The Indian Rebellion of 1857, often called the Sepoy Mutiny or the First War of Independence, was a major uprising against the rule of the British East India Company. It began in Meerut when Indian soldiers (sepoys) in the company's army mutinied over the use of animal fat (cow and pig) in new rifle cartridges, which offended both Hindu and Muslim religious beliefs. The rebellion spread across northern and central India, involving various local rulers and peasants. Although the British eventually suppressed the revolt with significant violence, it led to the dissolution of the East India Company. In 1858, the British Crown took direct control of India, beginning the era of the British Raj. The rebellion became a powerful symbol for later Indian nationalists fighting for total independence.