Wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Hazrat Mahal was also known as the Begum of Avadh. In addition to being gifted with irresistible physical charm, she had an inborn genius for organization and command. After her husband had been sent away in exile to Calcutta, she with thecooperation of a zealous band of supporters, like Sarafad-daulah, Maharaj Bal Krishna, Raja Jai Lal and above all Mammon Khan worked incessantly to revive the fortunes of Avadh. She seized control of Lucknow in association with the revolutionary forces and set up her son, Prince Birjis Qadr, as the King of Avadh. Hazrat Mahal worked in association with Nana Saheb but laterescaped from Lucknow and joined the Maulvi of Faizabad in the attack on Shahjahanpur.