Subsidiary Alliances


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Subsidiary Alliances

The Claim to Paramountcy Subsidiary Alliances: Lord Wellesley the governor- general of the India from 1798 to 1805, was an ambitious man. He wanted to make Britain the most important power in India. He waged wars and captured several territories. Another strategy he used to increase Britain’s power was to enter into subsidiary with the rulers of various states.

In the subsidiary alliance system, an Indian ruler had to maintain British troop in his state, either by giving some of his territory or by paying for the maintenance of the troops. This system allowed the British to maintain a large army at the expense of local rulers. The Indian ruler could not fight or sing treaties with any other power. The rulers who joined this system, like the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nizam of Awadh, got security but loss their independence. Other who joined system included the Marathas after the Third Maratha war and most of Rajput States.   

It HAD THE FOLLOWING STAGES:

  • The East India company provided military assistance to Indian states by signing an alliance.
  • The signatory Indian states were compelled by company to accept the permanent stationing of British Forces.
  • The native rulers of the Indian states were forced to cede a part of their territory if they were unable to pay annual charges.
  • The fine qualities of cotton and silk produced in India had a big market in Europe . Pepper ,cloves ,cardamom and cinnamon too were in great demand.

    Under Lord Hastings (Governor-General from 1813 to 1823) a new policy of “paramountcy” was initiated. Now the company claimed that its authority was paramount or supreme, hence its power was greater than that of Indian states. In order to protect its interests it was justified in annexing or threatening to annex any Indian Kingdom. Annexation means to take control of a neighbouring territory, usually with the use of force. 

    This view continued to guide later British politics as well. This process, however, did not go unchallenged. For example, when the British tried to annex the small state of Kitoor (in Karnataka today), Rani Channamma took to arms and led an anti-British resistance movement. She was arrested in 1824 and died in prison in 1829. But Rayanna, a poor chowkidar of Sangoli in Kitoor, carried on the resistance. With popular support he destroyed many British camps and records. He was caught and hanged by the British in 1830.

    In the late 1830s the East India Company became worried about Russia. It imagined that Russia might expand across Asia and enter India from the north-west. Driven by this fear, the British now wanted to secure their control over the north-west. They fought a prolonged war with Afghanistan between 1838 and 1842 and established indirect company rule there. Sind was taken over in 1843. Next in line was Punjab. But the presence of Maharaja Ranjit Singh held back in 1839, two prolonged wars were fought with the Sikh kingdom. Ultimately, in 1849, Punjab was annexed.

    Sample Questions
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    Which one of the following is not correctly matched ?

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    The Ryotwari Settlement was introduced by the British in the

    Right Option : D
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    Lord Cornwallis introduced the _____________________

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