Battle of Koregaon

Battle of Koregaon
Part of Third Anglo-Maratha War

Koregaon Bhima Victory Pillar
Date1 January 1818
Location
Koregaon Bhima (in present-day Maharashtra, India)
18°38′44″N 074°03′33″E / 18.64556°N 74.05917°E / 18.64556; 74.05917
Result British victory
Belligerents
East India Company Peshwa faction, Maratha Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Francis F. Staunton Peshwa Baji Rao II
Bapu Gokhale
Appa Desai
Trimbakji Dengle
Units involved
Maratha Army
Strength
500 infantry
300 cavalry
24 artillerymen
2 6-pounder cannons
1800 infantry
2 cannons
Casualties and losses
275 killed, wounded or missing 500–600 killed or wounded (British estimates)
Koregaon Bhima
Location of Koregaon Bhima in India

The Battle of Koregaon was fought on 1 January 1818 between the British East India Company and the Peshwa faction of the Maratha Confederacy, at Koregaon Bhima.

A 28,000-strong force led by Peshwa Baji Rao II whilst on their way to attack the company-held Pune, were unexpectedly met by an 800-strong Company force that was on its way to reinforce the British troops in Pune. The Peshwa dispatched around 2,000 soldiers to attack the force which sought entrenchment in Koregaon. Led by Captain Francis Staunton, the Company troops defended their position for nearly 12 hours, before the Peshwa's troops ultimately withdrew, fearing the imminent arrival of a larger British force.

The battle was part of the Third Anglo-Maratha war, a series of battles that culminated in the defeat of the Peshwa rule and subsequent rule of the British East India Company in nearly all of Western, Central and Southern India. There is a "victory pillar" (obelisk) in Koregaon commemorating the battle.