Indian Rebellion of 1857

Introduction & Top Questions
Background
- British oppression
- British paramountcy
- Cause of conflict
The rebellion
Aftermath
Notable figures in the rebellion

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Illustration of De Kantzow defending the treasury at Mainpuri during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, showing a British officer confronting armed sepoys inside a building as tensions rise during the uprising.

Illustration of Sepoy soldiers in uniform standing in formation with rifles during the Indian Mutiny of 1857-1858, with arched stone ruins in the background.

Collage of raised-fist silhouettes over a halftone orange, yellow, and green background, featuring historic newspaper text and faint crowd imagery.

Map showing key centers of revolt during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, with labeled cities such as Delhi, Meerut, Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi, and Calcutta, highlighting major locations of conflict across British India.

Illustration of Nana Sahib (born 1824 as Dhondu Pant), an Indian leader during the 1857 rebellion. The image shows him wearing traditional 19th-century Indian attire with a serious expression on his face, reflecting his role in the uprising against British rule in India.

Painting of Rani Lakshmibai, Indian freedom fighter and queen of Jhansi, depicted holding a sword and shield in traditional attire.

Quizzes

D-Day. American soldiers fire rifles, throw grenades and wade ashore on Omaha Beach next to a German bunker during D Day landing. 1 of 5 Allied beachheads est. in Normandy, France. The Normandy Invasion of World War II launched June 6, 1944.

A History of War

Related Questions

How did Bakht Khan organize rebel government in Delhi?
How did Begum Hazrat Mahal lead the rebellion in Oudh?
How did British land-revenue settlements create unrest before the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
How did British reinforcements from Punjab help recapture Delhi?
How did British social reforms cause suspicion among parts of Hindu society?
How did Kunwar Singh organize resistance in Bihar?
How did Lakshmi Bai become the regent of Jhansi?
How did Maulavi Ahmadullah Shah encourage resistance against British rule?
How did Shah Mal mobilize peasants against the East India Company?
How did Sir Hugh Rose defeat rebel forces in central India?
How did Tantia Tope lead rebel forces during the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
How did Tantia Tope work with Lakshmi Bai at Gwalior?
How did the British recapture Gwalior in 1858?
How did the General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 anger soldiers in the Bengal army?
How did the Indian Rebellion of 1857 contribute to the growth of Indian nationalism?
How did the Indian Rebellion of 1857 spread through northern and central India?
How did the Legislative Council change in 1861 after the rebellion?
How did the exile of Bahadur Shah II end the Mughal dynasty?
How did the reduction of British troops in Bengal affect the outbreak of the rebellion?
How did the sepoys at Meerut begin the march to Delhi?
How was the Indian army reorganized after the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
What happened at Meerut on May 10, 1857?
What happened when Mangal Pandey attacked British officers at Barrackpore?
What were the main causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
When and where was Lakshmi Bai killed in battle?
Who led the British campaign to recapture Lucknow in 1858?
Why did Christian missionary activity concern many Indians before the rebellion?
Why did many Sikhs in Punjab support the British during the rebellion?
Why did the British change the ratio of British to Indian troops after 1857?
Why did the British defeat the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
Why did the East India Company’s annexation policies upset Indian princes?
Why did the introduction of railways and telegraphs cause suspicion in conservative Indian society?
Why did the rebels proclaim Bahadur Shah II emperor in Delhi?
Why did the rebels struggle to coordinate their military efforts?
Why do some Indian historians call the Indian Rebellion of 1857 the First War of Independence?
Why is Lakshmi Bai remembered as a leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
Why were British officers and sepoys increasingly disconnected before 1857?
Why were sepoys imprisoned at Meerut before the uprising began?
What were the main causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
What were the Opium Wars?
What caused the Opium Wars?
Who were the main combatants in the Opium Wars?
Who won the Opium Wars?
What were the long-term consequences of the Opium Wars?
Who were the first members of the Commonwealth?
What is the League of Nations?

Politics, Law & Government Law, Crime & Punishment

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External Websites

National Army Museum - Decisive events of the Indian Mutiny
Scholar Works at Harding - The Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Victorian Web - India and the 1857 Sepoy Rebellion
World History Encyclopedia - Sepoy Mutiny
IndiaNetzone - Sepoy Mutiny 1857
Association for Asian Studies - The Indian Rebellion, 1857Â–1859: A Short History with Documents
ABC listen - Nightlife - This Week In History: The Sepoy Rebellion
History Today - The Indian Mutiny, Part I
The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum - The 37th and the Indian Mutiny

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Indian Rebellion of 1857 - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Indian Rebellion of 1857 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Indian Rebellion of 1857

Indian history

Also known as: First War of Independence, Indian Mutiny, Revolt of 1857, Sepoy Mutiny(Show More)

Written by

Tamanna Nangia

Tamanna Nangia is Associate Editor, Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has over five years of experience in editorial processes, handling many different aspects of the publishing process: content development,...

Tamanna Nangia

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Last updated

Nov. 14, 2026 •History

Indian Rebellion of 1857, widespread but unsuccessful rebellion against British rule in India in 1857–59. The revolt began in Meerut with an uprising of Indian troops (sepoys) in the service of the British East India Company, and it spread to Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow. It was long described by Western historians as the “Indian Mutiny,” or “Sepoy Mutiny.” In India it is also called the “First War of Independence” and other similar names. India...