The Anglo-Maratha Wars
Madhav Rao Narayan was an infant Peshwa under the
regency of Nana Fadnavis. The usurping of power by Ragunath Rao, uncle of the
former Peshwa Madhava Rao I, provided the scope for the Company administration
to fish in the troubled waters. The Company administration in Bombay supported
Ragunath Rao in return for getting Salsette and Bassein.
As Mahadaji Scindia and the Bhonsle of Nagpur turned
pro-British, the Marathas had to concede Thane and Salsette to the latter. By
the treaty of Salbai, in 1782, Ragunath Rao was pensioned off. Following this,
peace prevailed between the Company and the Marathas for about two decades.
The death of Nana Fadnavis resulted in a scramble
for his huge possessions. Peshwa Baji Rao II was dethroned. In the then trying
circumstances, he had to accept the help of the British. Wellesley, the then
Governor General, forced the Subsidiary Alliance on the Peshwa. The treaty of
Bassein was signed in 1802. According to the treaty the territory to be ceaded
should fetch an income of Rs. 26 Lakhs. The leading Maratha States regarded the
treaty as humiliating and hence decided to defy it. So the second Anglo-Maratha
war broke out. In spite of the brave resistance put up by the Marathas, the
Maratha leaders were completely routed. The Subsidiary Alliance was accepted.
The British got Doab, Ahmadnagar, Broach and all of the hilly regions.
Peshwa Baji Rao II became anti-British, as the
prime minister of the Gaikwar (ruler) of Baroda Gangadhar Sastri was killed by
Trimbakji, a favourite of Peshwa. At the instance of the Resident at Poona,
Mountstuart Elphinstone, Trimabakji was imprisoned. The murderer however
managed to escape from the prison with the assistance of the Peshwa. Peshwa was
also charged with creating the Maratha confederacy and plotting with Scindia,
Bhonsle and Holkar against the British. So, the British forced the Peshwa to
sign a new treaty at Poona in 1817. Accordingly,
·
The Peshwa resigned the headship of the Maratha confederacy.
·
Ceded Konkan to the British and recognised the independence of the Gaikwar.
Baji Rao was not reconciled to this humiliation. So
when the British were busily engaged in the suppression of the Pindaris, Baji
Rao II burnt down the Poona Residency. General Smith rushed to Poona and
captured it, with the Peshwa fleeing to Satara, which was also captured by
General Smith. Baji Rao fled from place to place. General Smith defeated his
forces at Ashta, Kirkee and Korgaon. Finally, Baji Rao surrendered to
Elphinstone in 1818.
·
The British abolished the Peshwai (office of the Peshwa) and annexed all the Peshwa’s dominions. But
the jagirs of the fief holders were restored.
·
Until his death in 1851 Baji Rao II remained a prisoner with an annual pension.
·
Pratap Singh, a descendent of Shivaji, was made the king of a small kingdom carved around Satara.
·
The Maratha Confederacy organised by Baji Rao I comprising Bhonsle, Holkar and Scindia was
dissolved.
·
Mountstuart Elphinstone, who had been Resident at Poona, became Governor of Bombay.
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