the indian mutiny: 1857

In 1857 the native troops of the Bengal army rose against their colonial masters. British paramountcy—i.e., the belief in British dominance in Indian political, economic, and cultural life—had been introduced in India about 1820. The Indian Mutiny: 1857. But the inhabitants of Oudh wanted their Nawab back, and the people of Jhansi wanted their old state restored. The Sepoy Mutiny was a violent and very bloody uprising against British rule in India in 1857. It purchased land from Indian rulers to build its settlements on, and recruited native armed forces to protect them. He was arrested and then executed by the British in early April. Most sepoys were Hindus, but other rebels were Muslims fighting a holy war. A grim feature of the mutiny was the ferocity that accompanied it. The situation rapidly escalated, and the British reacted slowly. No single factor was in itself enough to start a rebellion. ENDNOTES. But the cumulative effect meant all that was needed was a catalyst to turn quiet discontent into a much more serious affair. Combining storytelling with detailed research, Saul David narrates a tale both tragic and compelling. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The 1857 rising was the biggest threat to Britain's colonial power during its rule of the Indian subcontinent. The battle for Delhi commenced on May 10, 1857. These marginalised people, seen as having the authority to lead a campaign against the British, were in many cases a natural focal point for mutineers. While all wanted the British gone, notions of ‘Indianness’ were rare. Topics. They also had little in common with the high caste Hindu sepoys of the Bengal Army. After successfully battling the French for trading supremacy, and simultaneously involving itself in local politics, the Company became India’s leading power following Robert Clive’s victory at Plassey in 1757. At this time the Army in India was organized in three Presidency armies of Madras, Bombay and Bengal. Prologue - "The Electric Telegraph" has saved us the East India Company "Carlo" Canning professional grievances "Go to hell - don't bother me!" Equally unpopular was the policy of lapse, which said that the lands of any ruler who died without a male heir would be forfeit to the Company. The Mutiny proper began at Meerut on 10 May 1857. Malleson’s definitive history of the mutiny against British rule in India is more than just a narrative of the dreadful events of 1857 and the insanity of colonialism, but also provides now-suppressed insights into race, racial psychology and the true causes of interracial conflict. Empire In the end the reprisals far outweighed the original excesses. Although only a handful of sepoys had been involved, the entire regiment was disbanded in disgrace. This was partly due to their fear of a return to Mughal rule. The British authorities firmly regarded the event as a mutiny by large sections of the Bengal army. Thousands of common people joined the revolt. The introduction of Western methods of education was a direct challenge to orthodoxy, both Hindu and Muslim. To find out more about how we collect, store and use your personal information, read our Privacy Policy. They ransacked the nearby military station and killed any Europeans they could find. Poor terms of service and pensions, bad pay, lack of promotion, and increased cultural and racial insensitivity from British officers all contributed to the feelings of discontent among the Indian soldiers of the Bengal Army. Return: Mutiny. Sikh and British officers of Hodson’s Horse, 1858, The Rani of Jhansi lost her lands when her husband died without a male heir; and failed to regain them in the British courts, The Nawab of Furukabad reluctantly joined the revolt after sepoys arrived at his palace in June 1857. India School Essentials. Most notorious was the 1856 deposition of the Nawab of Oudh on the grounds that he was unfit to rule. In late March 1857 a sepoy named Mangal Pandey attacked British officers at the military garrison in Barrackpore. From the early 1800s the Company attempted to develop the Indian economy and legal system. (George Bruce), 1825-1898. Robert Clive's victory at Plassey on 23 June 1757 led to the British becoming the greatest economic and military power in India. Matters came to a head following the introduction of the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle. Indian Mutiny The seizure of Delhi provided a focus and set the pattern for the whole mutiny, which then spread throughout northern India. The Indian Mutiny of 1857 Colonel G.B. The birth of India and Pakistan as independent states in 1947 was a key moment in the history of Britain’s Empire and its army. Publication date 1891 Topics India -- History Sepoy Rebellion, 1857-1858 Publisher London : Seeley and co. Collection cdl; americana Digitizing sponsor MSN Contributor University of California Libraries Language English. Reinforcements took months to arrive. The mutineers commonly shot their British officers on rising and were responsible for massacres at Delhi, Kanpur, and elsewhere. the Indian telegraph lines is among the first tactical acts of the mutineers.) The Indian mutiny of 1857 by Malleson, G. B. A courageous, resourceful and ruthless military commander, Major-General Robert Clive helped secure India for Britain. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The future of India would be decided on these battlefields. Corrections? The humanitarian movement led to reforms that went deeper than the political superstructure. Fortunately for the British, it was almost exclusively soldiers of the Bengal Army who mutinied. When his comrades were ordered to restrain him they refused, but they stopped short of joining him in open revolt. Following the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny at Meerut in May 1857, uprisings occurred across northern and central India. It is also known by other names: the Indian Mutiny, … In 1857 discontent exploded into open rebellion, obliging Britain to field its largest army since the Napoleonic Wars, forty years before. Princes and maharajahs, along with their courtiers and soldiers, found themselves unemployed and humiliated. It is known in India as the first war of independence. The pretext for revolt was the introduction of the new Enfield rifle. THE INDIAN MUTINY OF 1857 141 British regrouped, and assisted by reinforcements from Britain, gra-dually recovered lost ground. In 1857 the native troops of the