Empire: World History 329. Indian Uprising 1857: The British Raj is Born (Part 8)
Jan 29, 2026
A dramatic finale centered on Lucknow’s role in the 1857 uprising. The story follows Begum Hazrat Mahal’s coalition-building and the desperate sieges and relief attempts. It covers Campbell’s brutal counterattacks, massacres like Secunderbagh, cultural destruction, and the political aftermath that ended Company rule and reshaped Indian society.
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Lucknow Was A Mass Popular Revolt
- Lucknow's uprising was broadly social, involving peasants, landlords, and sepoys united by local grievances.
- This coalition made Lucknow a unique, mass movement unlike the more fractured revolt in Delhi.
Begum Hazrat Mahal's Rise To Leadership
- Begum Hazrat Mahal rose from obscurity to lead the Lucknow resistance after Wajid Ali Shah's exile.
- She became the movement's unifying symbol by protecting the king's son and rallying local elites and peasants.
Caution Won The Final Campaign
- Campbell's cautious generalship contrasted with earlier reckless reliefs and shaped the final British campaign.
- He avoided narrow streets and engineered an outflanking approach that proved decisive at Lucknow.
