Rani Laxmibai accepted Maharaj Gangadhar Rao's marriage proposal, even though he was much older than her to save her Jhansi from the law of Doctrine of Lapse. Unfortunately, her own child died immediately after birth. Rani Laxmibai & Maharaj Gangadhar Rao adopted Gangadhar's brother's son. After Gangadhar's death, the Britishers took the opportunity to defeat Lakshmibai and capture Jhansi.