he Company used two tools to control Indian states: war and trade. The authorities in London did not want to involve the Company in warfare as it was expensive. However, the Company officials in India were ambitious and wanted to follow expansionist policies as they saw it as a means to occupy more territories without incurring more expenses.

Lord Dalhousie, the governor-general of British India (1848-1856) introduced a system known as the Doctrine of Lapse. According to it, if a ruler died without any male heir, the Company had the right to seize his territories and end the rule of his dynasty. Secondly, the Company made a policy to merge any state with it if that state was found to be corrupt and was involved in political anarchy. It shows that the Company took full advantage of the political disorder and corruption in India.

It was customary in India that if a ruler did not have a son, he could adopt somebody and make him his successor. The Company discarded this custom to occupy more and more states.

In 1856, the Company accused Wajid Ali Shah for the mismanagement in Oudh state and after exilinghim, occupied the state. It was also the Company`s scheme to end the Mughal rule after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar and get the Red Fort vacated from the royal family.

In the 19th century, the Company became a political power and completely dominated India. However, it is interesting to note that despite grabbing so much power, the Company did not deny the legal authority of the Mughal emperor and recognised him as the overlord of the country although the emperor had no power and he was just a puppet in British hands.

First battle of Mysore -1767-69 First war with the Mahrattas -1775-82 Second war of Mysore -1780-84 Third war of Mysore -1790-92 Fourth war of Mysore -1798-99 Occupation of Delhi-1803 Second war against the Mahrattas -1803-05 Last war against the Mahrattas -1817-18 Conquest of Sindh -1843 First war against the Sikhs -1845-46 Conquest of Punjab -1848-49 Famine of Bengal-1770-73 Regulating Act -1773 Pitt`s India Act -1784 Hyder Ali, ruler of Mysore -1764-82 Tipu Sultan -1782-99 Ranjit Singh -1792-1939 $