of Bassein and started the second Anglo-Maratha war in 1803 in Central India.
Defeat of Bhosle and Scindias: They lost against the forces of the British in 1803 and signed a humiliating Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (Scindia) and Treaty of Deogaon (Bhosale) with British EIC.
Participation of Holkar: Yashwantrao Holkar got to know the intentions of the British EIC and decided to attack.
- However, he was also defeated in 1805 and signed the Treaty of Rajghat in 1805.

Second Anglo-Mysore War

द्वितीय आंग्ल-मराठा युद्ध

Result of Second Anglo-Maratha War

Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (1803): Under this treaty, Scindias agreed to cede British territories of Rohtak, Ganga-Yamuna Doab, Gurgaon, Delhi Agra region, Broach, some districts in Gujarat, parts of Bundelkhand and Ahmadnagar fort.
Treaty of Deogaon (1803): Under this treaty, the English acquired Cuttack, Balasore and area west of Wardha River from Bhosale of Nagpur.
Treaty of Rajghat (1805): According to this treaty, Holkars gave up Tonk, Bundi and Rampura to the British.
Ultimately, the Second Anglo-Maratha war resulted in the British control over a large part of Central India and establishing the dominance of the British in India.