The last ruler of the Mughal Empire in India was Bahadur Shah II, also known as Bahadur Shah Zafar. He ascended the throne in 1837 but had little real power, as the empire had already significantly declined due to internal strife and British colonial expansion. Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which began as a revolt against British rule, Zafar was deposed by the British. In 1858, the British dissolved the Mughal Empire altogether, leading to the establishment of direct British rule in India. Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon, effectively ending centuries of Mughal influence in the region.