First Anglo-Maratha War facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Anglo-Maratha War
Part of the Anglo-Maratha Wars
A mural depicting the British surrender during the First Anglo-Maratha War. The mural is a part of the Victory Memorial (Vijay Stambh) located at Vadgaon Maval (Off NH-4, Malinagar, Vadgaon Maval, Pune).
Date 1775–1782 Location Central India Western India Result Maratha victory Treaty of Salbai
Belligerents
East India Company	Maratha Confederacy Indore State Gwalior State
Commanders and leaders
Warren Hastings Colonel Keating Thomas Wyndham Goddard Raghunathrao	Madhavrao II Mahadji Shinde Nana Fadnavis Haripant Phadke Tukoji Holkar
Strength
93,000 troops total 23 ships	Around 146,000 troops total 14 ships

The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) was the first of three big wars between the British East India Company and the Maratha Confederacy in India. The war started with the Treaty of Surat and ended with the Treaty of Salbai. It was fought in areas like Surat and Pune. The British were defeated, and both sides went back to how things were before the war. Warren Hastings, who was the first Governor-General of Bengal, decided not to attack Pune directly.

Why the War Started (Background)

After the leader of the Maratha Empire, Madhavrao Peshwa, died in 1772, his brother Narayanrao became the new peshwa (like a prime minister). But Narayanrao was murdered in 1773. His uncle, Raghunathrao, then became Peshwa.

However, Narayanrao's wife, Gangabai, later had a son. This baby was the rightful heir. He was named 'Sawai' Madhavrao. A group of twelve Maratha chiefs, called the Baarbhai, led by Nana Phadnavis, wanted the baby to be the new Peshwa. They planned to rule for him until he grew up.

Raghunathrao didn't want to give up his power. So, he asked the British in Bombay for help. They signed a deal called the Treaty of Surat in March 1775. In this treaty, Raghunathrao gave the British control over areas like Salsette and Bassein. He also gave them some money from Surat and Bharuch. In return, the British promised to give him 2,500 soldiers.

At the same time, the Marathas tried to make friends with the French. But these talks didn't lead to a strong alliance. The British became even more suspicious. This was because the American War of Independence was also happening, and they worried about enemies working together.

The British leaders in Calcutta didn't like the Treaty of Surat. They sent Colonel Upton to Pune to cancel it and make a new agreement. This new deal was the Treaty of Purandhar, signed in March 1776. It cancelled the Treaty of Surat. Raghunathrao was given a pension and the British stopped supporting him. However, the British still kept the areas of Salsette and Broach.

The government in Bombay didn't agree with this new treaty. They continued to protect Raghunathrao. In 1777, Nana Phadnavis broke his agreement with Calcutta by giving the French a port on the west coast of India. The British then sent their army towards Pune.

Early Battles and Treaties (1775–1776)

British troops, led by Colonel Keating, left Surat in March 1775 to march towards Pune. But they were stopped and defeated by Haripant Phadke's Maratha forces at Adas in May 1775. The British lost 96 soldiers, and the Marathas lost 150.

Warren Hastings believed that attacking Pune directly would be a bad idea. So, the main British council in Bengal decided to cancel the Treaty of Surat. They sent Colonel Upton to Pune to create a new treaty with the Maratha leaders.

This new agreement was the Treaty of Purandar, signed on March 1, 1776. It was made between the Maratha Peshwa and the British East India Company's council in Calcutta. With this treaty, the British were able to keep control of Salsette.

The treaty also meant that the British accepted Sawai Madhavrao as the new Peshwa. In return, the Marathas agreed not to let the French have a presence in India. The Treaty of Purandhar cancelled the earlier Treaty of Surat. Raghunathrao was given money to retire, and the British stopped supporting his claim to power. However, the British still kept the income from Salsette and Broach.

The Battle of Wadgaon

After a new agreement between France and the Pune government in 1776, the British government in Bombay decided to invade and put Raghunathrao back in power. They sent an army under Colonel Egerton. This force reached Khopoli and moved through the Western Ghats mountains.

They reached Karla in January 1779, facing attacks from the Marathas along the way. The British were eventually forced to retreat to Wadgaon, where they were surrounded. The British surrendered and had to sign the Treaty of Wadgaon in January 1779. This was a big victory for the Marathas.

More British soldiers from northern India, led by Colonel Thomas Wyndham Goddard, arrived too late to help the Bombay army. The British Governor-General in Bengal, Warren Hastings, refused to accept the Treaty of Wadgaon. He said the Bombay officials didn't have the right to sign it. Hastings ordered Goddard to protect British interests in the area.

Goddard, with 6,000 soldiers, attacked and captured Ahmedabad in February 1779. He also captured Bassein in December 1780. Another British group, led by Captain Popham, captured Gwalior in August 1780, before the Maratha leader Mahadji Shinde could prepare. There were some small fights between Mahadji Shinde and General Goddard in Gujarat, but nothing major happened. Hastings sent another force to trouble Mahadji Shinde.

Fighting in Central India

After capturing Bassein, Goddard marched towards Pune. But he was defeated in the Battle of Bhor Ghat in April 1781 by Maratha leaders Parshurambha, Haripant Phadke, and Tukoji Holkar.

In central India, Mahadji Shinde stayed in Malwa to fight the British. At first, Mahadji had the advantage. The British forces were troubled and had to retreat.

In February 1781, the British beat Shinde near the town of Sipri. But after that, Shinde's much larger army followed their every move. Their supplies were cut off. So, the British made a surprise night attack in late March. They captured not only supplies but also guns and elephants. After this, the threat from Shinde's army to the British was much smaller.

The fight was now quite even. Mahadji won an important victory over the British at Sironj. But the British got their revenge with a win at the Battle of Durdah in March 1781.

Colonel Murre arrived with new soldiers in April 1781 to help the British. After his defeat at Sipri, Mahadji Shinde became worried. So, Shinde suggested a new peace treaty between the Marathas and the British. This treaty became known as the "Treaty of Salbai."

The Treaty of Salbai

This important treaty, called the Treaty of Salbai, was signed on May 17, 1782. Warren Hastings approved it in June 1782, and Nana Phadnavis approved it in February 1783. The treaty officially ended the First Anglo-Maratha War. It brought things back to how they were before the war and created peace between the two sides for 20 years.

See also

• Second Anglo-Maratha War
• Third Anglo-Maratha War
• List of Maratha dynasties and states
• James Hartley (Indian officer)

Images for kids

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  A Vijay Stambh (Victory Pillar) erected to commemorate Maratha victory over British. The pillar is located at Vadgaon/Wadgaon Maval, close to the city of Pune, India

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  An information plaque describing the Maratha victory over British. The plaque is located at Vadgaon/Wadgaon Maval, close to the city of Pune, India