The Sepoy Mutiny (Indian Rebellion of 1857)

The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also called the Sepoy Mutiny, was a major uprising against British rule in India. Indian soldiers (sepoys) in the British army were upset by new rifle cartridges rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat, offending Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs. The rebellion spread across northern India, involving soldiers, farmers, and nobles seeking independence. Although eventually suppressed, it marked a turning point, ending the British East India Company's control and leading to direct rule by the British Crown, which changed India's colonial relationship and sparked future independence movements.