1st Maratha War
| First Maratha War | |
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| 1777 to 1782 | |
| Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns | |
| [[Image:|250px| ]] | |
| Location: | |
| Combatants: | |
| East India Company | Maratha Empire |
| Result: British victory | |
| Medals: | |
| Links: | |
| Category: 1st Maratha War | |
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See our interactive map of 1st Maratha War locations and routes on Google Maps | |
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Summary
The British became involved in a dispute beween rival claimants to the throne of the Maratha Empire. The Presidencies of Calcutta and Bombay took opposing views on the matter. Nana Phadnis, the leader of the Maratha chiefs, broke the terms of the treaty with Calcutta and a force under Colonel Cockburn was sent towards Poona. The British were roundly defeated at the Battle of Wargaum (Wadgaon) and forced to sign a treaty relinquishing all territory acquired after 1775. Warren Hastings rejected this treaty and sent another force under Colonel Goddard. After a series of victories the British prevailed and the Treaty of Salbai was signed in 1782.
Poona Expeditionary Force
Colonel Charles Egerton commanding
- 591 European troops
- 2,278 Sepoys
- 500 gun lascars
Bengal Relief Force
Col Leslie (succeeded by Col Thomas Goddard) commanding
- 1st Btn of Bengal Native Infantry (900 men)
- 2nd Btn of Bengal Native Infantry (900 men)
- 4th Btn of Bengal Native Infantry (900 men)
- 5th Btn of Bengal Native Infantry (900 men)
- 6th Btn of Bengal Native Infantry (900 men)
- 7th Btn of Bengal Native Infantry (900 men)
- One Regiment of Native Cavalry
- One Company of Gholundauz (Native Artillery) (100)
- Nawab of Oudh's Candahar Horse (500)
Total 6,600 fighting men with 103 European officers
- Servants and followers 19,000
- Bazaar Department 12,000
Related articles
For further details of events during this period see the following articles
| Annexation of Thana | 12th December 1774 |
| Battle of Arass | 18 May 1775 |
| Battle of Wargaum | 12-13 January 1779 |
| Occupation of Dubhoy | 18-20 January 1780 |
| Battle of Ahmadabad | 15 February 1780 |
| Capture of Lahar | 7 February 1780 |
| Battle of Gwalior | 3 August 1780 |
| Siege of Bassein Fort | 11 December 1780 |
| Battle of Deeg | 1780 |
Biographies
Entries in the Dictionary of Indian Biography 1906
Thomas Goddard (1740?-1783)
Warren Hastings (1732-1818)
Nana Farnavis (1741?-1800)
William Popham (1740-1821)
External Links
Maratha Empire Wikipedia
First Anglo-Maratha War 1777-82 Wikipedia
Historical books online
- A History of the Mahrattas Volume 2, 1740-1785 by James Grant Duff 1826 Google Books. Also Volume 1 and Volume 3
- "Diary of Samuel Hickson 1777-1785" in Bengal Past and Present, Volume 49 ,Part 1 1935 is available to read online on the Digital Library of India website, commencing computer page 12. The author fought in campaigns against Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan. (Note the website details for this volume record the language as bengali). Refer Online books-Digital Library of India for more details about this site.