Satara and Vasota Fort, Maharashtra

This fine pair of maps depicts two of the most impressive operations mounted by the British during the entire war, being the seizure of two key hilltop fortresses.

During the British pursuit of the Peshwa, a force under the command of Brigadier General Lionel Smith arrived at Satara, the Raja of which was a key ally of the Peshwa (and a companion during his flight). Atop one of the seven hills of Satara was the 16th Century fortress of Ajinkyatara (meaning ‘The Impregnable Star’). While not technically unconquerable, as the Mughals had taken it in 1706, but only after a siege of six months, it nevertheless posed a formidable spectre to the prospective attacker. Smith subjected the fortress to a volley of artillery and, to his surprise, the fort’s killedar (commander) soon asked for generous terms of surrender, which were granted. Smith wisely placated the town’s citizens by promising them that he would not interfere with their daily lives and would pay their pensions if, in return, they would recluse themselves from participating in the remainder of the war.

The second map depicts the fort of Vasota (also called Vyaghragad, meaning ‘tiger). Located high in the Western Ghats, to the east of Satara, it was thought to be virtually unassailable as it was surrounded by 2,000 foot high precipices. Undaunted, the British knew that the fort had to be taken if the region was to be secured. In late March 1818, a force under Brigadier General Theophilus Pritzler marched to Vasota and demanded its surrender (rather optimistically hoping for a repeat of the events at Satara). Their entreaties were rebuffed and the British began the arduous task of building mountain roads up towards the neighboring summit of ‘Old Wassota’, while elephants followed with heavy artillery. On April 5, the British batteries began their assault of Vasota, soon making a direct hit upon one the fort’s largest buildings. The fort’s killedar supposedly had no stomach for a protracted hammering and surrendered Vasota the following day.