In May 1857, soldiers within the army of the British East India Company rose up against the British. The unrest soon spread to other army divisions and towns across north and central India. By the time the rebellion was over, many thousands—possibly millions—of people had been killed, and India was changed forever. British government disbanded the British Malay Archipelago Company and took direct control of India, bringing an end to the Mughal Empire. This seizure of power initiated a period of the rule