The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c18.31

c18.31

A military empire cannot survive its military efficiency long, and unfortunately for the Marathas their rivals were endowed with those very qualities which they themselves lacked. The English were imbued with a strong sense of patriotism, they combined individual self-sacrifice with national ambition, their army was well-disciplined and scientifically trained, their generals were perfect masters of military science; and the badly led, badly armed and badly organised feudal army of the Maratha empire had to relinquish the unequal contest after a brief struggle. The Maratha chiefs were compelled to acknowledge their failure after two short wars, the Peshwa was pensioned off, the *Bargirs* converted their sword-blades into ploughshares, peace was restored throughout the length and breadth of India and the Maratha empire became a far-off memory.