rani

Originally named Manikarnika and nicknamed Manu, she was born on 19 November 1835 at Kashi (Varanasi below)to Karhade Brahmin family, the daughter of Moropant Tambe and Bhagirathibai Tambe. She lost her mother at the age of four, and was educated at home. Her father, Moropant Tambe, worked at the court of Peshwa at Bithur, who brought her up like his own daughter, and called her "Chhabili" for her light-heartedness.

Because of her father's influence at court, Rani Lakshmi Bai had more independence than most women, who were normally restricted to thezenana. She studied self defence, horsemanship, archery, and even formed her own army out of her female friends at court. Tatya Tope who was considered as a nightmare by the British during the 'Great Revolt of 1857' was Lakshmi Bai's tutor. She was married to Raja Gangadhar Rao Newalkar, the Maharaja of Jhansi in 1842, and became the queen of Jhansi. After their marriage, she was given the name Lakshmi Bai.The Raja was very affectionate to her. She gave birth to a son Damodar Rao in 1851. However, the child died when he was about four months old. After the death of their son, the Raja and Rani of Jhansi adopted Anand Rao. Anand Rao was the son of Gangadhar Rao's cousin.He was later renamed as Damodar Rao. However, it is said that the Raja of Jhansi never recovered from his son's death, and he died on 21 November 1853.

Because Anand Rao was adopted, the East India Company, under Governor-General Lord Dalhousie, had an excuse to apply the Doctrine of Lapse, rejecting Rao's claim to the throne. Dalhousie then annexed Jhansi, saying that the throne had "lapsed" and claimed the right to put Jhansi under his protection. In March 1854, she was given a pension of 60,000 rupees and ordered to leave the palace and the Jhansi fortification.

Unrest began to spread throughout India. During this chaotic time, the British were forced to focus their attentions elsewhere, and Lakshmi Bai was essentially left to rule Jhansi alone. During this time, she was able to lead her troops swiftly and efficiently to quell skirmishes breaking out in Jhansi. Through this leadership Lakshmi Bai was able to keep Jhansi relatively calm and peaceful in the midst of the Empire’s unrest. For example, she conducted the haldi-kumkum ceremony with great pomp and ceremony before all the women of Jhansi to provide assurance to her subjects and to convince them that Jhansi was under no threat of an attack.On May 10, 1857 the Indian Rebellion started in Meerut. Private 91st Rgt of Foot (Argyllshire Rgt), Indian Mutiny 1857-58blues miniatures italy

This began after rumours that the new bullet casings for the Lee Enfield rifles were coated with pork and beef fat; British commanders insisted on their use and started to discipline anyone who disobeyed. During this rebellion sepoys killed many British soldiers and officers of the East India Company.

Up to this point, she had been hesitant to rebel against the British, and there is still some controversy over her role in the massacre of the British HEIC officials and their wives and children on the 8th June 1857 at Jokhan Bagh.

SOLDIERSHOP Indian Mutiny 1857

Her hesitation finally ended when British troops arrived under Sir Hugh Rose and laid siege to Jhansi on 23 March 1858. She rallied her troops around her and fought fiercely. An army of 20,000, headed by the rebel leader Tatya Tope, was sent to relieve Jhansi and to take Lakshmi Bai to freedom. However, the British, though numbering only 1,540 in the field so as not to break the siege, were better trained and disciplined than the raw recruits, and these inexperienced soldiers turned and fled shortly after the British began to attack on 31st March. Lakshmi Bai’s forces could not hold out and three days later the British were able to breach the city walls and capture the city. Lakshmi Bai escaped by jumping from the wall at night with her son and fled from her city, surrounded by her guards, many of them women.

Along with the young Anand Rao, the Rani decamped to Kalpi along with her forces where she joined other rebel forces, including those ofTatya Tope. The Rani and Tatya Tope moved on to Gwalior, where the combined rebel forces defeated the army of the Maharaja of Gwalior after his armies deserted the rebel forces. They then occupied a strategic fort at Gwalior. However, on the 17th of June 1858, while battling in full warrior regalia against the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in Kotah-ki Serai near the Phool Bagh area of Gwalior, she died. The British capturedGwalior three days later. In the British report of the battle, General Hugh Rose commented that the Rani, "remarkable for her beauty, cleverness and perseverance", had been "the most dangerous of all the rebel leaders".below conversion by a.costa of irregular cavalry

However, the lack of a corpse to be convincingly identified as that of Lakshmibai convinced Captain Rheese that she had not actually perished in the battle for Gwalior, stating publicly that:"[the] Queen of Jhansi is alive!". It is believed her funeral was arranged on the same day near the spot where she was wounded.

Rani was memorialized in bronze statues at both Jhansi and Gwalior, both of which portray her on horseback.

Her father, Moropant Tambey, was captured and hanged a few days after the fall of Jhansi. Her adopted son, Damodar Rao (formerly known as Anand Rao), fled with his mother's aides. Rao was later given a pension by the British Raj and cared for, although he never received his inheritance. Damodar Rao settled down in the city of Indore (Madhya Pradesh). He spent most of his life trying convince the British to restore some of his rights. He and his descendants took on the last name Jhansiwale. He died on May 28, 1906, at the age of 58.

20mm Indian Mutiny (1857)

Foot. 40p each.

IM 1 British Officer, padded jacket, firing pistol. IM 2 British Infantry, running, shoulder musket. IM 3 British Infantry, loading musket. IM 4 British Infantry, at ready, musket. IM 5 British Infantry, firing musket. IM 6 British Officer, charging sword raised. IM 7 British Infantry, charging, fixed bayonet. IM 8 Highland Officer, charging, sword. IM 9 Highland Infantry, charging, fixed bayonet. IM 10 Sikh Infantry, musket. IM 11 Afghan Ghazi, sword and shield. IM 12 Afghan, kneeling, jezail. IM 13 Afghan, firing jezail. IM 14 Afghan Ghazi, charging, sword and shield. IM 15 Mutineer, sword and shield. IM 16 Mutineer, standing, musket. IM 17 Mutineer, firing musket. IM 18 Mutineer,running with musket. IM 19 Rebel civilian, sword. IM 20 Rebel civilian with knife. IM 21 Rebel/Sepoy, running with musket. IM 22 Rebel/Loyalist, standing at ready. IM 23 Rebel Sowar, charging with sabre. IM 24 Rebel Sepoy/Mutineer, firing musket.

Cavalry. 80p each, including horse.

IM 30 British Lancer. IM 31 British Dragoon, helmet, charging. IM 32 British Officer,sword, pointing. IM 33 Britsh General. IM 34 Britsh Cavalryman at ease. IM 35 Rebel Leader. (Rani of Jhansi). IM 36 Mutineer Sowar, sword raised. IM 37 Irregular/Sikh Cavalryman. (Hodgesons Horse). IM 38 Indian Cavalryman.

Artillery. £2.40 each set.

IM40 Britsh Gun Crew (3) and gun. IM41 Rebel Sepoy Gun Crew (3) and gun.