The EIC's Forgotten Enemy: The Maratha Navy and Angria

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the forgotten naval power of the Maratha Empire under the Angria dynasty, particularly Kanhoji Angria and his son Tulaji Angria. From the 1690s to the 1750s, the Angrias built a formidable fleet that raided European trading ships along India's western coast, defying the British, Portuguese, and Dutch. Lucas explains how Kanhoji's knowledge of local waters and use of fast, shallow-draft vessels like the galbat allowed him to capture dozens of ships and hold the coast from Bombay to Goa. The episode covers key battles like the failed British siege of Vijaydurg in 1718 and the eventual destruction of the Angria fleet by a joint British-Portuguese force in 1756 under Admiral Charles Watson and Robert Clive. Lucas also discusses the decline of Maratha naval power after the Peshwas turned inland, and the lasting legacy of the Angrias as symbols of Indian maritime resistance. Along the way, the hosts touch on shipbuilding techniques, naval tactics, and the political dynamics between the Maratha confederacy and European powers. #EIC #EastIndiaCompany #MarathaNavy #KanhojiAngria #Angria #Vijaydurg #Bombay #Goa #MarathaEmpire #Peshwa #IndianHistory #NavalHistory #Galbat #AdmiralWatson #RobertClive #MaritimeHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo