Let's say the Sepoy Mutiny or some similar event transpires and Britain herself is indisposed; what happens to India.
The easiest way to achieve this is for the Sikhs to rebel, which is easy as they got incorporated only a couple decades prior and had quite a bit of an independent streak. In this scenario, Britain would still hold on to Bengal and India south of and including the Deccan, as few revolted in that area. In what remains, I expect a mess of warring states, with a resurgent Sikh Empire as the strongest nation of the bunch. The resurgent Mughals would have quite a bit of power as well, considering how much popular support Bahadur Shah Zafar got in the rebellion, and I expect the renewed Maratha Empire to not be anywhere near as powerful as it once was, as it would be restrained to Maharashtra in such a scenario. In any case, I expect Britain to reconquer quite a bit of India, except this second run would probably be a lot harder as the Indian powers have adapted - it probably would not reincorporate all of India.
In the east, Russia would be empowered. With the Great Game effectively won in its favour, it would quickly vassalize all of Central Asia. It would also influence Afghanistan, Baluchistan, and the North-West Frontier Province.
Anything? I'm kind of at a loss.
I was vague because I just wanted to know what the Mutineers would have done in a case where Britain won't just reinvade.I think it would help if you set out why you think the British might be indisposed. In the OTL Mutiny the British made a great deal of use of loyal troops from regions other than Bengal/Oude which suggests that while it might take longer then they could probably do the same. However say the British are initially restricted to containing the damage, is the indisposition because the British being involved with a war against a major great power/alliance of great powers who might use the opportunity to seek allies or have the British been well and truly overwhelmed (setting aside the how) suggesting the new powers might try and step into their shoes?
I was vague because I just wanted to know what the Mutineers would have done in a case where Britain won't just reinvade.
In my particular case, A chartist revolution toppled the monarchy, and the BEIC maintains control of India... tenuously.Neither did the rebels, it was one of their major problems. However I think you best starting place is to work out what you think is going on with the British that stops them sending more troops to India from the home area and does anything else go wrong to discommode the British in India...remembering there were an awful lot of local interest groups who had become heavily invested in British rule.
In my particular case, A chartist revolution toppled the monarchy, and the BEIC maintains control of India... tenuously.
As I recall, the Sikhs were one of the most loyal groups during the Mutiny OTL. I don't think getting them to revolt is as easy as you say.
They could have got that leaderships. The rajahs and ranis piled in after the British had contained the Mutiny and started to roll it back.Hard to see how. The mutineers were a fractured lot, unless they manage to get a sensible leadership and support of a strong local power I cannot see them last.
They could have got that leaderships. The rajahs and ranis piled in after the British had contained the Mutiny and started to roll it back.
If the rajahs and ranis piled in once the Mutiny had started then they could have provide the leaderships. I say leaderships because I would not expect them to allow one of their number to become number one. This means the the British would not face a united front. They could thus eliminate one block at a time.
The question is whether or not the objective is the end of British rule. That is the best that the mutineers are going to get because the concept of a united India did not to my knowledge exist.And then they're back to where they were before. Unfortunately in this period I can't see a united India under anybody except the British. There were too many factions on the Indian side and too many people with a vested interest in British rule. I think a substantially weaker or reduced British India is possible but even a successful Mutiny isn't going to remove the British for anything but the short term.
Thanks @Shahrasayr, I think that gives me some good ideas for this...
What would you say would make a good border between the Reinstated Mughals and whatever form a "unified" Deccan State would take?
In the Deccan Nana Sahib sets about trying to reinstate Maratha rule and gets given his office of Peshwa. Small kingdoms like Jhansi and Gwalior continue life as normal.
Wouldn't there also be Hyderabad to deal with? Or are we assuming the Nizam got swept out of power in the Mutiny?