OTL: Company Rule in India

Hey Guys,

Quick question, how did the HEIC rule India in the late 18th century, such as the lands it directly controlled and the other Indian states that were independent but heavily/forcibly reliant on the Companies trade.

Also when did Princely States make an appearance? Was this only in the time of the Raj?
 
Princely states were essentially the evolution of the many semi-independent and vassal states of India when the HEIC first came to India. One of its early(ish) policies was to sign local agreements with neighbouring rulers to expand its influence - first economic, then more of a military nature, then heading towards the more Protectorate-style planting of British Residents who would control the states' foreign policy in exchange for British protection. These webs of treaties helped the HEIC to expand its influence across India while it wasn't campaigning with its armies. Slowly the local rulers became tributaries to the Company and became the Princely States.

As to how it ruled, it depends on what you mean. Do you mean how their government system worked? How benevolent (or not) they were? How they conducted foreign policy/internal affairs? etc...
 
Princely states were essentially the evolution of the many semi-independent and vassal states of India when the HEIC first came to India. One of its early(ish) policies was to sign local agreements with neighbouring rulers to expand its influence - first economic, then more of a military nature, then heading towards the more Protectorate-style planting of British Residents who would control the states' foreign policy in exchange for British protection. These webs of treaties helped the HEIC to expand its influence across India while it wasn't campaigning with its armies. Slowly the local rulers became tributaries to the Company and became the Princely States.

As to how it ruled, it depends on what you mean. Do you mean how their government system worked? How benevolent (or not) they were? How they conducted foreign policy/internal affairs? etc...
Thank you for the information on Princeley States, so under the HEIC they were de facto British but it was only under the Raj they took on the form of Princely states?

And yes, the general internal policy. Not so much the overall social views on Indians etc but just how did the Company rule the lands it occupied directly. Also how did the Company conduct its foreign policy?
 
no, the concept of princely states predated the raj by decades - the states owed full legal allegiance to the company pre-mutiny just as they did to the king post-. the term is applicable from 1800 at least, and you wouldn't be criticised for using it as early as the days of clive. I'm not really sure when it was first used, but it was well before the raj.

I could comment on the company's internal doings, but only lightly. there are definitely others here who know it better than i
 
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