Third Anglo - Maratha War ( 1817

Backgroung

Lord Hastings had the imperialistic design of imposing British paramountcy. By the Charter Act of 1813, the East India Company 's monopoly of trade in China ended and, hence, the company needed more markets.

The Pindaris, made up of many castes and classes, were attached to Maratha armies as mercenaries. When the Marathas became weak, the Pindaries could not get regular employment. As a consequence, they started plundering neighbouring territories, including those of the Company. The English charged the Marathas with giving shelter to the Pindaries. Pindari leaders like Amir Khan and Karim Khan surrendered, while Chitu Khan fled into the jungles.

The Treaty of Bassein, described as ''a treaty with a cipher'', wounded the feeling of the other Maratha leaders. They saw the treaty as an absolute surrender of independence.

Lord Hastings' actions taken against the Pindaries were vseen as a transgression of the sovereignty of the Marathas; they served to once again unite the Maratha confederacy. A repentant Bajirao II made a last bid in 1817 by rallying together the Maratha chiefs against the English in course of the third Anglo-Maratha War.

Course of War

The Peshwa attacked the British Residency at Poona. Appa Sahib of Nagpur attacked the residency at Nagpur, and the Holkar made preparation for war. But, by then the Marathas had lost almost all those elements which are needed for the growth of a power. The political and administrative conditions of all the Marathas states were confused and inefficient. After the death of Jaswantrao Holkar, Tulsi Bai, the Holkar's favourite mistress, came to the helm of affairs in Poona. Through a clever and intelligent women, she could not administer the state properly because she was influenced by some unworthy men such as Balram Seth and Amir Khan. The Bhonsle at Nagpur and the Scindia at Gwalior had also become weak. so the English, striking back vigorously, succeeded in not allowing the Peshwa to exert his authority again on the Maratha confederacy.

Result The Peshwa was defeated at Khirki, Bhonsle at Sitabuldi, and Holkar at Mahidpur.

Some important treaties were signed. These were:

1. June 1817, Treaty of Poona, with Peshwa.

2. November 1817, Treaty of Gwalior, with Scindia.

3. January 1818, Treaty of Mandasor, with Holkar.

In June 1818, the Peshwa finally surrendered and the Maratha confederacy was dissolved. The peshwaship was abolished. Peshwa Bajirao became a British retainer at Bithur near Kanpur. Pratap Singh, a lineal descendant of Shivaji, was made ruler of a small principality, Satara, formed out of the Peshwa's dominions.