Begum Hazrat Mahal

Begum Hazrat Mahal (Urdu: بیگم حضرت محل‎ born c. 1820) also known as Begum of Awadh, was the first wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. She was stunningly beautiful, and used her courage and leadership qualities to rebel against the British East India Company during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. After her husband had been sent away in exile to Calcutta, she took charge of the affairs of the state of Awadh, seized control of Lucknow and set up her son, Prince Birjis Qadir, as the ruler (Wali) of Awadh, but was forced to abandon it. She rejected the promises of allowance and status held out to her by the British. She finally found asylum in Nepal where she died in 1879.