Third Anglo-Maratha War

The Maratha leader could not forget the defeat in the Second Anglo-Maratha War and the signing of the humiliating treaty. Maratha chiefs, including professionals, gradually came to realize that the signing of treaties based on the principle of subordinate alliances had ruined the existence of an independent Maratha state. Then in time the English power will become omnipotent. So the desire to hurt the English on any condition was growing in the minds of the Maratha leaders. Peshawar could not sincerely accept the Treaty of Basin (1802 AD). So he was also interested in being free from English influence. The other Maratha chiefs were not reluctant to stand by Peshawar at this moment. However, Elphinstone, the British resident at the Pune court, kept a close eye on the movements of the Maratha chiefs. So the Maratha leaders were consolidating and strengthening themselves by maintaining English friendship outside.

Anglo-Maratha Conflict

The Ing-Maratha antagonism is centered on an incident involving Barada. Baradar Gaikwad was a feudal lord of Peshawar. There was a conflict between the two as the tax payable to the profession was more than a day away. The English authorities began mediating to resolve this dispute. Accordingly, Gangadhar Shastri, the minister of Gaikwad, appeared at the court of Peshawar under English guard. Meanwhile Gaikwad and Gangadhar Shastri were both British vassals. So other Marathas were angry with them. Prof Minister Trimbakji Dingley was prudent, patriotic and anti-English. He was instrumental in uniting the Marathas against English domination. However, Gangadhar Shastri was killed by an assassin on his return to Pune (1815 AD). The British blamed Trimbakji for the murder and he was taken prisoner in Pune. But within a year Trimbakji was released from captivity and surrendered. The British authorities blamed Peshawar for this and pressured Peshawar to arrest Trimbakji. However, the profession thwarted the demands of the English.

Treaty of Pune

Meanwhile, Governor-General Lord Hastings Pindari was making a plan to suppress the bandits. The Marathas had friendship with the Pindaris. So in the Anglo-Pindari war, the Marathas had the potential to make sacrifices for the Pindari. To prevent this from happening, Lord Hastings forcibly imposed the Pune Treaty (1817) on Peshawar. According to this treaty, the profession was abolished. Peshawar surrendered part of his kingdom to the English.

Treaty of Nagpur

At this time there were internal riots in Nagpur state. After the death of Raghuji Bhonsle, his son Parshvaji Bhonsle ascended the throne of Nagpur. But his cousin Appa Saheb conspired with the British in the hope of gaining power and became bound by the ‘Treaty of Nagpur’.

Third Anglo-Maratha War

The 'Pune Treaty' and the 'Nagpur Treaty' angered the Maratha chiefs. The English residency was again set on fire at the direction of Peshawar. The 'Third Anga-Maratha War' began. The Maratha forces continued to be defeated even after a fierce battle. Pesheya was defeated in the battle of Kirki. Bhonsle and Halkar's forces were also devastated. He was finally defeated in the battle of Ati and Koregaon and was forced to surrender his profession (1819 AD).

The importance and consequences of the Third Anglo-Maratha War

The final fall of Maratha's power was called the Third Anga-Maratha War. Then the profession is permanently imposed. The state of Peshawar is included in the company. An annual allowance of Rs. 8 lakh is provided to the profession. Apart from that Haler became part of the subordinate alliance. Mr. Appa was deported from Nagpur. Part of Nagpur was captured by the English. The rest is settled by a loyal person of the company. It was donated to a descendant of a Shivaji in the state of Peshawar.