Subsidiary Alliance : Features, Impacts, and Map
Last Updated : 21 Jan, 2024
Subsidiary Alliance: The Subsidiary Alliance system refers to the treaty which was between the British East India Company and the Indian princely states, under which Indian kingdoms lost their sovereignty to the English. It was a significant step in building the British empire in India. It was framed by Lord Wellesley, Governor General of India, and was used in reality for the first time by Governor-General Marquis Dupleix.
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Subsidiary AllianceSubsidiary Alliance
Under the Subsidiary Alliance system, the Indian ruler who is in question would be protected against any external attacks. In response to it, the rulers should:
- Post the company army in the capital of their state.
- Provide capital or territory for the company for maintenance of the troops.
- Expulsion of other Europeans from the state, whether they were employed in the army or civil service.
- A European official is to be kept as a "resident" of the capital of the state. This meant, no direct correspondence is possible with other states, without the resident's approval.
Chronology of States under Subsidiary Alliance
States | Years |
| Hyderabad | 1798 |
| Mysore | 1799 |
| Tanjore | 1799 |
| Awadh | 1801 |
| Peshwa (Marathas) | 1802 |
| Scindia (Marathas) | 1803 |
| Gaekwad (Marathas) | 1803 |
Features of the Subsidiary Alliance Treaty
- The initiation of the subsidiary alliance system was done by Lord Wellesley but introduced by the French Governor-General Dupleix.
- While entering into a subsidiary alliance with the British, the Indian rulers had to do away with their armed forces and accept the British forces in their territory.
- He also had to pay for the maintenance of the British army and if failed to make the payments, a portion of his territory would be taken away and given to the British state.
- In favor, the British would protect the Indian state against any form of foreign attack or any internal revolt.
- The British promised non-interference in the internal affairs of Indian states, but this was hardly kept.
- Indian states were not allowed to enter alliances with any other foreign power. He would also not employ any other foreign nationals other than Englishmen at his service.
- Indian states were not allowed to enter any political connection with any other Indian state without the permission of the British.
- The control and power of Indian rulers were hence lost concerning foreign affairs and the military. The Indian ruler became the British "protectorate".
Effects of Subsidiary Alliance System
Due to the imposition of the subsidiary alliances, the Indian rulers were disbanded and many people were rendered unemployed. Many of the Indian states have lost independence and most parts of the Indian subcontinent were coming under the British sway. The first one to accept the subsidiary alliance was the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1798. Lord Clive introduced the subsidiary alliance in Oudh and the subsequent Treaty of Allahabad was signed; where the British promised Oudh territory from enemies like the Marathas.
Impact of Subsidiary Alliance System
- In case of failure of the ruler to make the payment, a portion of his territory was taken and ceded to the British, in the name of maintaining the troops.
- Subsidiary alliances acted as "Trojan horse tactics" in case of building the empire; which disarmed the Indian rulers and placed them under the protection of the British.
- The Governor-General placed a proxy in every Indian state which accepted a subsidiary alliance.
- It helped the company to maintain a large standing army at the expense of Indian princes.
- It gave the control of strategic and key positions in India and Britishers wielded considerable influence on the internal affairs of the Indian state. It also reduced the threat from the French army.
Various stages of the Subsidiary Alliance System
- In the foremost stage of the subsidiary alliance, the English asked for a fixed army from the native rulers in exchange for a fixed sum of money.
- Next stage, the English keep a permanent military force in the states of natives to assist the allies in exchange for an annual sum of money.
- In the third stage, the English asked not only to maintain a fixed subsidiary force but also to keep the force within the boundaries of the allies.
- In the final stage, a fixed and permanent force was kept within the territories of their allies, which was started by Lord Wellesley.
Subsidiary Alliance System Impacts
Nizam of Hyderabad
The Nizam of Hyderabad ties were broken with the French in 1798 and allying with the Marathas was made illegal if permission from the British was not sought. The Nizam was the first one to sign the contract of a Subsidiary Alliance.
Nawab of Awadh
Mysore became the second state under a subsidiary alliance in the year 1799 and in 1801, Nawab of Awadh was forced to join the Subsidiary Alliance policy.
Peshwa Baji Rao II
Peshwa Baji Rao II used the subsidiary alliances system to subdue his realm and by 1803 many Maratha states agreed to the policy like that of Scindia and Bhosle. Even the last of the confederation, the Holkars, also agreed on the requirements of the policy.
Treaty of Allahabad
Treaty was adopted by Lord Clive in Oudh and the Treaty of Allahabad was formed, in which the British committed to protecting the Oudh area from adversaries. Gorakhpur, Rohilkand, and Doab were also forcibly given the maintenance of troops by the company.
Advantages of the Subsidiary Alliance System on the Britishers
- There were many advantages of the subsidiary alliance with the Britishers. Some of the benefits are mentioned below:
- The French would no longer be employed in the courts of the native rulers, which was a complete advantage for the Britishers; as their influence was wiped out.
- There was a bridge created between the native states, as most of the things were controlled by the Britishers under the subsidiary alliance policy.
- The area of influence of the Britishers was expanded and the natives became entirely dependent on the Britishers due to the presence of British forces in their states. They were reduced to being the British "protectorate" under the policy of subsidiary alliances.
- Britishers had the plus point of maintaining a large military force at the expense of native rulers and the territories of the native rulers would be utilized in an optimum way by the Britishers.
- Maintenance of the subsidiary alliance policy was expensive and hence heavy financial pressure was felt by the natives; because of this natives had to surrender most of their territories; which helped to expand their hold in the country.
Disadvantages of Subsidiary Alliance System on the Native Rulers
- The subsidiary alliance came to be a big disadvantage for the native rulers. This can be pointed out from the following:
- They slowly lost most of the fertile lands and important locations to that the British.
- Financial pressure was huge from the subsidiary alliance which pushed people to live in poverty, for maintaining the army felt directly on the people.
- According to the policy, Britishers couldn't interfere in the policies of the native rulers; however in reality they often interfered in every state matter.
- The position and prestige of the rulers gradually felt in the eyes of the masses whom they governed and this resulted in the loss of their capacity and also personality to rule these states.
- Subjects of the state were also no longer in control of the matters and couldn't dethrone incompetent rulers because the British protected the allied rulers against internal and external forces.
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