Vellore mutiny (10 July 1806)

 

Vellore mutiny (10 July 1806)

The Vellore mutiny on 10 July 1806 was the first instance of a large-scale and violent mutiny by Indian sepoys against the East India Company, predating the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by half a century

The Vellore mutiny on 10 July 1806 was the first instance of a large-scale and violent mutiny by Indian sepoys against the East India Company, predating the Indian Rebellion of 1857 by half a century. The revolt, which took place in the South Indian city of Vellore, lasted one full day, during which mutineers seized the Vellore Fort and killed or wounded 200 British troops. The mutiny was subdued by cavalry and artillery from Arcot. Total deaths amongst the mutineers were approximately 350; with summary executions of about 100 during the suppression of the outbreak, followed by the formal court-martial of smaller numbers.

How it all went down:

• The revolt took place in the South Indian city of Vellore

• Some non sensible orders were passed by Sir John Cradock and Lord Howdon, the commander in Chief in Madras to regulate the dress of the Sepoys

• The orders included the change of turbans to look more like the British helmet

• Besides that, the Hindu Brahmin Sepoys were ordered to put caste marks on their foreheads and the Muslims were ordered to get rid of their beards

• It appeared to the sepoys that they were going to be "Christianized" which sparked a feeling of rebellion

• On the midnight of July 10, 1806, a crowd gathered, with sepoys among them led by one of Tipu Sultan's son

• The defiance was very brief and lasted only one full day but it was very brutal

• The sepoys seized the Vellore Fort and killed/wounded around 200 British troops

• After massacring the Europeans, they hoisted the Flag of the Mysore Sultanate

• The mutiny was subdued by cavalry and artillery from Arcot

• Later many of the defiant sepoys were executed and some of them were court-martialed.

Aftermath:

• Although the mutiny was subdued by the next morning, it sent down ripples of fear among the British overlords

• This is still considered as one of the first sign of the British losing an empire

• The mutiny has drawn comparison with the Revolt of 1857 but the latter was a rather large revolt which went on for days

• The empire was established soon after the Vellore Mutiny and Lord Minto came to India as Governor General in 1807

• The only surviving eyewitness account of the actual outbreak of the mutiny is that of Amelia Farrer, Lady Fancourt (the wife of St. John Fancourt, the commander of the fort. Her manuscript account, written two weeks after the massacre, describes how she and her children survived as her husband died.