Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi demanded that the British East India Company recognize her adopted son, Damodar Rao, as the legitimate heir to the throne of Jhansi after her husband's death. This demand was refused by the British based on the Doctrine of Lapse, which stated that if an Indian ruler died without a natural male heir, their kingdom would be annexed by the British. Consequently, the British annexed Jhansi, rejecting her son's claim despite the adoption being according to Hindu tradition. This refusal contributed significantly to the tensions leading to the Indian Rebellion of 1857 in Jhansi.
