Policy of Subordinate Alliance 1798

• by Richard Wellesley
• ”Military Protection Agreement”
• PoSA = PoIR + PoRF + EIC Army + Subsidy + Foreign Policy control
• indian rulers now subordinate

Background

• ban on imperial expansion by Pitts India Act 1784 by Brit parl due to high war expenditure and loans EIC took from Brit state in 1770
  • 3 Carnatic Wars
    • First Carnatic War 1746-48
    • Second Carnatic War 1749-54
    • Third Carnatic War 1756-63
  • Battle of Plassey 1757
  • Battle of Buxar 1764
  • 2 Anglo Maratha Wars
• $\therefore$ EIC was to follow Policy of Indirect Rule 1757+ and maintain balance of power among indian states
• But Wellesley was empire builder, convinced Brit by overplaying Napolean fear $⟹$ Brit agreed for war as they wanted to protect India from other EU rivals
• Wellesley found mid path in form of Subordinate Alliance

Operation

• Brit resident stationed in court of indian ruler
• military alliance b/w East India Company and indian ruler
• foreign policy with EIC
• EIC maintains army for indian state in return for annual subsidy
  • but EIC used this army for themselves
• drain of wealth in form of subsidy
• Indian rulers had to inc taxes to pay subsidy $⟹$ made them unpopular
• EIC accused indian rulers of maladministration
  • eventually powers shifted to Brit resident