'Assaye, Sept 24th 1803'

Coloured aquatint after William Heath, 1815 (c).

The battle, fought during the 2nd Maratha War (1803-1805), was the first of Major-General Arthur Wellesley's great victories. With about 4,500 troops, only 1,300 of whom were Europeans, he routed the opposing forces of over 30,000 after a desperate struggle. Wellington considered this the bloodiest action, for the numbers of men engaged, that he ever fought.