SUBSIDIARY ALLIANCE

SYSTEM
Grade 8 History
 MEANING
The Subsidiary Alliance system was a method
started by Lord Wellesley to subjugate
(completely bring them under their control)
Indian powers without spending money on
fighting wars.

According to this system, any Indian ruler who

felt threatened by external attacks and internal
revolts, could take help from the English and
enter into an alliance (partnership) with them.
The English, would then take the responsibility of
protecting the ruler.
 TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The Indian ruler had to accept certain terms and
conditions:
1. For the protection of the Indian ruler, British troops
would be permanently placed in the territory of the
subsidiary state.
2. The ruler would have to pay for the maintenance of
the troops.
3. He had to keep a British official at his court.
4. He could not employ other Europeans (except
English) in his service or remove those who were
already there.
5. He could not form an alliance (partnership) with any
other power without the permission of the English.
 EFFECTS OF THE SUSIDIARY
ALLIANCE
This system proved very advantageous for the
English:
1. They maintained large armies at the expense of
the Indian rulers.
2. The English got valuable territories as subsidiary
payment, which led to the expansion of the
British empire in India and an increase in its
resources.
3. The influence of other European rivals was
removed from the courts of the Indian rulers.
4. The English controlled the foreign policy of the
subsidiary states.
 DISADVANTAGES FOR INDIAN
RULERS
The Subsidiary Alliance had disastrous effects for
the Indian rulers:
1. The Indian rulers of subsidiary states lost their
independence. They became puppets in the
hands of the English.
2. The payment of huge subsidies (money) led to a
heavy drain (decrease) on their resources.
3. The administration collapsed. The English used
this as an excuse to annex (attach) the kingdom
on grounds of mismanagement.
4. The rulers lost interest in the welfare of the
people.
This is because the Indian rulers were fully
protected by the English and they were no
longer afraid of revolts and attacks. The
people suffered under oppressive
(troublesome)rulers.
 ANNEXATION OF AWADH
Awadh was a subsidiary state.
The Subsidiary Alliance which the Nawab of Awadh had
signed had protected the Nawab from external
invasions and internal rebellion.
It made the Nawab unconcerned about the affairs of
the state.
The payment of subsidies to the Company exhausted
the state treasury.
When the administration was on the verge of collapse,
Dalhousie brought charges of maladministration
against the Nawab.
Based on these charges, he deposed (remove from
office) the Nawab and annexed Awadh in 1856.