Subsidiary Alliance related question?
VerifiedAnswer: Lord Wellesley
Explanation:
The Subsidiary Alliance was a brilliant diplomatic strategy introduced by Lord Wellesley during his tenure as the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805. This policy became one of the most effective tools for expanding British control over Indian territories without direct conquest.
Under this alliance system, Indian rulers were required to accept British protection and maintain a British garrison in their territory. In return, the East India Company promised to protect these rulers from external enemies and internal rebellions. However, the allied rulers had to pay for the British troops stationed in their states, which often proved financially draining.
The key conditions of the Subsidiary Alliance included:
• The Indian ruler could not maintain relations with other European powers without British consent
• A British Resident would be stationed at the ruler's court
• The ruler had to dismiss all foreign employees and could not employ any without British approval
• In case of disputes with neighbors, the ruler had to accept British arbitration
Several major Indian states entered into this alliance, including Hyderabad (1798), Mysore (1799), Tanjore (1799), Awadh (1801), Peshwa (1802), Bhonsle (1803), and Sindhia (1804). The first state to accept this alliance was Hyderabad under Nizam Ali Khan, setting a precedent for others to follow.
This policy proved highly successful for the British as it allowed them to control Indian states indirectly while the rulers maintained their titles and internal administration. The allied states became buffer zones against French influence during the Napoleonic Wars, and the British gained significant revenue through military subsidies. However, for Indian rulers, it meant loss of independence, heavy financial burden, and gradual erosion of their real power, ultimately paving the way for complete British dominance over the subcontinent.
