Second Anglo Maratha War

The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805) was a decisive conflict fought between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India. It marked a critical turning point in Indian history, leading to the substantial weakening of Maratha power and the expansion of British dominance over much of the subcontinent. The war arose from internal rivalries among the Maratha chiefs and the aggressive imperial policy of the British under Governor-General Lord Wellesley.

Background and Causes

The origins of the Second Anglo-Maratha War lay in the complex political developments that followed the First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) and the Treaty of Salbai (1782). The treaty had established a temporary peace between the British and the Marathas, recognising Madhav Rao II as the Peshwa and maintaining the status quo. However, after his death in 1796, political instability and succession disputes engulfed the Maratha Confederacy.
The key causes of the war can be summarised as follows:

• Succession Crisis at Poona: After the death of Madhav Rao II, his cousin Baji Rao II, son of Raghunath Rao, became the Peshwa. His rule was unpopular, and his arrogant behaviour alienated powerful Maratha nobles, particularly Daulat Rao Scindia of Gwalior and Yashwantrao Holkar of Indore.
• Holkar’s Revolt and the Treaty of Bassein (1802): In 1802, Holkar defeated the combined forces of the Peshwa and Scindia at Poona, forcing Baji Rao II to flee to Bassein (Vasai), near Bombay. Seeking protection, the Peshwa signed the Treaty of Bassein (31 December 1802) with the British East India Company.Under this treaty:
  • The Peshwa accepted a subsidiary alliance with the Company.
  • He agreed to maintain British troops at his expense.
  • He relinquished control over his foreign relations.

  This treaty was viewed by the Maratha chiefs as a betrayal of Maratha sovereignty and directly provoked the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

• British Expansionist Policy: Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General (1798–1805), aimed to bring all major Indian powers under British influence through the Subsidiary Alliance System. The Marathas’ fragmented condition provided an opportunity to implement this policy more forcefully.

Major Campaigns and Battles

The war was fought between 1803 and 1805 across northern, central, and western India. The principal British commanders were General Arthur Wellesley (later Duke of Wellington) and General Gerard Lake, while the main Maratha leaders included Daulat Rao Scindia, Raghoji II Bhonsle, and Yashwantrao Holkar.

• Campaign in Central and Western India (1803): Arthur Wellesley led the British forces against Scindia and Bhonsle in western and central India.
  • Battle of Assaye (23 September 1803): One of the most famous battles of the war, fought near the village of Assaye in Maharashtra. Wellesley’s forces decisively defeated the combined armies of Scindia and Bhonsle despite being outnumbered. This victory established Wellesley’s military reputation.
  • Battle of Argaon (29 November 1803): Wellesley defeated Raghoji Bhonsle’s forces in Berar, leading to the British capture of Gawilgarh fort.
• Northern India Campaign (1803–1804): General Gerard Lake led operations in northern India against Scindia’s forces.
  • Battle of Delhi (11 September 1803): Lake defeated Scindia’s troops and captured Delhi, placing Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II under British protection.
  • Battle of Laswari (1 November 1803): Another major victory for Lake over Scindia’s army, consolidating British control in northern India.
• Holkar’s Resistance (1804–1805): Yashwantrao Holkar initially remained neutral but later opposed British dominance. He launched a series of guerrilla campaigns in Malwa and Rajputana. However, despite his valiant resistance, Holkar was eventually forced to seek peace due to lack of support from other Maratha chiefs.

Treaties and Terms of Settlement

The war concluded through a series of treaties signed between the British and different Maratha leaders:

• Treaty of Deogaon (December 1803): Signed between the British and Raghoji II Bhonsle of Berar.
  • Bhonsle ceded the provinces of Cuttack, Berar, and parts of Orissa to the British.
  • He accepted the British alliance and agreed not to engage in foreign relations without Company approval.
• Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon (December 1803): Concluded with Daulat Rao Scindia.
  • Scindia surrendered territories between the Yamuna and Ganges, as well as Delhi, Agra, and parts of Central India.
  • He also accepted the establishment of a British Resident at his court.
• Treaty of Rajghat (December 1805): Signed with Yashwantrao Holkar, marking the end of the war.
  • Holkar retained his territories but agreed to avoid interference in British affairs.
  • The treaty formally ended hostilities between the Marathas and the British.

Results and Consequences

The Second Anglo-Maratha War had far-reaching political, territorial, and historical consequences:

• Expansion of British Territory: The British gained vast territories in central and northern India, including Delhi, Agra, Bundelkhand, Cuttack, and Orissa, thereby linking Bengal with Bombay.
• Decline of Maratha Power: The Maratha Confederacy was severely weakened. The independent authority of major Maratha chiefs—Scindia, Bhonsle, and Holkar—was curtailed, reducing them to subordinate allies of the British.
• British Control over the Mughal Emperor: With the capture of Delhi, the Mughal Emperor became a pensioner under British protection, symbolising the complete decline of Mughal sovereignty in India.
• Strengthening of British Political Supremacy: The success of the war consolidated the British East India Company’s supremacy in India. It established the British as the paramount power, with the Marathas no longer posing a serious threat.
• Implementation of Subsidiary Alliances: The treaties imposed the subsidiary alliance system on Maratha states, ensuring British control over their foreign policies and military arrangements.

Significance

The Second Anglo-Maratha War represented a decisive step in the British conquest of India. It destroyed the political unity of the Maratha Confederacy, which had been the last significant indigenous power capable of challenging British authority.
It also demonstrated the effectiveness of the Subsidiary Alliance System as an instrument of imperial expansion. By 1805, British influence extended over nearly the entire Indian subcontinent, either directly or through allied princely states.