The Rise of the Maratha Empire

The Maratha Empire, which rose to prominence in the 17th century under the visionary leadership of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was a formidable indigenous power. Carving a kingdom out of the declining Sultanates of the Deccan, Shivaji Maharaj challenged the might of the Mughal Empire under Aurangzeb. He was a master of guerrilla warfare (known as Ganimi Kava) and a brilliant administrator, establishing a powerful and efficient state based on principles of justice and local governance. The Maratha Empire, at its peak, controlled a vast territory across western and central India and was a major obstacle to British expansion.

Coastal Conflicts: Portuguese and the Siddis

The Maratha relationship with the Portuguese was one of early and consistent conflict. The Portuguese controlled key coastal territories like Goa, and the Marathas, under Shivaji and later his son Sambhaji, fought to check their influence and expand their own control over the Konkan coast. These conflicts were over territory, trade, and religious tensions. The Siddis of Janjira, naval mercenaries of Abyssinian (African) origin, were another coastal power. They controlled the unconquerable sea fort of Janjira and were often allied with the Mughals and the Portuguese against the Marathas, leading to numerous, hard-fought naval and land-based campaigns. Shivaji Maharaj recognized the importance of naval power and built a strong navy to counter these coastal threats.

The Afghan Threat and the Battle of Panipat

In the mid-18th century, as Maratha influence spread northwards to control Delhi, they came into direct conflict with the Afghan ruler, Ahmad Shah Abdali (also known as Ahmad Shah Durrani). Abdali invaded India multiple times to plunder its wealth. This rivalry culminated in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. The Marathas, under the command of Sadashivrao Bhau, suffered a catastrophic defeat. The battle was a massive blow to their prestige and power, resulting in the death of many of their key leaders. It effectively checked their northward expansion and created a power vacuum in north India that the British would eventually exploit.

The Anglo-Maratha Wars: The Final Showdown

The most significant interaction for the Marathas was with the British, leading to three Anglo-Maratha Wars that ultimately decided the fate of India. **First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782):** This war began with the British interfering in the complex Peshwa succession politics in Pune. The Marathas, united under the brilliant statesman Nana Phadnavis, inflicted a humiliating defeat on the British at the Battle of Wadgaon. The war was largely a stalemate, concluding with the Treaty of Salbai, which restored the pre-war status quo but gave the British the island of Salsette and a 20-year period of peace.

**Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805):** This war was a result of deep internal divisions within the Maratha Confederacy. The Peshwa, Baji Rao II, feeling threatened by other Maratha chiefs, signed the Treaty of Bassein (1802), a subsidiary alliance with the British. This treaty was seen as a surrender of independence by other powerful Maratha chiefs like the Scindias and Holkars, who then went to war with the British. The British, under generals like Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington), decisively defeated the disunited Maratha armies, leading to significant territorial losses for the Marathas.

**Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818):** This was the final and decisive conflict. The Peshwa, chafing under British control, attempted one last time to rally the Maratha chiefs and throw off British rule. The attempt failed disastrously. The British decisively defeated the last vestiges of Maratha power. The Peshwaship was abolished, and the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II, was pensioned off and exiled. The Maratha Empire was extinguished, and its vast territories were annexed by the British, cementing their status as the paramount power in India.