Who was the Maratha Peshwa during the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-06) and the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18)?
Bajirao II, the son of Raghunath Rao, was the Peshwa during both the Second and Third Anglo-Maratha Wars. His weak leadership, personal insecurities and constant intrigue against his own sardars led him to sign the Treaty of Bassein (1802) with the British. This effectively surrendered Maratha independence and directly provoked the subsequent wars that eventually led to the empire’s total collapse. ANSWER: (C) Bajirao II
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Bajirao II is often remembered as the most inept of the Peshwas. His reign was marked by the lack of the strategic vision and courage shown by his predecessors. By signing the Treaty of Bassein to regain his throne from the Holkars, he accepted a British subsidiary alliance. This act alienated the great Maratha houses of Scindia and Bhonsle, sparking the Second Anglo-Maratha War. Later, his desperate attempt to break free from British shackles led to the Third Anglo-Maratha War. His total defeat in 1818 resulted in the final dissolution of the Peshwaship and the Maratha Empire.