First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782)

The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782), a pivotal and decisive conflict in 18th century India, fundamentally pitted the expanding ambitions of the British East India Company against the resilient power of the Marathas. Rooted deeply in internal Maratha succession disputes and the resulting conflicting treaties—namely the Treaty of Surat (1775) and the Treaty of Purandhar (1776)—the war involved complex military strategies, political betrayals, and sharp diplomatic maneuvering that were instrumental in defining the future path of colonial expansion in the subcontinent. For students of Indian history preparing for competitive examinations, a thorough understanding of the causes, the strategic course, and the far-reaching consequences of this first war is crucial for gaining deep insights into the evolving landscape of British-Maratha relations and the eventual decline of the Maratha Empire.

First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782): Historical Background, Diplomatic Key Treaties, and Enduring Political Outcomes

• The conflict was ignited by a critical succession crisis within the Maratha Empire, offering the opportunistic British an entry point into the volatile internal politics of the region.

  The death of the influential Peshwa Madhavrao I in 1772 unleashed a wave of political instability and ambitious rivalries, which the British were quick to exploit, fundamentally shifting the focus from internal Maratha governance to external Company interference.

  • (i) The immediate trigger was the untimely death of Peshwa Madhavrao I in 1772, leading to his brother, Narayanrao, taking the title of Peshwa, the effective head of the Maratha administration.
  • (ii) This succession was violently challenged by Raghunathrao, Narayanrao’s uncle, who orchestrated an assassination and forcefully declared himself the new Peshwa, although he lacked legal and popular legitimacy for the high office.
  • (iii) The situation was further complicated when Narayanrao’s widow, Gangabai, subsequently gave birth to a son, Sawai Madhavrao, whose birth instantly established him as the sole legitimate and rightful successor to the Peshwa title.

• The Barabhai Confederacy and Raghunathrao’s Political Alienation

  The key to resisting the usurper Raghunathrao lay in the formation of a powerful regency council that rallied around the infant Peshwa, compelling Raghunathrao to seek foreign (British) military assistance.

  • Formation of the Powerful Barabhai Council

    In a decisive move to preserve the sanctity of the Peshwa lineage and protect the infant successor, a formidable coalition of twelve premier Maratha chiefs, known collectively as theBarabhai Confederacy, was constituted.

    • (i) This powerful coalition was effectively led by the brilliant and shrewd statesman, Nana Phadnavis, who served as thede facto ruler and guardian for the minor Sawai Madhavrao.
    • (ii) TheBarabhai Confederacy acted as regents, consolidating their political and military strength to vehemently resist the unlawful and illegitimate claims of Raghunathrao, thereby ensuring a semblance of Maratha unity against the internal threat.

• Initial Diplomatic Moves: The Controversial Treaties of Surat (1775) and Purandhar (1776)

  The political maneuvering of the desperate Raghunathrao led directly to the Treaty of Surat, which formally brought theBritish into the conflict, followed by the Calcutta Council’s attempt to reverse this through the Treaty of Purandhar.

  • The Treaty of Surat (1775): The British-Bombay Intervention

    Abandoned by his own chiefs, Raghunathrao sought salvation from the foreign power, directly engaging the Bombay Council of theBritish East India Company to sign the controversialTreaty of Surat in 1775, a move that formally commenced the hostilities.

    • (i) In exchange for British military backing and troops to regain his title, Raghunathrao made significant territorial concessions to the Company.
    • (ii) Specifically, he agreed to cede the strategic islands of Salsette and Bassein, along with a significant portion of the revenues derived from the key trading ports of Surat and Bharuch.

  • The Treaty of Purandhar (1776): Calcutta Council’s Annulment Attempt

    TheCalcutta Council, led by Warren Hastings, viewed the Treaty of Surat as unauthorized and expensive, leading them to dispatch Colonel Upton to secure a revised agreement with the regency government, known as theTreaty of Purandhar in 1776.

    • (i) This fresh settlement effectively nullified the Treaty of Surat and officially recognized the young Sawai Madhavrao as the legitimate Peshwa.
    • (ii) While the British retainedSalsette, the treaty arranged for Raghunathrao to receive a fixed pension, compelling him to abandon his title claims and retire.

  • French Angle and British Escalation of Tensions

    The peace established by the Treaty of Purandhar proved fragile, especially when Nana Phadnavis made a calculated political risk by engaging with another European power, thereby provoking the already suspicious British.

