How did Lord Wellesley expand the British power in India? Explain the merits and demerits of the Subsidiary Alliance system.
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Answer:
Explanation:
Lord Wellesley succeeded Sir John Shore as the Governor General of the company in 1798. He was one of the greatest British rulers of India who can be compared with Clive, Warren Hastings, and Lord Dalhousie, but in actual achievements he surpassed them all.
He was an imperialist and endeavored, his best to make the company the paramount power in India. He clearly declared that the ‘company must be viewed in the capacity of a sovereign power.” He wanted to reduce all Indian states to a position of dependence on the company.
So he followed a high handed and offensive policy towards the Indian powers. The prevailing circumstances favoured Wellesley to implement his schemes. The Nizam of Hyderabad had deserted the British camp after his defeat by the Marathas at Kharda in March 1795.
He was providing training to his troops under the supervision of a French Officer named Raymond. The Marathas after their victory against the Nizam were increasing their power and influence. The Maratha “chief Daulat Rao Sindhia was drilling his troops under a French General named Perron.
Tipu Sultan of Mysore was carrying on negotiation with the French Governors of Maurititus and Reunion in order to get military help against the English in India.
To counter act the growth of French influence in the court of native princes and to bring the Indian states within the orbit of British political power Lord Wellesley followed the System of Subsidiary Alliance. This system helped the company in the expansion of its dominions.
According to Sir Alfred Lyall there were four stages in the evolution of the system of subsidiary alliance. In the first stage the English company under took to lend military contingent to help an Indian prince in his wars. Governor General Warren Hastings had lent British troops to Nawab Suja- ud-daulah of Oudh to fight against the Rohilas.
In the second stage the English company took the field on its own account with the help of an Indian ally who made common cause with him. In the third stage the company asked its Indian ally to pay money to raise, train and equippe army, for the defence of his state.
In 1797 Holm Shore had made such an arrangement with the Nawab of Oudh. A similar agreement was concluded by Lord Wellesley with the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1798.
In the final stage the company guaranteed protection to the territories of an Indian alliy. Accordingly Subsidiary force was maintained on the soil of that state.
The Indian ruler was asked to surrender to the company a part of his territory. So that out of its revenue the expenses of the subsidiary force were to be met. Such a treaty was concluded with the Nizam of Hyderabad in i800 A.D.
The French Governor Duplex began the system of lending European troops to Indian, princes at the expense of the later. The English also followed this practice.
In 1765 the East India Company had concluded a treaty with the Nawab of Oudh. Accordingly the company undertook to defend the frontiers of Oudh and the Nawab agreed defrays the war expenses. However it was Lord Wellesley who elaborated and perfected the system of Subsidiary alliances.
The system of Subsidiary Alliance provided that the ruler who would enter in to this alliance would recognise the Suzerainty of the East India Company.
He was not to declare war or to carry on negotiations with any other state, without the knowledge and consent of the East India Company.
He was to maintain a contingent of company’s troops for the defence of his territories, and for the preservation of public peace.
The ruler of a bigger state would cede certain territories in full sovereignty to meet the vearly expenses of his companys army but a smaller state was required to pay tribute in cash to the company. The rulers accepting the Subsidiary Alliance were to maintain. British residents in their capitals.
They were to expel all European officials other than English from their territories. In lieu of all these the East India Company was to provide the rulers effective security against external aggression and internal rebellion.
The Nizam of Hyderabad who was the feeblest of all Indian powers readily accepted the Subsidiary Alliance in September 1798.