Subsidiary Alliance
A Subsidiary alliance is an
alliance between a dominant nation and a nation that it dominates. This
doctrine was introduced in India by Lord Wellesley, the British
Governor General in India from 1798 to 1805. Early in his Governorship Wellesley
adopted a policy of non-intervention in the princely states, but later adopted
the policy of forming subsidiary alliances. According to the terms of this alliance,
Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces. They
were to be protected by the Company but had to pay for the subsidiary forces
that the company was supposed to maintain for the purpose of this protection.
If the Indian rulers failed to make the payment, the part of their territory
was taken away as penalty, for example ruler of Awadh was forced to cede half
of his territory to the company in 1807, as the failed to pay for the
subsidiary forces. Also, the ruler would accept a British Resident in his state
and the ruler would acknowledge the East India Company as the paramount power
in India.
The Nizam was the first to enter into such alliance. Later
on after 4th Anglo Mysore war Mysore was forced to become a subsidiary state.
The other states who joined the alliance were: Hyderabad, Mysore, Tanjore
and Awadh.
Doctrine of Lapse
It was an annexation policy
purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor General for the
East India Company between 1848-1856. According to the doctrine, any princely
state or territory under the direct influence of the East India Company, as a
vassal state under the British Subsidiary Alliance system, would automatically
be annexed if the ruler died without a male heir.
The Company took over the Princely states of: Satara
(1848), Jaitpur (1849), Sambhalpur (1849), Baghpat, Udaipur, Jhansi, Nagpur
(1854), Surat (1842), Mandul(1839),
Kolaba & Jalaun (1840).
This policy was not solely Dalhousie’s invention. The
Court of Directors of EIC has articulated thus early in 1834
Dalhousie’s Reforms
·
To relieve the Governor General for his wider
responsibilities, Bengal was placed under the charge of Lt-Governor for the
newly acquired territories; he introduced the system of centralised control.
This was known as Non Regulation System. He appointed a commissioner over a
newly acquired territory who was made responsible directly to the Governor
General.
·
The headquarters of the Bengal artillery was
shifted to Meerut.
·
Gorkha regiments were raised and their strength was
increased, they provided great value to the British during the revolt of 1857.
·
Railway developments were planned to facilitate
internal communication for the defense of India and also to sell manufactured
goods of British factories to all parts of India. The first railway was laid
down in 1853. The following year a railway line was also built from Calcutta to
Raniganj coal fields.
·
The electric telegraph lines were constructed.
Nearly 4000 miles of electric telegraph lines were constructed connecting
Calcutta with Peshawar, Bombay Madras & other of the Country.
·
Postal Reforms and a Postal Act was passed in
1854.
·
Public Works Department was setup for the first
time.
ANGLO-MYSORE WARS
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First Anglo Mysore War
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Time
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1767-69
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Parties
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-
Mysore - led by Hyder
-
East India Company led by Cartier, Governor.
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Reason
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Hyder had territorial disputes with Arcot and attacked it, company sided with Arcot.
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Treaty
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Treaty of Madras (Apr
1769) - on the basis of mutual
restoration to each other’s conquered territories and a defensive alliance
between the two parties committing the English to help Hyder in case he was
attacked by other powers.
|
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Second Anglo Mysore War
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Time
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1780-84
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Parties
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Mysore led by Hyder and Tipu
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EIC led by Warren Hastings
|
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Reason
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English attempt
to capture Mahe(a French port on Malabar
Coast). Mahe was considered by Hyder under his protection and Hyder
found the French more helpful in meeting his requirements. It was a direct
challenge to Hyder’s sovereignty at Porto Novo.
Hyder was defeated by Eyre Coote & Hyder inflicted defeats on the Company.
|
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Treaty
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Treaty of Manglore (1784)
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Third Anglo Mysore War
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Time
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1970-92
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Parties
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Mysore led by Tipu Sultan (Fateh Ali Khan)
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Company by Lord Cornwallis.
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Maratha & Nizam sided with British.
|
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Reason
|
Tipu’s differences
with Raja of Travancore: Raja purchased Jaikottai and Craganore from the
Dutch in Cochin state. Tipu
considered Cochin state as his tributary & attacked Trawancore in 1970. The company sided with Travancore.
|
|
Treaty
|
Treaty of Serengapatam. Tipu lost half of his territory
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The Forth Anglo Mysore War
The arrival of imperialist Lord Wellesley as Governor
General in 1798 in the backdrop of Napoleonic danger to India. Wellesley was
determined to tame or to wipe out the existence of Mysore. The operation
against Tipu began in April 1799 and the fall of Seringapatam in May 1799. A
boy of earlier Mysore Woodeyar dynasty was installed on throne of Mysore and a
subsidiary alliance was imposed.
Anglo Maratha Wars
1. First
Anglo Maratha War (1775-82): It was the result of inordinate ambition of
the company and accentuated by the internal dissensions of the Marathas. The
Fourth Peshwa Madhav Rao died in 1772. Narain Rao succumbed to the conspiracies
of his uncle Raghunath Rao, Raghunath wanted to be the Peshwa. But son of late
Narain Rao drove Raghunath Rao to such as disappointment that he signed Treaty
of Surat with the Bombay government. After some conflicts, war finally came to
an end and concluded with the Treaty of Salbai in 1782.
2. The
Second Anglo Maratha War (1803-1806): Wellesley offered to the Marathas
subsidiary Alliance system to which they refused, but were driven into Wellesley’s
trap by their internal differences. Peshwa Baji Rao II signed the Treaty of
Bassein in December 31, 1802.
3. The
Third Anglo Maratha War (1817-18): Marathas were defeated in this war.
Peshwa Baji Rao II’s territories annexed to the British India. Peshwa became a
pensioner of EIC and was deported to Kanpur by Lord Hastings.
India under Lytton & Ripon
Lytton:
-
Famine of 1876-78 Madras. Bombay, Mysore and
Hyderabad were the worst affected areas. In 1878, a Famine Commission was
appointed under Strachey to enquire into the whole question.
-
The British Parliament passed Royal Tiles Act, 1876
investing Queen Victoria with the title of Kaiser-I-Hind or Queen Empress of
India. A grand Durbar was held at Delhi on 1 Jan 1877 to announce to the people
about the title.
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The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 an act for better
control of publications in oriental languages.
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The Arms Act, 1878 made it a criminal offence to
keep arm without license.
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The second Afghan war, was a failure.
Loard Ripon:
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Repeal of Vernacular Press Act, 1882.
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The first factory Act 1881, to regulate and improve
the condition of labour in Indian factories.
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Resolution on local self-government.
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Ilibert Bill controversy 1883-84: Ilibert - Law
member of Viceroy’s council, introduced a bill the Legislative Council in Feb
1883 according to which Indian Judge could preside over the trial the English
in India. It came to be amended later on under huge pressure by the European
community in India.
