Rani Lakshmibai
Rani Lakshmibai, the Queen of Jhansi, became the most iconic military figure of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and an enduring symbol of resistance to British colonial rule. Widowed when her husband Gangadhar Rao died in 1853, she fought the application of the Doctrine of Lapse — by which the East India Company annexed princely states without a male heir — arguing that her adopted son had a legitimate claim to succession. The Company rejected her petition and annexed Jhansi. When the 1857 rebellion broke out, she organized and commanded the defense of Jhansi during the British siege of March–April 1858, and after the city fell she escaped on horseback and joined the Gwalior rebel forces. She died in battle at Kotah-ki-Serai near Gwalior in June 1858, fighting in the front lines. British officers who faced her recorded their admiration for her bravery. Subsequent generations of Indian nationalists elevated her to the status of a founding martyr; she remains one of India's most celebrated historical figures.
- Lived: 1828 CE – 1858 CE
- Nationality: Indian
- Roles: Queen, Military Commander, Revolutionary
