The Anglo-Maratha Wars were a series of conflicts in India between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These wars were primarily fought over control of territory and influence in India, as the British sought to expand their power while the Marathas aimed to maintain their sovereignty. There were three main wars: the First War (1775-1782), the Second War (1803-1805), and the Third War (1817-1818). The outcome of these conflicts significantly weakened the Maratha Empire, leading to British dominance in India and the eventual establishment of British colonial rule over much of the subcontinent.