First Anglo-Maratha War and the Treaty of Salbai
Modern History › The Anglo-Maratha Wars · Topic 6.2
The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82) began when Bombay backed Raghunathrao under the Treaty of Surat. Mahadji Sindhia forced the English to surrender at Wadgaon in 1779, and the war ended with the Treaty of Salbai of 17 May 1782, which brought twenty years of peace.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · The Anglo-Maratha Wars
At a Glance
- What it is The first war between the English and the Marathas
- Years 1775-82
- Maratha victory Wadgaon, January 1779, under Mahadji Sindhia
- Ended by Treaty of Salbai, signed 17 May 1782
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: The Anglo-Maratha Wars
Where Does It Fit?
This is the second topic of the category on the Anglo-Maratha Wars. The previous topic described the succession crisis that opened the way. This topic covers the first war. The next topic covers the Subsidiary Alliance Years 1803-05 Trigger Treaty of…">Second Anglo-Maratha War. Previous topic: Rise of the Marathas and the Entry of the English into Maratha Politics.
How Did the Treaties of Surat and Purandhar Differ?
Raghunathrao, unwilling to give up his claim, sought help from the English at Bombay and signed the Treaty of Surat in 1775. Under it he ceded Salsette and Bassein to the English, with a share of the revenues of Surat and Bharuch, and in return the English were to give him 2,500 soldiers.
The British Calcutta Council, on the other side of India, condemned the Treaty of Surat and sent Colonel Upton to Pune to cancel it and make a new treaty, the Treaty of Purandhar of 1776, with the regency. It renounced Raghunath and promised him a pension. The Bombay government rejected this and gave refuge to Raghunath. In 1777 Nana Phadnavis broke his treaty with the Calcutta Council by granting the French a port on the west coast. The English retaliated by sending a force towards Pune.
| Treaty | Year | Main point |
|---|---|---|
| Surat | 1775 | Raghunathrao cedes Salsette and Bassein; the English give 2,500 soldiers |
| Purandhar | 1776 | Calcutta Council cancels Surat; Raghunath given a pension |
What Happened at Wadgaon?
The English and the Maratha armies met on the outskirts of Pune. The Marathas had more soldiers, but the English had far better ammunition and cannons. The Maratha army, however, was led by a brilliant general, Mahadji Sindhia, also called Mahadji Shinde.
Mahadji lured the English army into the ghats near Talegaon, trapped them from all sides and attacked the English supply base at Khopoli. The Marathas also used a scorched-earth policy, burning farmland and poisoning wells. As the English began to withdraw to Talegaon, the Marathas attacked and forced them to retreat to the village of Wadgaon. There the English were surrounded and cut off from food and water. They surrendered in mid-January 1779 and signed the Treaty of Wadgaon, which forced the Bombay government to give up all territories acquired by the English since 1775.
How Did Warren Hastings Respond?
Warren Hastings, the Governor-General in Bengal, rejected the Treaty of Wadgaon and sent a large force under Colonel Goddard, who captured Ahmedabad in February 1779 and Bassein in December 1780. Another Bengal detachment under Captain Popham captured Gwalior in August 1780. In February 1781 the English under General Camac finally defeated Sindhia at Sipri.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 1779 | English surrender at Wadgaon |
| February 1779 | Goddard captures Ahmedabad |
| August 1780 | Popham captures Gwalior |
| December 1780 | Goddard captures Bassein |
| February 1781 | Camac defeats Sindhia at Sipri |
What Did the Treaty of Salbai Provide?
Sindhia proposed a new treaty between the Peshwa and the English. The Treaty of Salbai was signed on 17 May 1782, ratified by Hastings in June 1782 and by Phadnavis in February 1783. It guaranteed peace between the two sides for twenty years.
- Salsette It stayed in English possession
- Restoration The whole territory conquered since the Treaty of Purandhar, including Bassein, was returned to the Marathas
- Gujarat Fateh Singh Gaekwad kept the territory he held before the war and served the Peshwa as before
- Raghunathrao The English gave him no further support, and the Peshwa gave him a maintenance allowance
- Haidar Ali He was to return the territory taken from the English and the Nawab of Arcot
- Trade The English kept their trading privileges
- Other Europeans The Peshwa would not support any other European nation
- Allies Each side would ensure that its allies stayed at peace with each other
- Guarantor Mahadji Sindhia was the mutual guarantor of the treaty
What Was the Larger Meaning of the War?