Bengal army rose against their colonial masters. Most of the sepoys hoped to restore Mughal rule under Bahadur Shah. Originally formed in 1600 purely to trade with the Mughal Empire, the Company needed to secure its commercial posts at Calcutta, Bombay and Madras. National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London, SW3 4HTRegistered Charity Number: 237902, Discover the decisive events of the Indian Mutiny, Colin Campbell: A soldier of coolness and precision. They were joined by native rulers and thousands of ordinary people in a struggle that threatened to destroy British colonial power on the Indian subcontinent. India - India - The mutiny and great revolt of 1857–59: When soldiers of the Bengal army mutinied in Meerut on May 10, 1857, tension had been growing for some time. Embark upon a historical journey of warfare in this quiz. With the exception of the Mughal emperor and his sons and Nana Sahib, the adopted son of the deposed Maratha peshwa, none of the important Indian princes joined the mutineers. Victorian Britain and the American Civil War 0 of 31 min 19. 1800s There is no conclusive evidence that either of these materials was actually used on any of the cartridges in question. The Indian Mutiny : 1857 | Semantic Scholar. Indian troops allied to the British, 1857. Peasants, who had been forced to switch from subsistence farming to export crops in order to meet increasing tax demands, needed little encouragement to rebel. In 1857, Indian soldiers rose up against their British commanders. Some units were disarmed before they had the chance to mutiny. During his tenure as governor-general of India (1848–56), Lord Dalhousie made efforts toward emancipating women and had introduced a bill to remove all legal obstacles to the remarriage of Hindu widows. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In 1857, with the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny, India witnessed its first war of independence against the British. In 1857 the native troops of the Bengal army rose against their colonial masters. Following the outbreak at Meerut, uprisings by soldiers and civilians alike occurred across northern and central India. Be the first to hear about our latest events, exhibitions and offers. This ratio was especially problematic given that discipline in the Bengal Army had for some time been inferior to that in the Company's other armies. The following day Delhi fell to the mutineers. The Indian Mutiny-1857 0 of 31 min 18. Many wanted to destroy the system by which the Company collected taxes. The ensuing insurrection was to become the bloodiest in the history of the British Empire.Combining formidable storytelling with ground-breaking research, Saul David narrates a tale at once … They were joined by native rulers and thousands of ordinary people in a struggle that threatened to destroy British colonial power on the Indian subcontinent. Rebel troops consisting mainly of mutineers from the Bengal Army of the Com-pany surprised and quickly overpowered the British garrison in Delhi. Converts to Christianity were to share with their Hindu relatives in the property of the family estate. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... You may have heard of D-Day, the Battle of Hastings, and Waterloo, but do you know their historical significance? Some for religious reasons, others out of loyalty to their old rulers or simply to engage in looting. Fears that the British were also trying to force conversion to Christianity upon the Indian people led to a widespread feeling that the traditional way of life was threatened. Indian Mutiny, also called Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence, widespread but unsuccessful rebellion against British rule in India in 1857–59. Sepoys in the Presidency of Bengal revolted against their British officers. Thanks to the efficiency of British media coverage, the developments of the mutiny was followed avidly by the British public. The reasons behind the rebellion stretch back to the origins of British involvement in Indian affairs. Their mutiny encouraged rebellion by considerable numbers … But he was also seen as a greedy speculator who used his political and military influence to amass a fortune. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. A rare tunic from the Indian Mutiny holds a death-defying tale of gruesome gunshots, troublesome timepieces and a remarkable recovery. Begun in Meerut by Indian troops ( sepoys ) in the service of the British East India Company , it spread to Delhi , Agra , Kanpur , and Lucknow . By examining this source we can see that this source is partially useful for historical study about the Indian Mutiny in 1857 as it gives a good idea of how the incident took place but due to it being a painting it could have been altered to the artist point of view. Each army consisted of units of the British Regular Army, known as “Royal” troops, and British and Indian … 'A fine achievement by a huge new talent' William Dalrymple, Sunday Times In 1857 the native troops of the Bengal army rose against their colonial masters. Of the 159,000 men on the Bengal Army establishment in 1857, 24,000 were European and 135,000 were Indian sepoys (infantry) and sowars (cavalry). Thus, on June 26, 1857, England receives, by telegraphic dispatch, news of the outbreaks at Meerut and Delhi, which occurred in the second week of May; on November 10, London learns of late September's crucial action, the recapture of Delhi (see Seton xiii). The ensuing insurrection was to become the bloodiest in the history of the British Empire.Combining formidable storytelling with ground-breaking research, Saul David narrates a tale at once heart-r Regimental colour centre of the 41st Native Infantry who attacked their officers and other Europeans at Sitapur on 3 June 1857, Sergeant Hewson, 'the first British casualty of the Mutiny', who was attacked by Mangal Pandey at Barrackpore, c1875. The ensuing insurrection was to become the bloodiest in the history of the British Empire.Combining formidable storytelling with ground-breaking research, Saul David narrates a tale at once heart-rendingly tragic and extraordinarily compelling. To those problems may be added the growing discontent of the Brahmans, many of whom had been dispossessed of their revenues or had lost lucrative positions. To the origins of British media coverage, the perception that the British Empire let us know you! 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