A leading Maratha family, based at Gwalior in northern India, which dominated the Maratha confederacy in the late 18th century. The founder of the family’s fortunes, Ranoji Sindhia (died 1750), seized control of the Malwa region that he had been appointed to govern. A successor, Mahadaji Sindhia (ruled 1761–94), created a virtually independent kingdom in north India. He became the arbiter of power not only within the Maratha confederacy, but also at the Mogul court at Delhi, and won victories against the East India Company as well as the Rajputs. His successors failed to stem British expansion in north India. Daulat Rao Sindhia was defeated in 1803, and in 1818 Gwalior became a Princely State under the Company’s protection.