15,832
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m
Add internal link
== Overview ==
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.
