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The Maratha Empire was founded by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivaji Sivaji] as an independent kingdom which covered much of India between 1674 and 1818. From the time of Sivaji's grandson it was effectively ruled from [[Poona|Pune]] by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peshwa Peshwa ] (prime minister) and gradually evolved into a confederacy of powerful regional rulers. These were the Gaekwads of [[Baroda]], the Holkars of [[Indore]], the Scindias of [[Gwalior ]] and the Bhonsales of [[Nagpur]].  The British became involved in a dispute beween rival claimants to the throne of the Maratha Empire which led to the [[1st Maratha War]] in 1777. They again took sides in 1803 resulting in the [[2nd Maratha War]]. In 1817 Pindari incursions led to the [[3rd Maratha War]] which resulted in the breakup of the Maratha Empire.