Explain the policy introduced by Lord Wellesley.
Answers
Answer:
The Subsidiary Alliance System was “Non-Intervention Policy” used by Lord Wellesley who was the Governor-General (1798-1805) to establish the British Empire in India. According to this system, every ruler in India had to accept to pay a subsidy to the British for the maintenance of the British army.
Answer:
1. ‘The Nizam of Hyderabad’ was the first victim of this policy. In AD 1798 it detached the Nizam from the French and also forbade having alliances with Maratha without British consent.
2. Second state was Mysore in AD 1799. Then Wellesley compelled the Nawab of Awadh to accept the Policy of Subsidiary Alliance in AD 1801.
3. In AD 1802, Peshwa Baji Rao II also subjugated his state under this policy. Many Maratha states like Bhosle and Scindia in AD 1803 also accepted the terms of the policy.
4. The last Maratha Confederation i.e. Holkars too accepted the terms of the subsidiary alliance.
The Policy of Subsidiary Alliance was in reality, a document of losing sovereignty which meant the state did not have the rights of self defence, of maintaining diplomatic relations, of employing foreign experts, and of settling its disputes with its neighbours.