At the age of fourteen, Laxmi Bai was married to Gangadhar Rao, the Raja of Jhansi. When Gangadhar Rao died, Lord Dalhousie ordered the Rani to hand over to them the reins of Jhansi. “I will not give my Jhansi”, said Laxmi Bai. Jhansi witnessed an uprising against the British on June 5th, 1857.
The Rani was an inspirational leader, and the people fought for her. She bravely proclaimed that her reign had begun. However, the British forces led by Sir Hugh Rose laid siege to Jhansi. The Rani defended Jhansi with all her might, but the British broke through. Rani Laxmi Bai escaped with a band of soldiers and joined other revolutionary leaders at Kalpi. They took Gwalior as the Rani fought in a man’s dress at the head of fifty horsemen. The Rani died heroically while defending Gwalior against the British.