    • (i) In 1777, Nana Phadnavis granted the French a crucial port on the strategic west coast, a clear diplomatic move to counterbalance the overbearing presence of the British.
    • (ii) This granting of access was immediately interpreted by the British as a direct violation of previous diplomatic agreements and a threat to their maritime supremacy, leading to a rapid escalation of tensions and a renewed declaration of war by the Company.

• The Pivotal Course of the First Anglo-Maratha War: Maratha Strategic Superiority and the Wadgaon Humiliation

  Despite the initial British aggression, the war showcased the strategic depth of the Marathas, who successfully countered and trapped the British forces, forcing them into a humiliating surrender.

  • Battle of Pune and Talegaon: The Scorched Earth Tactics

    The Maratha forces, operating under the brilliant command of Mahadji Sindhia, executed a textbook example of a defensive campaign, expertly using the terrain and employing destructive strategies to cripple the advancing British columns.

    • (i) The Maratha army skillfully lured the invading British forces near Talegaon, utilizing the effective "scorched-earth" tactic, which involved systematically destroying local resources like wells, food, and fodder to deny the enemy sustenance and mobility.
    • (ii) Trapped in the treacherous terrain of the Western Ghats and critically weakened by the lack of supplies, the English forces were tactically outmaneuvered and forced into a disastrous, disorderly retreat, paving the way for the Maratha victory.

  • The Humiliating Treaty of Wadgaon (1779)

    The decisive defeat of the British forces led to the signing of one of the most humiliating agreements in the Company's history in 1779, a testament to Maratha military dominance at that stage.

    • (i) Surrounded and militarily exposed at Wadgaon in January 1779, the British forces had no option but to fully surrender to the Maratha army.
    • (ii) The resultingTreaty of Wadgaon stipulated that the British must immediately abandon all territorial gains made since 1773, including the valuable territories of Salsette and Bassein, and retreat fully back to Bombay.

  • Warren Hastings' Response and Renewal of Conflict

    The Governor-General, Warren Hastings, repudiated the dishonorable Treaty of Wadgaon and swiftly dispatched reinforcements to renew the conflict and restore British honor.

    • British Military Successes

      • (i)General Goddard captured Ahmedabad and Bassein.
      • (ii)Captain Popham seized the powerful fortress of Gwalior, a key stronghold ofMahadji Sindhia.

• The Treaty of Salbai (1782): Provisions and Establishment of Twenty Years of Peace

  The prolonged, indecisive conflict was finally brought to a conclusion by the strategic diplomacy of Warren Hastings, culminating in the Treaty of Salbai, which provided a much-needed period of stability for both the British and the Marathas.

  • Key Provisions and Political Implications of the Treaty of Salbai

    Signed in May 1782, after complex negotiations led by Mahadji Sindhia, theTreaty of Salbai secured the most pressing British demand while preserving the Maratha political structure.

    • (i) The most significant immediate outcome was the establishment of atwenty-year period of peace between the powerful Maratha Empire and the expandingBritish East India Company.
    • (ii) The treaty mandated the restoration of all territories captured since the Treaty of Purandhar, effectively confirming mutual alliances and restoring the pre-war territorial status quo in many areas.
    • (iii) The British successfully secured permanent possession of the strategic island of Salsette, a crucial naval base, while formally recognizing Sawai Madhavrao as the legitimate and undisputed Peshwa, finally settling the succession crisis.
    • (iv) Crucially, the British also agreed to cease supporting the claims of Raghunathrao, granting him only a subsistence allowance and removing him as a British-backed political pawn.

• Summary: Legacy of the First Anglo-Maratha War for History Students

  TheFirst Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) stands as a landmark conflict, originating from a localized succession crisis and the aggressive signing of the Treaty of Surat. Although the Marathas demonstrated military superiority through the humiliating Treaty of Wadgaon, the final Treaty of Salbai (1782) was a diplomatic masterstroke by Warren Hastings. It granted the Company key territorial security like Salsette, while strategically affirming Sawai Madhavrao’s legitimacy as Peshwa. The war uniquely highlighted both the enduring militaryresilience of the Marathas under leaders like Mahadji Sindhia and the sophisticated diplomatic maneuvering of the British, making it a vital case study for students examining the dynamics of European colonial expansion in India.