In 1803 the powerful northern Indian Mahratta confederacy owing allegiance to Bajee Rao II has begun to clash with the expansionist British empire. Once again the Mahratta armies are trained and commanded by Frenchmen.
The Afghan warlord Zemaun Shah still pursues his territorial ambitions in Turkestan and northern India.
In China the Miao peoples and White Lotus rebels continue their struggle for independence against a resurgent Qing Chinese empire.
Dutch power in Indonesia has been curtailed by British seizure of some of their colonies in Malaya, whilst the Portuguese still retain control of Timor but are now allied to Great Britain.
In Japan the Tokugawa rulers continue to pursue their policy of strict isolation.
