10 May 1857
Indian Mutiny

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Britain annexes the Indian kingdom of Oudh in 1856 and recruits many Indian soldiers, known as sepoys. They serve in the army of the British East India Company, which runs colonial affairs in India. Their resentment of British rule comes to a head over rumours that cartridges for their rifles are greased with both pig fat and cow fat, which are taboo for, respectively, Muslims and Hindus.

At Meerut, after sepoys are chained for refusing to use the cartridges, a mutiny breaks out. British officers are killed and the garrison at Delhi is captured. The mutiny spreads: sepoys take the garrison at Cawnpore amid savage fighting on both sides, and besiege Lucknow. British women and children are killed and British troops torture sepoy prisoners. Indian troops, who outnumber the British, mutiny in garrisons across north and central India, often with the help of the local civilians.

After several months, the British retake Cawnpore (15 July) and Delhi (20 September), but cannot relieve Lucknow until April 1858. Later that year, the government abolishes the East India Company and takes over direct administration of British India.

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