The Subsidiary alliance was introduced by ……………….

The subsidiary alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805. This policy was a strategic tool used by the British East India Company to expand and consolidate its control over Indian territories. The subsidiary alliance was introduced by Wellesley to establish British dominance without direct annexation of princely states.

The primary objective of the subsidiary alliance was to ensure that the princely states accepted British suzerainty. Under this system, the ruler of the state entering the alliance had to agree to the following conditions:

• Allow British forces to be stationed within their territory for protection against external threats.
• Refrain from forming alliances or maintaining diplomatic relations with other states without British consent.
• Pay a subsidy to the British for maintaining these troops or cede a portion of their territory to cover the costs.
• Accept the presence of a British Resident in their court to oversee and manage affairs in line with British interests.

The subsidiary alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley as part of his broader policy of territorial expansion and political dominance in India. It effectively rendered the allied states dependent on the British and stripped them of their sovereignty. States like Hyderabad, Mysore, and Awadh were among the notable territories that accepted this system.

This policy was instrumental in solidifying British power in India and laid the groundwork for further annexation and consolidation during the colonial era. By ensuring military and political control, the subsidiary alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley significantly altered the political landscape of the Indian subcontinent.