1. First Anglo-Maralha war (1775-1782): In the civil war between Narayana Rao and his uncle Raghunath Rao, Narayana Rao was killed, and his widow gave birth to a male child. The child, Savai Madhava Rao was supported by the Maratha chiefs. Raghunath Rao sought the help of the British. He signed the treaty of Surat in 1775, with the Bombay Governor Elphinstone to retain his position.

Raghunatha Rao and the British fought with the Maratha chiefs at Poona. But, Nana Fadnavis, the Prime minister of Peshwa Savai Madhava Rao, got the help of Governor-General Hastings at Calcutta and signed with him the Treaty of Purandhara in 1776. According to that treaty. 1) The British agreed to withdraw their support to Raghunatha Rao, 2) Raghunath Rao was given a monthly pension of 25000/- from the Peshwa Government.

But this was not accepted by Elphinstone (Bombay Governor). He reopened the war and English forces were defeated and signed the Treaty of Wadagaon in 1779. Lord Hastings sent an army from Calcutta and battles were fought. Finally the treaty of Salbai was concluded in 1782.

Treaty of Salbai in 1782: 

1. Both the parties agreed to restore the captured territories 

2. There was peace for the next 20 years.

2. Second Anglo-Maratha war (1803-1806): Maratha chiefs of Holkar and Sindhia tried to control Peshwa Bajirao-II. Peshwa was greatly influenced by Mahadji Sindhia. So, Holkar waged a war and defeated the armies of Sindhia and Peshwa in 1802. Holkar placed Vinayaka Rao on the throne.

Treaty of Bassien: 

(1) Peshwa signed the subsidiary Alliance and agreed to keep 6000 British soldiers and pay 26 Lakh every year for their upkeep. 

(2) Peshwa surrendered the northern territories of his Kingdom to the British 

(3) The Maratha Chieftains who were subordinates to Peshwa had become subordinates to the Company.

Sindhia and Bhonsle challenged the British power, and a series of battles were fought. The British defeated them and both of them accepted subsidiary Alliance. Holkar also fought with the British and concluded the treaty of Rajpurghat and ceded Bundelkhanc T and Chambal to the British.

3. Third Anglo-Maratha war (1817-1818): Peshwa Baji Rao-II had lost his power and prestige. He decided to reocganise the Maratha confederacy and revive the lost glory of the Marathas. He also enlisted the support of the Pathans and the Pindaries for this cause. They attacked the British military camp at Kirki. This started the third Anglo-Maratha war. In a series of battles, Marathas were defeated by the British.

All Maratha chieftains accepted subsidiary Alliances. The descendant of Chatrapathi Sahu was allowed to rule the region of Satara. Baji Rao – II was pensioned off to Bithore with an annual pension of 8 Lakh rupees. With this, the British established political Supremacy all over south India.