Question

which were the main conditions of Wellesley’s subsidiary alliance system ?​

Answer 1

Answer:

The main principles of a subsidiary alliance were:

• An Indian ruler entering into a subsidiary alliance with the British had to accept British forces in his territory and also agreed to pay for their maintenance.

• The ruler would accept a British people in his state.

• Such a ruler would not form an alliance with any other power, nor would he declare war against any power without the permission of the British.

• The ruler would not employ any Europeans other than the British, and if he were already doing so, he would dismiss them.

• In case of a conflict with any other state, the British would decide what to do, and he would accept their solution.

• The ruler would acknowledge the East India Company as the power in India.

• In return for the ruler accepting its conditions, the Company undertook to protect the state from external dangers and internal disorders.

• If the Indian rulers failed to make the payments required by the alliance, then part art of their territory was to be taken away as a penalty.

Answer 2

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.