The First Anglo-Maratha War broke out as the British East India Company attempted to interfere in the internal succession disputes of the Pune court. While the infant Madhavrao Narayan was the nominal Peshwa, the actual defense was coordinated by the Barbhai Council. The Marathas utilized superior scorched-earth tactics and trapped the British at Wadgaon. The war ended with the Treaty of Salbai, which recognized Madhavrao Narayan as the rightful Peshwa and forced the British to abandon Raghunath Rao. This victory preserved Maratha sovereignty and delayed British expansion into Western India for two decades.