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Baji Rao II
Baji Rao II (10 January 1775 – 28 January 1851) was the 13th and last Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy. He served from 1796 until his deposition in 1802, and again from 1803 to 1818. Initially installed as a nominal ruler by powerful Maratha nobles, Baji Rao II's authority was soon undermined by internal factionalism. Following his defeat by rival chiefs, he fled from the Maratha capital at Poona and, in 1802, signed the Treaty of Bassein with the British East India Company.
This led to the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805), which ended with a British victory and Baji Rao II's restoration as Peshwa under British protection. In 1817, tensions with the British resurfaced when they supported the Gaekwads of Baroda in a revenue dispute, prompting Baji Rao II to join other Maratha chiefs in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818). After a series of defeats, he surrendered to the British and agreed to retire. Under the terms of his surrender, he was granted an estate at Bithur, near Kanpur, along with an annual pension.
Baji Rao II was born on 10 January 1775 to Raghunathrao, a former Peshwa, and his wife Anandibai. Raghunathrao's alliance with the British East India Company had led to the First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782), which concluded with the Treaty of Salbai in 1782. At the time of Baji Rao II's birth, both of his parents were under confinement by the ruling Peshwa's council. He and his brothers spent their early years in captivity, with limited access to education and other privileges.
After the death of Peshwa Madhavrao II in 1795, who left no heir, a succession crisis broke out among the Maratha nobility. The influential general Daulat Rao Scindia and the minister Nana Fadnavis eventually installed Baji Rao II as a puppet Peshwa in 1796. His accession was controversial due to lingering suspicion surrounding his parents, who were believed by some to have been involved in the murder of Peshwa Narayanrao in 1773. As a result, Baji Rao II faced prejudice and mistrust from sections of the Maratha elite and the public.
Despite these challenges, contemporary accounts describe him as an able administrator who undertook developmental works in Poona, though his political and military leadership was often criticized as indecisive.
Social reformer Pandita Ramabai later criticized Baji Rao II for allegedly marrying, at around 60 years of age, a girl said to be aged nine or ten, citing it as an example of the prevalence of child marriage among Maratha nobility.
After the death of Nana Fadnavis in 1800, Daulat Rao Scindia took complete control of the Peshwa's administration. As Scindia began consolidating power and removing rivals within the government, Baji Rao II grew increasingly concerned for his safety and sought assistance from the British Resident at Poona, Colonel William Palmer. At that time, Arthur Wellesley was stationed in the southern Maratha territories, having recently concluded a campaign against Dhondia Wagh.
Although Baji Rao II initially hesitated to sign a treaty with the British, events in 1802 forced his hand. That year, Scindia's rival, Yashwant Rao Holkar, advanced toward Poona, claiming allegiance to the Peshwa and asserting that his intention was to free the city from Scindia's dominance. Relations between Holkar and the Peshwa, however, were tense, as Baji Rao II had previously ordered the execution of Holkar's brother, Vithoji Rao Holkar. Baji Rao II requested military assistance from Scindia, who was then away from Poona. Scindia's army arrived on 22 October 1802, but on 25 October, Holkar defeated the combined forces of Scindia and the Peshwa in the Battle of Hadapsar.
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Baji Rao II
Baji Rao II (10 January 1775 – 28 January 1851) was the 13th and last Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy. He served from 1796 until his deposition in 1802, and again from 1803 to 1818. Initially installed as a nominal ruler by powerful Maratha nobles, Baji Rao II's authority was soon undermined by internal factionalism. Following his defeat by rival chiefs, he fled from the Maratha capital at Poona and, in 1802, signed the Treaty of Bassein with the British East India Company.
This led to the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805), which ended with a British victory and Baji Rao II's restoration as Peshwa under British protection. In 1817, tensions with the British resurfaced when they supported the Gaekwads of Baroda in a revenue dispute, prompting Baji Rao II to join other Maratha chiefs in the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818). After a series of defeats, he surrendered to the British and agreed to retire. Under the terms of his surrender, he was granted an estate at Bithur, near Kanpur, along with an annual pension.
Baji Rao II was born on 10 January 1775 to Raghunathrao, a former Peshwa, and his wife Anandibai. Raghunathrao's alliance with the British East India Company had led to the First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782), which concluded with the Treaty of Salbai in 1782. At the time of Baji Rao II's birth, both of his parents were under confinement by the ruling Peshwa's council. He and his brothers spent their early years in captivity, with limited access to education and other privileges.
After the death of Peshwa Madhavrao II in 1795, who left no heir, a succession crisis broke out among the Maratha nobility. The influential general Daulat Rao Scindia and the minister Nana Fadnavis eventually installed Baji Rao II as a puppet Peshwa in 1796. His accession was controversial due to lingering suspicion surrounding his parents, who were believed by some to have been involved in the murder of Peshwa Narayanrao in 1773. As a result, Baji Rao II faced prejudice and mistrust from sections of the Maratha elite and the public.
Despite these challenges, contemporary accounts describe him as an able administrator who undertook developmental works in Poona, though his political and military leadership was often criticized as indecisive.
Social reformer Pandita Ramabai later criticized Baji Rao II for allegedly marrying, at around 60 years of age, a girl said to be aged nine or ten, citing it as an example of the prevalence of child marriage among Maratha nobility.
After the death of Nana Fadnavis in 1800, Daulat Rao Scindia took complete control of the Peshwa's administration. As Scindia began consolidating power and removing rivals within the government, Baji Rao II grew increasingly concerned for his safety and sought assistance from the British Resident at Poona, Colonel William Palmer. At that time, Arthur Wellesley was stationed in the southern Maratha territories, having recently concluded a campaign against Dhondia Wagh.
Although Baji Rao II initially hesitated to sign a treaty with the British, events in 1802 forced his hand. That year, Scindia's rival, Yashwant Rao Holkar, advanced toward Poona, claiming allegiance to the Peshwa and asserting that his intention was to free the city from Scindia's dominance. Relations between Holkar and the Peshwa, however, were tense, as Baji Rao II had previously ordered the execution of Holkar's brother, Vithoji Rao Holkar. Baji Rao II requested military assistance from Scindia, who was then away from Poona. Scindia's army arrived on 22 October 1802, but on 25 October, Holkar defeated the combined forces of Scindia and the Peshwa in the Battle of Hadapsar.