1802-1807: the Mahratta War

Here is that story!
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Map 60

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In 1802 the new king was Jean I le Fur born in 1781. Shy and soft, he was married in 1799 by his mother Louise to Marie-Thérèse of France (born in 1778), the only surviving descendant of King Louis XVI of France . She is very determined to avenge her father. “The only man in the family” Napoleon said of her.

But it was the father of Jean I, Prince Jean, who ensured the reality of power until his death in 1813 from Brazil. The royal couple will stay in Tangier for diplomacy.
Prince Jean will pursue a cynical policy: prolong the war in Europe as long as possible to gain maximum advantage.

In 1802 a civil war broke out in the Mahratte confederation. This is an opportunity for Brazil to catch up with the English.

The Brazilians will then support from Mysore the Peshwa (“king”) Baji Rao II who has just been overthrown. The English from Bengal supported his opponents. But in fact the English and Brazilians agreed to share the Mahrattes empire.

The civil war lasted 4 years and led to the dislocation of the Mahratte confederation which was divided in 1807 between Brazilians and English following the line of 1793.

It would take some time for the entire confederacy to be under control (1812). Pune will become the capital of Brazilian India in 1815.

In the meantime, the Brazilians extended their influence over the Rajputs, who more or less became protectorates. The English, however, have the largest share with 70% of the Indian population.

The English and Brazilian colonizations are very different.

The English settlers were mainly contract workers. They serve the duration of their contract then return to Europe.

The Brazilians settle settlers in the cities, marrying influential local families.
They also converted many Indians, particularly Muslims (14% of the population), to become their auxiliaries. On the other hand, they avoid preaching to Hindus to avoid any religious provocation.