The last emperor of the Mughal Empire was Bahadur Shah II, also known as Bahadur Shah Zafar. He ascended to the throne in 1837 and his reign lasted until 1857. Bahadur Shah II was a poet and a scholar, and his rule coincided with a period of significant political and social upheaval in India. He became a prominent figure during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, which marked a turning point in the history of British colonial rule in India. After the rebellion was suppressed, Bahadur Shah II was exiled to Burma (now Myanmar) by the British, where he died in 1862. His death marked the end of the Mughal Empire, which had once been one of the most powerful and influential dynasties in Indian history.