As an analytical point, the first war ended in a draw that favoured the Marathas on the field and the English in the long run. The Marathas stopped the restoration of Raghunathrao and kept Maratha unity for the time being, while the English kept Salsette and got a clause that the Peshwa would not help other Europeans. The treaty also pushed Haidar Ali towards isolation, as covered in Second Anglo-Mysore War, 1780-84. Twenty years of peace gave the English time to deal with Mysore, while the Maratha chiefs resumed their quarrels.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- First clash The war shows Maratha strength under Mahadji Sindhia
- Direct facts The treaties of Surat, Purandhar, Wadgaon and Salbai and their years are common items
- Link to later wars The twenty-year peace set the stage for the second war
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Second Anglo-Maratha War and the Treaty of Bassein. Next topic: Second Anglo-Maratha War, 1803-05.
Key People and Terms
- Treaty of Surat The 1775 treaty between Raghunathrao and the Bombay English
- Treaty of Purandhar The 1776 treaty by which the Calcutta Council cancelled Surat
- Treaty of Wadgaon The treaty of January 1779 after the English surrender
- Mahadji Sindhia The Maratha general who trapped the English and mediated Salbai
- Treaty of Salbai The treaty of 17 May 1782 that ended the war
- Scorched earth Burning crops and poisoning wells to deny supplies to an enemy
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- First Anglo-Maratha War: 1775-82.
- Treaty of Surat 1775; Treaty of Purandhar 1776.
- English surrender at Wadgaon, January 1779; Mahadji Sindhia.
- Goddard took Ahmedabad and Bassein; Popham took Gwalior; Camac won at Sipri (1781).
- Treaty of Salbai: 17 May 1782; peace for twenty years.
Do Not Confuse With
- Surat (1775) and Purandhar (1776) Surat supported Raghunathrao; Purandhar cancelled it
- Wadgaon and Salbai Wadgaon (1779) was the English surrender; Salbai (1782) was the final peace
- Calcutta Council and Bombay government Calcutta condemned the Surat treaty; Bombay stood by Raghunathrao
Memory Hook
Surat started it, Wadgaon humbled it, Salbai ended it.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the First Anglo-Maratha War and its treaties. These points add depth.
- Maratha generalship Mahadji Sindhia used terrain, supply attacks and scorched earth to defeat a better-armed force
- English disunity The Calcutta Council and the Bombay government acted at cross purposes
- Treaty of Salbai It ensured peace for twenty years but left English power in Salsette
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Examine the causes and results of the First Anglo-Maratha War.”
How to Answer
- Causes Raghunathrao, Surat and Purandhar.
- Course Wadgaon and Hastings’s counter-moves.
- Result The Treaty of Salbai and its terms.
- Conclude Say that the war was a draw that gave the English time.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the First Anglo-Maratha War?
The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82) began when Raghunathrao, unwilling to give up his claim to the Peshwa's post, sought help from the English at Bombay and signed the Treaty of Surat in 1775. The Calcutta Council condemned the treaty, but the Bombay government kept supporting him.
What was the Treaty of Wadgaon?
The Treaty of Wadgaon was signed in January 1779 after the English army was surrounded at Wadgaon by the Marathas under Mahadji Sindhia and forced to surrender. It required the Bombay government to give up all the territories the English had acquired since 1775. Warren Hastings rejected it.
Who was Mahadji Sindhia?
Mahadji Sindhia, also called Mahadji Shinde, was the brilliant Maratha general who lured the English into the ghats near Talegaon, cut their supplies, used scorched earth and forced their surrender at Wadgaon. He later proposed the Treaty of Salbai and became its mutual guarantor.
What was the Treaty of Salbai?
The Treaty of Salbai was signed on 17 May 1782 between the English and the Marathas through Mahadji Sindhia, and ended the first war. It guaranteed twenty years of peace, left Salsette with the English and restored the territory conquered since the Treaty of Purandhar to the Marathas.
How did Warren Hastings respond to the surrender at Wadgaon?
Warren Hastings rejected the Treaty of Wadgaon and sent a large force under Colonel Goddard, who captured Ahmedabad in February 1779 and Bassein in December 1780, while Captain Popham captured Gwalior in August 1780. General Camac defeated Sindhia at Sipri in February 1781.
Why did the Treaty of Salbai matter?
The Treaty of Salbai guaranteed peace for twenty years, stopped further English support for Raghunathrao, kept Salsette with the English and barred the Peshwa from supporting other European powers. It gave the English time to turn against Mysore while the Maratha chiefs returned to their quarrels.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Treaty of Surat was signed in 1775 by Raghunathrao and the Bombay English.
He ceded Salsette and Bassein for 2,500 soldiers.
2 The Treaty of Purandhar was signed with Raghunathrao to support his claim.
It was signed with the regency and renounced Raghunath.
3 The English surrendered to the Marathas at Wadgaon in January 1779.
Mahadji Sindhia led the Marathas.
4 The Treaty of Salbai was signed on 17 May 1782.
It guaranteed twenty years of peace.
5 Mahadji Sindhia was an English general in the First Anglo-Maratha War.
He was the Maratha general.
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