The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818) is the final and decisive conflict between the British East India Company (EIC) and the Maratha Empire in India.

The war leaves the Company in control of most of India.

It begins with an invasion of the Maratha territory by British East India Company troops, the largest such British controlled force massed in India.

The troops are led by the Governor General Hastings (no relation to Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of Bengal) supported by a force under General Thomas Hislop.

Operations begin against the Pindaris, a band of Muslim mercenaries and Marathas from central India.

Peshwa Baji Rao II's forces, supported by those of Mudhoji II Bhonsle of Nagpur and Malharrao Holkar III of Indore, rise against the East India Company.

Pressure and diplomacy persuade the fourth major Maratha leader, Daulatrao Shinde of Gwalior, to remain neutral even though he loses control of Rajasthan.

British victories are swift, resulting in the breakup of the Maratha Empire and the loss of Maratha independence.

The Peshwa is defeated in the battles of Khadki and Koregaon

Several minor battles are fought by the Peshwa's forces to prevent his capture.

The Peshwa is eventually captured and placed on a small estate at Bithur, near Kanpur.

Most of his territoryis annexed and becomes part of the Bombay Presidency.

The Maharaja of Satara is restored as the ruler of his territory as a princely state.

(In 1848 this territory will also be annexed by the Bombay Presidency under the doctrine of lapse policy of Lord Dalhousie.)

Bhonsle is defeated in the battle of Sitabuldi and Holkar in the battle of Mahidpur.

The northern portion of Bhonsle's dominions in and around Nagpur, together with the Peshwa's territories in Bundelkhand, are annexed by British India as the Saugor and Nerbudda Territories.

The defeat of the Bhonsle and Holkar also result in the acquisition of the Maratha kingdoms of Nagpur and Indore by the British.

Along with Gwalior from Shinde and Jhansi from the Peshwa, all of these territories become princely states acknowledging British control.

The British proficiency in Indian war-making is demonstrated through their rapid victories in Khadki, Sitabuldi, Mahidpur, Koregaon, and Satara.