Question

What are the causes of Martha failure in 3rd battle of panipat?

Answer 1

different terrain, neighbouring kings cheating maratha

Answer 2

Large number of civilians: It was a monumental mistake to have over 200,000 civilians along with the Maratha Army. The people responsible for the mistake are Sadashiv Rao Bhau Peshwa (the Diwan of Peshwa and the Commander in chief of the army for that particular battle) and H.H. Nanasaheb - the Peshwa himself. These civilians were nothing but sitting ducks before the Afghan forces and ended up getting slaughtered in cold blood. The Maratha Army must have faced a hard time playing a dual role of protecting the civilians and fighting a war. Of the total Maratha death toll of 100,000 almost 60,000 were civilians. Nothing can be more terrible than this. Further, the slaughter of civilians was a big time morale-breaker for the armies of the Great Mahratta Kingdom.