Medium Acts & Policies
Diplomatic Subjugation of Princely States
Explore Diplomatic Subjugation of Princely States through rigorous conceptual testing.
Quick Recall
As documented in the Upscools mock series, Lord Wellesley created the Subsidiary Alliance system in 1798. It forced Indian rulers to disband their own armies and pay for British soldiers instead. Hyderabad was the first state to sign, surrendering its right to declare war without colonial permission.
Concept Flow Mapping
Lord Wellesley
authored
authored
Subsidiary Alliance
Hyderabad
signed
signed
Subsidiary Alliance
Subsidiary Alliance
prohibited
prohibited
warfare without permission
Concept Question
What was the harshest political condition of the Subsidiary Alliance?
Key Takeaway
The Indian ruler completely lost the right to make foreign alliances or declare war without British approval.
Examiner's Trap
[object Object]
Core Insight
The British essentially made Indian kings pay the salaries of the very soldiers who were occupying their lands and keeping them powerless.