The
Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805) was the second conflict between the
British East India Company and the
Maratha Empire in
India.
Background
The overarching ambition of
Raghunathrao,
Peshwa Baji Rao II's father, and the latter's own incompetence since coming into his inheritance, had long caused much internecine intrigue within the Maratha confederacy; Peshwa Baji Rao II no longer commanded the deference his predecessors had.
In October 1802, Peshwa Baji Rao II was defeated by the
Holkar ruler of
Indore, at the
Battle of Poona. He fled to British protection, and in December the same year concluded the
Treaty of Bassein with the
British East India Company, ceding territory for the maintenance of a subsidiary force and agreeing to treaty with no other power. The British also had to check the French influence in India.
The War
This act on the part of the
Peshwa, their nominal overlord, horrified and disgusted the Maratha chieftains; in particular, the
Sindia rulers of
Gwalior and the
Bhonsle rulers of
Nagpur and
Berar contested the agreement. They were defeated, respectively, at
Laswari and
Delhi by
Lord Lake and at
Assaye and
Argaon (now referred to as Adgaon) by Sir
Arthur Wellesley. The
Holkar rulers of
Indore belatedly joined the fray and compelled the
British to make peace.
Conclusion
On
17 December 1803, Raghuji Bhonsale (II) of Nagpur signed the
Treaty of Deogaon with the British after the
Battle of Laswari and gave up the province of Cuttack including Balasore.
On
30 December 1803, the Scindhia signed the
Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon with the British after the
Battle of Assaye and Battle of
Argaon and ceded to the British Ganges-Jumna Doab, the Delhi-Agra region, parts of Bundelkhand, Broach, some districts of Gujarat, fort of Ahmmadnagar.
Yashwantrao Holkar, however began hostilities with the English by securing the alliance of the Raja of Bharatpur. By the
Treaty of Rajghat, Holkar got back most of his territories. The
Holkar Maharajas retained control and overlordship over much of
Rajasthan.
See also
mr:दुसरे इंग्रज-मराठा युद्धCategory:Conflicts in 1803Category:Conflicts in 1804Category:Conflicts in 1805Category:Battles involving the Maratha EmpireCategory:British rule in IndiaCategory:Military history of the British East India CompanyCategory:History of GujaratCategory:Wars involving the United KingdomCategory:1803 in IndiaCategory:1804 in IndiaCategory:1805 in India 
