In July 1856, an Indian sepoy born into the Kshatriya caste was mocked by several low-caste porters as a blasphemer who bit into beef tallow.
Then, humiliated by British officers as well, the Kshatriya sepoy instantly lost his mind. He picked up a gun and shot two British officers dead.
As the sepoy fought with a third British officer, the surrounding sepoys not only made no move to stop him, but instead cheered him on from all around.
It was not until a British patrol arrived that the sepoy was arrested. Though he was subsequently executed, once word spread, more imitators began appearing across the country.
Finally, on July 16, 1856, an entire company of sepoys was humiliated, beaten, and thrown into prison for collectively refusing to use the ammunition issued by the British.
That night, 720 sepoys revolted. They stormed the barracks and killed most of the British officers and soldiers. The few British who escaped into the city were also killed by citizens who rushed over upon hearing the news, and the uprising rapidly expanded.
Enraged citizens hunted colonizers throughout the city. The rebellious sepoys swiftly cut the telegraph lines and railways, while secretly contacting the local princes.
The local princes immediately followed the original plan and sent the rebels marching toward Delhi, the capital of the Mughal Empire, while also dispatching word to Delhi.
To prevent the Mughal Empire from rising again, The British had deliberately stationed a brigade in Delhi, with British Army forces totaling 3,500 men.
Unfortunately, 3,200 of them were Indian sepoys. Yet the British brigade commander failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. He led the sepoys out of the city to meet the enemy, hoping the rebels would retreat in the face of difficulty.
But those sepoys were not moved by