Star of India
Preserved but no longer current.
A British order of knighthood, The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, instituted in 1861 by Queen Victoria as a reward for services in and for India and a means of recognizing the loyalty of native rulers. Its motto is "Heaven's Light our Guide.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Star of India” mean?
A British order of knighthood, The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India, instituted in 1861 by Queen Victoria as a reward for services in and for India and a means of recognizing the loyalty of native rulers. Its motto is "Heaven's Light our Guide.
Is “Star of India” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.