What is Subsidiary Alliance system?

Answer 1

A subsidiary alliance is an alliance between a dominant nation and a nation that it dominates.

The doctrine of subsidiary alliance was introduced by Marquess Wellesley, British governor-general of India from 1798 to 1805. In the beginning of his governorship Wellesley adopted a policy of non-intervention but later he adopted the policy of subsidiary alliance. By the late 18th century, powerful emperors had disappeared from the Indian subcontinent. and it was left with numerous weaker smaller states. Many rulers accepted this offer of protection by Lord Wellesley.

Its main principles were:

a) Any Indian Ruler accepting subsidiary Alliance with the British had to keep British forces within their territory and agreed to pay for their maintenance.

b) In lieu of the payments, some of the ruler's territory was ceded to the British.

c) The rulers accepting it were forced to keep a British official at their court called the Resident.

d) Expel all non English foreigners from his state. if the Indian rulers failed to make the payment then part of their territory was taken away as penalty Under this doctrine, Indian rulers under British protection suspended their native armies, instead maintaining British troops within their states. They surrendered control of their foreign affairs to the British. In return, the East India Company would protect them from the attacks of their rivals.

The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to enter into this alliance. Tipu Sultan of Mysore refused to accept it but after the British victory in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, Mysore was forced to become a subsidiary ally. Later the Maratha ruler Baji Rao II also accepted subsidiary alliance in the Treaty of Bassein.

Answer 2

The Subsidiary Alliance system was used by Lord Wellesley, who was Governor-General of India from 1798-1805, to build an empire in India. Under the system, the allying Indian state's ruler was compelled to accept the permanent stationing of a British force within his territory and to pay a subsidy for its maintenance. Also, the Indian ruler had to agree to the posting of a British Resident in his court. Under the Subsidiary Treaty, the Indian ruler could not employ any European in his service without the prior approval of the British. Nor could he negotiate with any other Indian ruler without consulting the Governor-General. In return for all this, the British agreed to defend the ruler from his enemies and adopt a policy of non-interference in the internal matters of the allied state.

Subsidiary Alliance brought immense gains for the East India Company by extending the areas under British control and bringing relative peace in subsidies and territory. During the seven-year rule of Wellesley alone, over 100 small and big states of India signed the Subsidiary Treaty.

Answer 3

subsidiary alliance system was promulagated by lord welliesly. according to this system if a ruler is not administering his reign with care so his estate would be annexed by the britishers