Maratha Confederacy (ETW Faction)
The Maratha Confederacy is one of the 11 playable nations in Empire: Total War's Grand Campaign. It is also a major faction in the game.
Overview
In the 18th century, the young Maratha Confederacy is aiming for expansion. They wish to reclaim India's lands from the Mughal rulers in the north. Since the Mughals are Muslims, the Maratha Hindus consider them foreigners. Therefore, the conflict is also a religious one - to an extent at least. While the Mughal Empire is large and contains many riches, the country's army is not big nor strong enough to counter major invasions. The Mughals have become used to their power and the Marathas have a good chance of success in the upcoming war.
However, the empire of Mysore which borders the Maratha Confederacy as well, might become a thorn in the Marathas' side. Mysore's intentions aren't clear and it is hard to tell their goals. Furthermore, European powers such as Portugal and the United Provinces have already gotten involved in the Indian theater. For now, they only want to trade but it is impossible to tell what they might end up doing. A war in their southern regions against Europeans with modern rifles and cannons is the last thing the Marathas need right now. For now, the peace should be kept - until the Mughals are dealt with at least.
Eventually, the Marathas will have to prove that their type of warfare can compete with that of the Europeans. But will armies consisting mostly of swordsman, a few riflemen and some elephants be able to handle Europe's modern armies?
