Empire: World History 328. Indian Uprising 1857: The Reign of Terror (Part 7)
Jan 27, 2026
A dramatic retelling of the brutal siege that ended Mughal rule and reshaped Delhi. They cover the ten-day bombardment, ladder assaults at Kashmiri Gate, and high urban casualties. They explore how a solar eclipse shifted loyalties and the terrifying reprisals, public executions, and looting that turned the city into a wasteland.
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Artillery Made The Breaches Practicable
- The British spent ten days moving massive siege artillery forward under cover to create practicable breaches in Delhi's walls.
- William Dalrymple explains that meticulous artillery preparation, not rash assaults, made the final storming possible.
Diehard Defenders Fueled Relentless Resistance
- Hardcore sepoys and Ghazi volunteers remained in Delhi prepared to die and inflict maximum British losses.
- Dalrymple highlights that many defenders were ideologically driven, making the city extremely hard to take.
Religion Shaped The Rebellion's Language
- Religious rhetoric infused both Muslim and Hindu fighters, making the revolt partly framed as defense of faith.
- Dalrymple shows the uprising mixed dharma and deen language, blurring purely nationalist explanations.
