What were the provisions of subsidiary alliance system
Answers
(a) The native ruler who became a subsidiary ally of the English would be protected by the Company's government against foreign attack.
(b) In lieu of this guarantee the native ruler had to maintain a force under British command and pay a subsidy for its maintenance to the Company.
(c) He was forbidden to negotiate with any foreign power without the knowledge of the English.
In short, Lord Wellesley's 'Subsidiary Alliance' was designed to meet two objectives, namely, to make the English the paramount power in India and to exterminate the French influence from India for good.
The first native ruler who accepted the Subsidiary Alliance was the Nizam of Hyderabad. Lord Wellesley also forced the Nawab of Oudh to accept it.
The rulers of Tanjore, Surat and the Carnatic also became subsidiary allies of the English.
Refusal by Tipu Sultan and Nana Phadnavis to accept the Subsidiary Alliance made their confrontation with the English inevitable.
After the battle of Plassey in 1757, the battle of Buxar in 1764 and gaining the Diwani of Bengal, the company began to expand its rule in many parts of India. For that it had devised several plans, one among them was the “Subsidiary Alliance”. Subsidiary Alliance system was means used by the Company to extend its control over the Indian states.
According to the terms of this alliance -
The East India Company behaved as a guardian of the State.
The State appointed an English Resident in its court, to check the activities of the king.
Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces.
The State could not give shelter to any other European other than English in its army.
The Indian states entering into subsidiary alliance were protected by the Company’s forces but had to pay for the maintenance of the British troops. The Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces. If the Indian rulers failed to make payments to the British, part of their kingdom was taken away as penalty.