3. Manipulation and Coercion of Local Rulers
The East India Company employed a combination of diplomacy, bribery, and military force to undermine Indian princes and kingdoms, systematically seizing territory and sovereignty. A notable example is the Doctrine of Lapse, a policy that allowed the Company to annex princely states without a direct heir. This strategy led to the annexation of several states, including Satara in 1848 and Jhansi in 1854, significantly expanding the Company’s dominion (history.com).
