Siege of Bharatpur (1805) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Siege of Bharatpur
Part of Second Anglo-Maratha War
Colonel Maitland at Bhurtpore
Date 2 January – 22 February 1805 Location Bharatpur Result Jat/Bharatpur and Holkar/Maratha victory
Belligerents
Bharatpur State Maratha Empire Holkar of Indore	East India Company
Commanders and leaders
Ranjit Singh Yashwantrao Holkar	Gerard Lake
Strength
10,000	18,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown, but less	3,292

The siege of Bharatpur happened between January 2 and February 22, 1805. It took place in the Indian state of Bharatpur, which is now part of Rajasthan. This event was part of the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

Forces from the British East India Company, led by General Gerard Lake, tried four times to capture the strong fortress. Each time, the defenders pushed them back. The siege ended with a victory for Bharatpur and its allies.

Why the Siege Happened

The ruler of Bharatpur, Ranjit Singh, had first promised to help the British. However, he changed his mind. Instead, he joined forces with Yashwantrao Holkar, the ruler of Indore. Holkar was an ally of the Maratha Empire, who were fighting against the British.

Holkar had already faced defeats from the British. These included the Battle of Deeg and the siege of Deeg. Despite this, Ranjit Singh openly supported Holkar. General Lake arrived at the Bharatpur fort on January 2, 1805, ready to begin the siege.

The Siege of Bharatpur Fort

The British started bombing the fort on January 7, 1805. By January 9, they had made a hole, called a breach, in the fort's walls.

First Attack

The first British attack happened on the night of January 9. Colonel Ryan, Major Hawkes, and Lieutenant Colonel Maitland led the charge. This attack failed, and the British lost 400 soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel Maitland was badly wounded and later died.

Second Attack

A second attack took place on January 16. This attempt also failed. The Maratha defenders had added water to their moat, making it harder to cross. The British lost 500 more soldiers, including Lieutenant Colonel MacRoy, who was leading the attack.

British Reinforcements

Even with these losses, General Lake kept getting more supplies and soldiers. Major General R. Jones arrived with 1,600 additional troops. This help allowed Lake to also deal with Amir Khan, Holkar's general, who was attacking another area called Bundelkhand.

Later Attacks

A third attack on February 20 did not succeed. A fourth attack the very next day also failed. In total, the British lost 3,292 soldiers during all four attacks. Many wounded soldiers were left behind after the failed assaults. The defenders came out of the fort and killed them.

What Happened After

After the many failed attacks, Ranjit Singh decided to make peace with the British. He agreed to pay them a large sum of money, called an indemnity. In return, he was allowed to keep all his lands, including Deeg.

Meanwhile, Holkar was surrounded by three British armies. These armies were led by General Lake, General Jones, and Colonel Ball. Holkar sent messengers to Lake to discuss peace. A treaty was signed on December 24, 1805. In this treaty, Holkar gave up his claims to areas like Tonk, Rampura, and Bundi.