The correct option is 1801.
Explanation
The Subsidiary Alliance system was a non-interventionist policy in theory but an expansionist tool in practice, aggressively implemented by Lord Wellesley (Governor-General, 1798-1805). It required Indian states to station British troops within their borders, pay for their maintenance, and surrender control over foreign affairs to the British East India Company.Historical Analysis:
- 1801: The Subsidiary Alliance was imposed on the state of Awadh. The Nawab, Saadat Ali Khan II, was compelled to sign the treaty. As a result, he had to cede approximately half of his territory-including the valuable regions of Rohilkhand and the Lower Doab-to the Company to subsidize the British troops stationed there.
- 1798: This year marks the acceptance of the Subsidiary Alliance by the Nizam of Hyderabad, who was the first Indian ruler to enter into this system.
- 1856: This year is associated with the final annexation of Awadh by Lord Dalhousie. Unlike the 1801 treaty which maintained the Nawab as a puppet ruler, the 1856 action removed the Nawab (Wajid Ali Shah) entirely on the grounds of "misgovernance" (maladministration).
Key Takeaway:
It is crucial to distinguish between the 1801 treaty, which brought Awadh under the Subsidiary Alliance, and the 1856 annexation, which fully integrated the state into the British Empire.