A subsidiary alliance was a treaty between the British East India Company and Indian princely states, causing these kingdoms to lose their sovereignty to the British. Lord Wellesley formalised it, though it was first used by French Governor-General Marquis Dupleix.
The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1798.
By forcing Indian princely states to accept British military protection and lose sovereignty, the British Empire in India became the British Empire of India, consolidating imperial authority and expanding territorial dominance.
Value Addition
Features of Subsidiary Alliance
The ruler had to accept a British force within its territory and had to pay for its maintenance.
The state would not enter into any alliance or treaty with any other Indian kingdom without getting consent from the Company.
The princely state also had to accept a British resident within his kingdom.
The princely state could not employ any European into his service without prior permission from the Company.
The English would not interfere in the internal affairs of the Indian state
Role of Subsidiary Alliance in this process
Loss of Sovereignty for Indian States: The British gained control over the foreign affairs of allied states, diminishing their independence.
The Treaty of Bassein (1802) with the Maratha Empire ceded control of their foreign affairs to the British, diminishing their sovereignty.
Military Control and Presence: Indian states had to accept British troops for protection, which solidified British military presence across India.
The growth of the Company’s military force came at the expense of the princely states.
Economic Burden on Indian States: States were required to fund the stationed British troops, leading to economic dependency on the British.
After the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799), Mysore had to finance British troops, straining its economy.
Expansion of British Territory: States failing to meet the treaty’s terms often faced annexation, expanding British territorial reach.
The annexation of Tanjore (1799) and the Carnatic (1801) through subsidiary alliances expanded British territorial control.
Mis-government by the princely states was often cited as justification for eventual annexation by the Company.
Unification under British Authority: The alliance system paved the way for uniform laws and governance structures, integrating the princely states into a cohesive imperial entity
Various princely states like Mysore, Hyderabad, and the Marathas were under British administrative and military authority.
Suppression of Local Resistance: As in the case of Travancore in 1805, where British forces quelled rebellions and ensured continued dominance.
Reduction of French Influence: The policy undermined the influence of other European powers, particularly the French, consolidating British supremacy.
However, in addition to the subsidiary alliance, the British strengthened their control in India through various policies such as the Doctrine of Lapse, Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari System, Divide and Rule etc. These strategies further consolidated British authority and expanded their economic and administrative dominance over the subcontinent.
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Answer
A subsidiary alliance was a treaty between the British East India Company and Indian princely states, causing these kingdoms to lose their sovereignty to the British. Lord Wellesley formalised it, though it was first used by French Governor-General Marquis Dupleix.
The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1798.
By forcing Indian princely states to accept British military protection and lose sovereignty, the British Empire in India became the British Empire of India, consolidating imperial authority and expanding territorial dominance.
Value Addition
Features of Subsidiary Alliance
Role of Subsidiary Alliance in this process
However, in addition to the subsidiary alliance, the British strengthened their control in India through various policies such as the Doctrine of Lapse, Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari System, Divide and Rule etc. These strategies further consolidated British authority and expanded their economic and administrative dominance over the subcontinent.