Tag: the extension of the british rule

Merits of Subsidiary Alliance:-

1. By this system the English became the supreme power in India,

2. The resources and influence of the company increased greatly,

3. The alliance helped the English to maintain control over the Indian rulers,

4. It enabled the company to maintain a large standing army at the expense of Indian Princes and

5. The extent of British Empire in India increased greatly as several rulers had ceded parts of their kingdoms.

The doctrine of subsidiary alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley, British Governor-General in India from 1798 to 1805. According to this system, every ruler in India had to accept to pay a subsidy to the British for the maintenance of British army. In return, British would protect them from their enemies which gave British enormous expansion.

Subsidiary Alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley, the then Governor General. The kingdoms would have to maintain a certain number of British troops & there would be a British resident in the court of the king. The king could not approach any foreigner without the permission of the British resident in the court. 

First Anglo-Sikh war was fought between the years 1845 – 1846. The war was fought between Sikh Empire and East India Company. This war was fought in Punjab. The outcome of the war was the treaty of Lahore. This was treaty was signed on 9 March after the defeat of Sikhs at the Battle of Sobraon. As part of the treaty, the Sikhs agreed to hand over Kashmir, Hazara and Jalandhar Doab to the British. This treaty also resulted in falling of Kohinoor diamond into the hands of British. 

Maharaja Ranjit Singh was the founder of the Sikh Empire who ruled the north-west Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He was proclaimed as the "Maharaja of Punjab" at age 21.