Subsidiary alliance

The doctrine of subsidiary alliance was introduced by Marquess Wellesley, British governor-general of India from 1798 to1805. 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.In lieu of the payments, some of the ruler's territory was ceded to the British.

b) He would allow a British Resident to stay in his state.

c) An Indian ruler who entered into a Subsidiary Alliance would neither enter into any alliance with any other power, nor would he declare war against any power without the permission of the English.

d) He would not employ any Europeans other than the English and if there was already any, he would dismiss them.

e)In case of any conflict with any other state he would agree the decision of the English.

f) He would acknowledge the British Company as the paramount power.

g) In return for accepting all these conditions the Company undertook to protect him from external dangers and internal disorders.

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. Nawab of Awadh was the next to accept the Subsidiary Alliance in 1801. Later the Maratha ruler Baji Rao II also accepted subsidiary alliance in theTreaty of Bassein.