Their Infantry and Guns Will Astonish You

By the middle of the eighteenth century the Mughal Empire in India was in serious decline. The rulers of the various breakaway successor states faced a major military problem. Their armies were being effortlessly scattered by much smaller forces of European led and trained troops. Their immediate answer was to buy in specialist help in the form of European mercenaries to train their own troops in the methods of the victorious British and French.

This led to a number of so called ‘Trained Brigades’ of regular eighteenth century infantry and formidable artillery being added to the armies of many of the Indian Princes. This book details to most successful of these formations, the Army of Hindustan in the service of the Maratha Prince Madhaji Scindia and his successor Daulat Rao. From an initial force of two battalion raised in 1784 by the Savoyard mercenary Benoit de Boigne, the Army of Hindustan would eventually number over 30,000 men and almost 200 guns. It would be commanded by Europeans of many nationalities including English, Scottish, French, Irish, Italian, German, and Dutch officers. This formidable force’s almost unbroken run of victories would only be broken by the Second Maratha War where the future Duke of Wellington would fight what he always considered the hardest battle of his career against a small portion of the Army of Hindustan.  

Watch the Virtual Book Chat with author Andy Copestake click here.

"This is a potentially rich period for wargamers, with good quality Brigades heavily endowed with artillery, plus masses of Maratha light horse, and ample opportunities for treachery and bribery." Miniature Wargames Magazine

"This book with its graphs, maps and clear, detailed narrative is a great resource for those wishing to get beyond the stereotypes." The Napoleon Series

"In recent years there have been many books published on the relentless rise and expansion of the British in India in the latter years of the 18th century. It has been all too easy to overlook the paramount power in the greater part of India throughout this period - the Marathas. This excellent book addresses this intriguing & often rather brutal period. Andy Copestake's impressive book describes in detail the rise of the Maratha Confederacy with their swift and formidable light cavalry and their domination of much of northern and Central India. This book should appeal to BACSA members and the wide public. It is refreshing to read a well researched book on a fascinating period that does not impose modern day sensibilities on the past, but narrate in epic and accurate details the campaigns and battles that dominated the end of the 18th century  and first years of the next century. An exciting read." Chowkidar Vol 16 No 3 Spring 2022