What was the Indian Rebellion of 1857 ?

They could only guard their own headquarters and armories.

When, on the morning of May 11 they prepared to attack, the rebels had marched off to Delhi.

The first parties of the 3rd Cavalry reached Delhi that same morning.

During the day, the revolt spread, rioters attacking British officials and dependents, Indian Christians and shop keepers within the city. They killed as many as 50 in a courtyard outside the King's palace.

The Flagstaff Tower, Delhi, where the British survivors of the rebellion gathered on May 11, 1857
Three battalions of Bengal Native Infantry stationed in or near the city. Some detachments quickly joined the rebellion while others held back but also refused to obey orders to take action against the rebels.

In the afternoon, a violent explosion in the city was heard for several miles. Fearing that the arsenal, which contained large stocks of arms and ammunition, would fall intact into rebel hands, the nine British Ordnance officers there had opened fire on the sepoys, including the men of their own guard.

When resistance appeared hopeless, they blew up the arsenal. Although six of the nine officers survived, the blast killed many in the streets and nearby houses and other buildings.

Many fugitive British officers and civilians had congregated at the Flagstaff Tower on the ridge north of Delhi, where telegraph operators sent news of the rioting to other British stations.

Aware that no help could arrive, they made their way in carriages to Karnal. Villagers helped some stragglers, while robbing or murdering others.

The next day, Bahadur Shah held his first formal court for many years. The King felt alarmed by the open rioting, but eventually gave his support to the rebellion.

The news of the events at Delhi spread rapidly, sparking uprisings in many districts.

Learning of the fall of Delhi by telegraph, many British administrators hastened to remove themselves, their families and servants to places of safety. At Agra, 160 miles from Delhi, more than 6000 civilians converged on the Fort, leaving the area in haste.

Some British officers trusted their sepoys, but others tried to disarm them to forestall uprisings. At Benares and Allahabad, the disarming went poorly, resulting in local revolts.

Although rebellion became widespread, rebels had little unity.

Bahadur Shah Zafar restored to the imperial throne. But another faction wanted the Maratha rulers enthroned.

The Awadhis also wanted to retain the powers that their Nawab used to have.

Muslim leaders like Maulana Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi including the millenarian Ahmedullah Shah, issued calls for jihad. Muslim artisans especially called for jihad.

In Awadh, Sunni Muslims opposed a return to Shiite rule.

They often refused to join an apparently Shia rebellion. Some Muslims like the Aga Khan supported the British.

The British rewarded him by formally recognizing his title. The Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah, resisted those calls.

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In Thana Bhawan, the Sunnis declared Haji Imdadullah their Ameer.

In May 1857 the Battle of Shamli took place between the forces of Haji Imdadullah and the British.

The Sikhs and Pathans of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province supported the British and helped in the recapture of Delhi.

The Sepoy Mutiny was a violent and very bloody uprising against British rule in India in 1857. It is also known by other names: the Indian Mutiny, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, or the Indian Revolt of 1857.

In Britain and in the West, it was almost always portrayed as a series of unreasonable and bloodthirsty uprisings spurred by falsehoods about religious insensitivity.