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Why did the rebels proclaim Bahadur Shah II emperor in Delhi?

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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. — Indian Rebellion of 1857 Indian sepoys (soldiers) corner a British officer amid their attack on a treasury in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh.

During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, rebel soldiers from Meerut seized Delhi in May 1857 and compelled Bahadur Shah II to accept nominal leadership of the uprising.12

The rebels proclaimed him emperor because they sought a central figurehead to provide a focus for their movement against the East India Company. Although the Mughal Empire had been reduced to a small territory surrounding Delhi and Bahadur Shah was essentially a powerless pensioner, he remained a potent symbol of traditional authority. By restoring him to his throne, the mutineers aimed to legitimize their cause and recreate the rule of the Mughal Empire, effectively challenging British control.3241

Bahadur Shah himself was initially reluctant to lead the war against the British, but he was forced to comply by the soldiers who had occupied his residence at the Red Fort. His association with the revolt ultimately led to the final collapse of the Mughal dynasty following the British recapture of Delhi.135