Contest for Naval Sovereignty on the Western Coast

A Study of the Maratha Navy in the 17th century and the 18th century

Abstract

This paper brings into the limelight the significant role of the western coasts of India, which has always been crucial for trade and commerce. The region witnessed the growing influx of various European companies in the 17th century, who aimed to dominate maritime trade in the Indian Ocean. To safeguard their monopolies, the Europeans established forts and factories across the Indian Ocean, leading to the dominance of European naval powers. However, indigenous powers, like the Marathas, opposed this dominance and established their fleets to secure their sovereignty over the coastal waters. The Marathas under Shivaji established a strong navy and continued to resist the Europeans throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The paper describes that the most arduous trial to European control came from the Marathas under Kanhoji Angre, whose naval strength reached its pinnacle during the 18th century. The Angre fleet played a vital role in protecting Maratha's interests and fortifying control over the seas. To counter the Maratha navy, Europeans formed alliances with other regional powers, such as the Siddis, to counterattack the Maratha expansion. The Marathas were also engaged in aggressive fights with European navies, even capturing ships that lacked passes or opposed their sovereignty. The paper reconnoitres the diverse methods used by the Marathas to ensure security and freedom of movement in their coastal waters.