Battle of Koregaon: East India Company troops defeat the Maratha Empire
- When
- 1818
- Where
- Banks of the Bhima River; Mandsaur
- Episodes
- 2
The Battle of Koregaon occurred on 1 January 1818 at Koregaon Bhima, where East India Company troops defeated the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Empire. This engagement was part of the broader Third Anglo-Maratha War, which saw the defeat of various Maratha chiefs. The conflict culminated in the surrender of Peshwa Baji Rao II and the signing of the Treaty of Mandeswar, consolidating British power in the region.
Episodes
- Battle of Koregaon
East India Company troops defeated the Peshwa's forces at Koregaon Bhima on 1 January 1818.
- Treaty of Mandeswar
Holkar signed the Treaty of Mandeswar on 6 January 1818, accepting British terms.
Background and detail
Background. Tensions escalated in 1817 due to revenue disputes and Pindari raids. The British intervened in conflicts involving the Peshwa and Gaekwad, forcing Baji Rao II to sign treaties ceding territory. Hostilities began in November 1817 when the Peshwa attacked the British Residency at Pune, leading to the Battle of Khadki. The Peshwa subsequently fled towards Koregaon.
The Battle. On 1 January 1818, Company troops engaged the Peshwa's forces at Koregaon Bhima. The Company force, composed mainly of Mahars, repelled the Peshwa's troops, who retreated upon learning of approaching reinforcements. The aftermath revealed significant casualties, with Elphinstone noting burned houses and dead bodies in the streets.
Aftermath and Surrender. Following the battle, British forces continued their campaign. Holkar signed the Treaty of Mandeswar on 6 January 1818, ending the war for his faction. Baji Rao II was pursued by British columns and eventually surrendered to John Malcolm in June 1818, accepting a pension and residence in Bithoor.
People involved
- Baji Rao II · Peshwa of the Maratha Empire
- General Smith · British officer whose troops were engaged at Koregaon
- John Malcolm · British Official accepting surrender
- Holkar of Indore · Holkar Maharaja of Indore (dynastic reference)
Sources
- Battle of Koregaon Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-25
- Third Anglo-Maratha War Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-22
- Mandsaur Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-24
- Baji Rao II Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-21
- Koregaon Bhima Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-26
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.