\nLord Wellesley became the Governor-General of Bengal in 1798 and systematically used the Subsidiary Alliance system to expand British influence and control over Indian states. Under this system, an Indian ruler who accepted the alliance had to disband his own army and allow British troops to be stationed in his territory. He also had to pay for the maintenance of the British force and accept a British Resident at his court. In return, the British promised protection against external enemies and internal revolts, but this came at the cost of the ruler’s sovereignty.<\/p>\nWhile some earlier alliances with the British had features resembling the Subsidiary Alliance, the Nizam of Hyderabad under Asaf Jah II was the first major state to sign a comprehensive Subsidiary Treaty with Wellesley in September 1798. The Nawab of Awadh had signed an alliance in 1765, but it was different from Wellesley’s system. Baji Rao II, the Peshwa, accepted the alliance much later through the Treaty of Bassein in 1802. Tipu Sultan of Mysore was a staunch opponent of the British and was defeated and killed before he could be subjected to the alliance.
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