Lord Wellesley (1798–1805): Expansion and “Subsidiary Alliance” Era

Lord Wellesley’s (Richard Colley Wellesley) tenure is best remembered for rapid territorial expansion, tighter British control over Indian states through Subsidiary Alliance, and major wars against Mysore and the Marathas.

Subsidiary Alliance System (1798)

Introduced in 1798, the Subsidiary Alliance was Wellesley’s strategy to bring Indian states under British dominance without direct annexation.
Core idea: An Indian ruler had to:
- keep a British subsidiary force in his territory,
- pay for its maintenance (or cede territory if unable),
- accept a British Resident at court,
- avoid alliances or wars with other states without British approval,
- dismiss foreign (especially French) advisers.
First major alliance: The Nizam of Hyderabad became the earliest prominent ally under this system (often treated as the first key Subsidiary Alliance under Wellesley).

Fourth Anglo–Mysore War (1799)

Wellesley led the final confrontation against Tipu Sultan.
Outcome: Tipu Sultan was defeated and killed in 1799; Mysore’s power was broken.
Aftermath:
- Part of Mysore was taken by the Company and its allies.
- The Wodeyar dynasty was restored in a reduced Mysore state under British influence (with heavy British supervision).

Treaty of Bassein (1802)

A landmark treaty that became the turning point in British–Maratha relations.
Signed with Baji Rao II (Peshwa) after his defeat and political संकट.
Key impact: The Peshwa accepted Subsidiary Alliance, effectively placing Pune/Maratha politics under British control.
This treaty directly triggered the Second Anglo–Maratha War.

Second Anglo–Maratha War (1803–1805)

Fought mainly against major Maratha powers like the Scindias and the Bhonsles (and later complex alignments).
Result: The Company emerged as the dominant military power in large parts of India.
Significance: British influence expanded across North and Central India, laying the base for future political control over the subcontinent.

Direct Administrative Takeovers (Annexations/Assumption of Control)

Wellesley expanded Company authority by taking over administration of several states:

States under Subsidiary Alliance

Hyderabad (Nizam of Hyderabad) – 1798 – First major state to accept the Subsidiary Alliance under Lord Wellesley.
Mysore – 1799 – After the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War; Wodeyar ruler accepted British protection.
Tanjore – 1799 – Accepted British subsidiary forces; administration later taken over.
Awadh (Oudh) – 1801 – Accepted Subsidiary Alliance; large territories ceded to the Company in lieu of maintaining British troops.
Peshwa (Maratha State – Poona) – 1802- Through the Treaty of Bassein, Baji Rao II accepted the Subsidiary Alliance.
Berar (Bhonsle of Nagpur) – 1803 – Accepted after defeat in the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
Scindia (Gwalior) – 1803 –Accepted after defeat in the Second Anglo-Maratha War.