Question

Subsidiary Alliance system was introduced by_______

• A. Lord Dalhousie
• B. Lord Wellesley
• C. Lord Cornwallis
• D. Sir Sidney Rowlatt

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The Subsidiary Alliance system was introduced by Lord Wellesley. This was a strategic measure used by the British during their expansion in India. The system worked as follows: 

• Objective: To establish and reinforce British influence without direct intervention.
• Method: Indian rulers were coerced into a treaty where they would agree to:
  • Discard their own armies and accept a British force stationed in their region.
  • Pay for the maintenance of the British troops or cede territory for that purpose.
  • Consult the British in case of conflict with other states.
• Outcome: Gradually, this system allowed the British to control the princely states indirectly, without the need for outright warfare or annexation.

Answer 2

The Subsidiary Alliance system, introduced by Lord Wellesley in 1798, was one of the most important diplomatic strategies employed by the British East India Company to exert control over Indian states. The system was designed to create a network of dependencies, making it difficult for Indian rulers to resist British influence. Under this system, Indian rulers were required to:

• Maintain a British military force in their state at their own expense.
• Not form any alliances with other states or foreign powers without the consent of the British.
• Recognize the British as the ultimate authority, thereby weakening their own sovereignty.

The key idea behind the Subsidiary Alliance was that the British would protect the Indian ruler from external threats in exchange for control over their defense, diplomacy, and internal affairs. While this system was beneficial for the British, it significantly undermined the autonomy of the princely states and made them more susceptible to British manipulation.

Through the application of the Subsidiary Alliance, Wellesley was able to reduce the power of major regional powers like the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, thereby consolidating British power across India. Over time, the policy helped establish British suzerainty over most of India, as rulers became increasingly dependent on British protection. It was a crucial part of the British strategy of indirect rule, which ultimately led to the British Empire's dominance in India.