The Maratha Confederacy, also referred to as the Maratha Empire, was an early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent. It comprised the realms of the Peshwa and four major independent Maratha states often subordinate to the former. It was established in 1674 with the coronation of Shivaji as the Maratha Chhatrapati and recognised by Emperor Bahadur Shah I as a tributary state in 1707 following a prolonged rebellion. Following this, the Marathas continued to recognise the Mughal emperor as their nominal suzerain, similar to other contemporary Indian entities, though in practice, imperial politics at Delhi were largely influenced by the Marathas between 1737 and 1803.
The Battle of Plassey was a decisive victory of the British East India Company, under the leadership of Robert Clive, over the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies on 23 June 1757. Robert Clive was paid £1 million by the Jagat Seth family – a rich Indian family business group – to defeat Siraj-ud-Daulah. The victory was made possible by the defection of Mir Jafar, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah's commander in chief who was also paid by the Jagat Seths. The battle helped the British East India Company take control of Bengal in 1772. Over the next hundred years, they continued to expand their control over vast territories in the rest of the Indian subcontinent, including Burma.
Balaji Baji Rao, often referred to as Nana Saheb I, was the 8th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy. He was appointed as Peshwa in 1740 upon the death of his father, the Peshwa Bajirao I.
The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) was the first of three Anglo-Maratha Wars fought between the British East India Company and Maratha Confederacy in India. The war began with the Treaty of Surat and ended with the Treaty of Salbai. The war, fought in between Surat and Poona, saw British defeat and restoration of positions of both the parties before the war. Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of Bengal decided not to attack Pune directly.
Katwa is a sub-divisional town and railway junction in Purba Bardhaman district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Katwa subdivision. The town was built at the confluence of Ganga and Ajay. Katwa is a border city of three districts; Purba Bardhaman District, Nadia District and Murshidabad District.
Dainhat is a town and a Municipality under Katwa police station of Katwa subdivision, in Purba Bardhaman district in the state of West Bengal, India.
Alivardi Khan was the fourth Nawab of Bengal from 1740 to 1756. He toppled the Nasiri dynasty of Nawabs by defeating Sarfaraz Khan in 1740 and assumed power himself.
Bargis were a light cavalry mercenary group of Maratha Empire's who indulged in large scale plundering of the countryside of western part of the Bengal Subah for about ten years (1741–1751) during the Maratha invasions of Bengal. Maratha invasions took place almost as an annual event for 10 years.
The Maratha invasions of Bengal (1742–1751), also known as the Maratha expeditions in Bengal, were the frequent invasions by the Maratha forces in the Bengal Subah, after their successful campaign in the Carnatic region at the Battle of Trichinopoly. The leader of the expeditions was Raghoji Bhonsle of Nagpur. The Marathas invaded Bengal five times from April 1742 to March 1751, which caused widespread economic losses in the Bengal Subah.
Katwa Assembly constituency is an assembly constituency in Purba Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Katwa I is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Katwa subdivision of Purba Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
The Battle of Burdwan occurred between the Bengal Subah and the Maratha Confederacy in 1747. After the dismissal of Mir Jafar by Alivardi Khan, an army was amassed to defend against the invading Maratha forces of Janoji Bhonsle at Orissa. Alivardi Khan managed to heavily repulse and defeat the Marathas in this battle.
The Second Battle of Katwa occurred between the Bengal Subah and the Maratha Confederacy in 1745.
The Battle of Wadgaon was fought between the Maratha Confederacy and the British East India Company near Vadgaon Maval village in Maharashtra and was part of the First Anglo-Maratha War.
Sribati or Sreebati is a village and gram panchayat in Katwa II CD block in the Katwa subdivision of Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal.
Bhaskar Ram Kolhatkar, known as Baba Bhaskar Pandit or Bhaskar Pant by the people of Bengal and Maharashtra, was a Maratha general and statesman. He was the dewan of the Maharaja of Nagpur, Raghuji Bhonsle. He played an important role in the kingdom of Nagpur's expansion. The first Maratha invasion of Bengal in 1741, as also the third in 1744, was led by him. He was an able military leader, proven by his success in the Maratha invasions of Bengal and conquest of Chhattisgarh. He was killed by Alivardi Khan on 30 March 1744.
The Maratha Ditch was a three-mile-long deep entrenchment constructed by the English East India Company around Fort William in Calcutta. It was built to protect the surrounding villages and forts from the Maratha Bargi raiders. The ditch marked the outer limits of Calcutta city in the nineteenth century.
Tulaji Angre, called Tulajee Angria by English historians was the grand admiral of the Maratha Navy and ruler of Colaba State in modern-day India. Similar to his famous father Kanhoji Angre, he too was an extremely skilled admiral and attacked several European trading ships. His achievements and naval prowess are considered to be greater than that of his father by some scholars and chroniclers. On various occasions he fought against the English, Dutch, Siddis And Portuguese maritime Powers. However, he alienated himself from the Maratha Peshwa, Balaji Baji Rao which led to his capture by the East India Company and Peshwa's forces at the Battle of Vijaydurg in 1756.
The Plunder of Murshidabad was an event during the Maratha invasions of Bengal where Maratha forces plundered Murshidabad and committed numerous atrocities against its people, especially women. The city had been left unguarded as the Nawab of Bengal, Alivardi Khan was at the Orissa campaign where he repulsed the Marathas at First Battle of Katwa.
Mir Habib, a former ally, becomes a traitor and enters into negotiations with Bhaskar Pant. As a result, Orissa is incorporated into the Maratha Empire. An agreement between the Peshwa and Nawab is reached to drive Raghuji from Orissa. Alivardi Khan manages to reclaim Batak, leading to the Maratha expulsion from Orissa. The ensuing struggle between Raghuji and the Nawab over Orissa sees the Marathas reconquer Katak in 1749, with Sheo Bhatt Sathe being appointed as the first Governor of Orissa. A peace treaty is subsequently signed with the Marathas, but its terms, effects, and loopholes come into play. Mir Habib dies in 1752 and Orrisa officially becomes a Maratha State.
Bengal Subah 
Maratha Confederacy 
Bhaskar Pant 