First Anglo-Maratha War

The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) was the first major conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire, two dominant powers in 18th-century India. It was primarily a struggle for political supremacy and territorial control, triggered by British interference in the Maratha succession dispute. Although it began as a British attempt to expand influence, the war ended inconclusively, exposing the limits of British power in India at that time.

Background and Causes

Following the death of Madhav Rao I in 1772, the Maratha Empire plunged into a succession crisis. His younger brother, Narayan Rao, became Peshwa (the prime minister and de facto ruler of the Maratha state). However, Narayan Rao was soon assassinated in 1773 in a palace conspiracy allegedly instigated by his uncle, Raghunath Rao (Raghoba), who then claimed the Peshwaship.
The assassination caused widespread outrage among Maratha nobles. The powerful Barbhai Council, consisting of twelve influential chiefs led by Nana Phadnavis, refused to accept Raghunath Rao’s claim and instead installed Narayan Rao’s posthumous son, Madhav Rao II, as the legitimate Peshwa.
Raghunath Rao, seeking military assistance to regain power, turned to the British East India Company for support. The Company, always looking for an opportunity to extend its influence, agreed to assist him, leading to the outbreak of the First Anglo-Maratha War.

Treaty of Surat (1775)

On 6 March 1775, Raghunath Rao signed the Treaty of Surat with the British East India Company. Under this agreement:

• The British agreed to provide 2,500 soldiers to support Raghunath Rao in regaining the Peshwaship.
• In return, Raghoba promised to cede the island of Salsette (near Bombay) and the strategically important Bassein Fort to the British.

However, the treaty was signed without the approval of the Company’s government in Calcutta (Bengal), which viewed it as irregular and diplomatically risky. The move drew the Marathas into open conflict with the British Bombay government.

Course of the War

1. Early British Successes (1775–1776): British forces initially advanced under Colonel Keating and defeated the Marathas at the Battle of Adas near Ahmedabad in 1775. However, the war soon turned against the British due to poor coordination and logistical challenges.
2. Treaty of Purandar (1776): Recognising the complications caused by the Surat agreement, Governor-General Warren Hastings dispatched Colonel Upton to negotiate peace with the Marathas. The resulting Treaty of Purandar (1776) annulled the Treaty of Surat.

• Under this new treaty, Raghunath Rao was pensioned off.
• The British retained Salsette and Elephanta Island, but agreed to withdraw support for Raghunath Rao.

Despite the treaty, hostilities continued, as neither side fully honoured the terms.
3. Renewed Fighting (1777–1780): In 1777, the British Bombay government again supported Raghunath Rao, sending troops toward Poona (Pune). This renewed aggression prompted the Marathas to declare war.
In January 1779, a British force marching from Bombay to Pune was surrounded and forced to surrender to the Marathas at the Battle of Wadgaon (also known as Wadgaon Maval). The Convention of Wadgaon followed, compelling the British to return all captured territories and withdraw their troops. This was a major setback and humiliation for the Company.
However, Warren Hastings, from Bengal, refused to ratify the Convention of Wadgaon and soon dispatched new reinforcements under Colonel Goddard, Captain Popham, and Colonel Camac to resume the conflict.
4. British Counteroffensive (1780–1782):

• Colonel Goddard captured Ahmedabad (1779) and later Bassein (1780), achieving limited successes in western India.
• In central India, Captain Popham captured the impregnable Gwalior Fort (1780), a major morale boost for the British.
• Meanwhile, Colonel Camac faced resistance from Mahadji Shinde (Scindia), one of the most capable Maratha commanders. The prolonged engagements in Malwa and Bundelkhand drained both sides.

Despite these victories, neither side could achieve decisive dominance. The war had become costly and inconclusive.

Treaty of Salbai (1782)

The conflict finally ended with the Treaty of Salbai, signed in May 1782 between the British East India Company and the Marathas, largely negotiated by Warren Hastings and Mahadji Shinde. The main terms of the treaty were:

• Recognition of Madhav Rao II as the legitimate Peshwa.
• The British retained Salsette and Broach (Bharuch), while returning all other conquered territories to the Marathas.
• The Marathas agreed to maintain friendly relations with the Company and prevent the French from establishing influence in India.
• Raghunath Rao was granted a pension by the British.
• Both sides agreed to maintain peace for twenty years.

Causes of the War’s Outcome

The First Anglo-Maratha War ended without a clear victor. The reasons for this include:

• The Marathas’ superior cavalry and guerrilla tactics, which outmanoeuvred British forces.
• Geographical challenges in western India that hampered British supply lines.
• The lack of unity between the British Bombay and Calcutta administrations.
• The Maratha Confederacy’s effective diplomacy, particularly the leadership of Nana Phadnavis and Mahadji Shinde.

The British learned that the Maratha polity was resilient, decentralised, and capable of sustained resistance.

Significance and Consequences

• The Treaty of Salbai (1782) brought peace for nearly two decades, allowing both powers to consolidate their positions.
• The Marathas preserved their sovereignty and territorial integrity, demonstrating that the British could still be checked militarily in India.
• The British East India Company gained Salsette and Broach, securing their hold over the western coast and strengthening the Bombay Presidency.
• The war exposed weaknesses in British diplomacy and military coordination, leading to future reforms in their Indian administration.
• It set the stage for later confrontations, culminating in the Second (1803–1805) and Third Anglo-Maratha Wars (1817–1818), after which the Maratha Confederacy was finally subdued.

Key Figures of the War

• Raghunath Rao (Raghoba): Disputed claimant to the Peshwaship whose alliance with the British triggered the war.
• Nana Phadnavis: Statesman and leader of the Barbhai Council, who safeguarded Maratha independence.
• Mahadji Shinde (Scindia): Maratha general who led successful campaigns against British advances.
• Warren Hastings: Governor-General of Bengal, who negotiated peace through the Treaty of Salbai.
• Colonel Goddard and Captain Popham: British officers who led successful military operations in Gujarat and Gwalior.