Treaty of Bassein (1802)

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The Treaty of Bassein was signed on December 31, 1802 between Baji Rao II and the British East India Company .

History and contract conclusion

The Peshwa Baji Rao II nominally presided over the maratha confederation of several individual principalities , the most powerful of which were the Gaekwad of Baroda ( Gujarat ), the Scindia of Gwalior (south of Agra ), the Holkar of Indore ( Malwa region ) and the Bhonsle of Nagpur ( Berar region) were.

Since the Peshwa felt under pressure from his most powerful vassal, the Scindia, in 1800 he reluctantly sought a military alliance with the British East India Company to secure it. The governor-general of Fort William Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley , hoped the alliance would bring the Marathenkonföderation under stronger British influence. The negotiations dragged on for months. Baji Rao II wanted to avoid the presence of British troops on his territory, fearing that he would become a British vassal. The question of costs also had to be clarified.

Even during the negotiations, the Holkar von Indore came to a controversial succession to the throne: Jeswant Rao Holkar had largely taken power after fighting, while Baji Rao II and Scindia were on the side of his opponents. Jeswant Rao suffered a series of defeats against the Scindia of Gwalior, but reorganized his army with the help of foreign military and defeated the combined armies of Peshwas and Scindias on October 25, 1802 at the Battle of Pune .

Now Peshwa Baji Rao II accepted the British conditions and concluded with them the Treaty of Bassein, through which he lost his sovereignty in foreign affairs and shook the supremacy of the Marathas in India.

conditions

  • the British East India Company takes over the protection of the territory of Peshwa Baji Rao II;
  • six battalions with about 6,000 infantry and artillery are stationed for protection in the territory of the Peshwas;
  • Areas with a yield of 2.6 million rupees will be ceded to the British East India Company, to cover the cost of the deployment;
  • the Peshwa does not give shelter to anyone who acts against the interests of the British East India Company;
  • the Peshwa accepts the mediation of the British East India Company in conflicts with the Nizam of Hyderabad or any other and recognizes the British East India Company's treaty with the Gaekwad of Baroda;
  • the Peshwa will not negotiate or communicate with any domestic or foreign power without the consent of the British East India Company;
  • its rights in and around the Surat area are transferred to the British East India Company.

See also

literature

  • Surjit Mansingh (ed.): Historical Dictionary of India . (Asian Historical Dictionaries, No. 20). Lanham (Maryland) 1996. ISBN 0810830787
  • MS Naravene: Battles of the Honorable East India Company . Chaman Enterprises, New Delhi 2006.
  • Edward Penderel Moon: The British Conquest and Dominion of India , Duckworth Publ., London 1990. ISBN 0-7156-2169-6

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