Revolt of 1857

The uprising of 1857 began as a sepoy mutiny over the new Enfield cartridges and grew into a widespread revolt against British rule in much of north and central India. Its leaders included deposed rulers, dispossessed landlords and sepoys, and its centres included Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Jhansi. The revolt failed militarily, but it ended Company rule: in 1858 the Crown took direct control of India. The debate that still matters is about its character — mutiny, revolt, or a first war of independence.