Groups of mounted marauders in central India, often in the service of the Maratha princes, who raided Mogul territory from the 17th century. The Pindaris were not paid but were allowed to forage and plunder freely. After 1807 they extended their depredations to British India, and under Lord Hastings (governor-general 1813–23) a major campaign (Maratha Wars) was conducted (1817–18) to wipe out the Pindaris. A campaign led by Hastings and involving three British and Indian armies advanced into central India and successfully encircled and defeated some 30,000 Pindaris. Their extirpation confirmed British paramountcy in India.