1-153-603 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Cover of sheet music of The Battle March of Delhi, c1860. Robert Cornelis Napier (1810-1890), British military commander, making his triumphant entry into Delhi, Indian (Sepoy) Mutiny 1857-1859. The Indian Mutiny was an uprising against British rule in India which began in 1857. The mutiny had many underlying causes, but was sparked by the introduction of cartridges which were greased with animal fat. This outraged both Muslim and Hindu soldiers (sepoys), who made up the majority of the Indian army at the time. Although the mutiny was defeated in 1859, it led to the administration of India passing from the East India Company to the Crown. The capture of Delhi from the mutineers was vital to the British due to the city's symbolic importance as the seat of India's Mughal rulers.