Treaty of Salbai (1782)

The Treaty of Salbai, which ended the First Anglo-Maratha War, was signed on 17 May 1782 between the British East India Company and the Marathas.

Salbai is situated in Gwalior District, Madhya Pradesh. Maratha Ruler Mahadaji Sindhia made an agreement with the English in October 1781 by which he agreed to negotiate with the Poona Council for a treaty with the English. The negotiations started in early 1782. According to the terms of the treaty, the English retained Salsette, an island in Maharashtra, Mahadaji Sindhia got back all his territory west of the river Yamuna., and both parties returned to each other’s territory conquered during the course of the war in South India. The treaty of Salbai formed a turning point in the history of English rule in India. While the English only gained the island of Salsette, it emboldened the British, as they had gained the upper edge against the strongest power in India, at that point in time.

• It marked the end of the first phase of the struggle between the Marathas and the British.
• The Treaty of Salbai was signed in May 1782; it was ratified by Hastings in June 1782. The treaty guaranteed peace between the two sides for twenty years.
• The main provisions of the Treaty of Salbai were:
• Salsette should continue in the possession of the English.
• The whole of the territory conquered since the Treaty of Purandhar (1776) including Bassein should be restored to the Marathas.
• The English should not offer any further support to Raghunathrao and the Peshwa should grant him a maintenance allowance.
• The Peshwa should not support any other European nation.

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