Order of the Star of India of India and other flags used to represent British India. The order was the fifth most senior British order of chivalry, following the Order of the Garter, Order of the Thistle, Order of St Patrick and Order of the Bath. It was the senior order of chivalry associated with the British Raj; junior to it was the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, and there was also, for women only, the Imperial Order of the Crown of India. Several years after the Indian Mutiny and the consolidation of Great Britain's power as the governing authority in India, it was
Order of chivalry structure found in medieval orders of chivalry and created new ones instead, e.g. the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria, or the Legion of Merit of the United States. Following the example set by the French Legion of Honour, founded by Napoleon, most multi-level European orders comprise five ranks or classes. The highest is usually called the Grand Cross, then descending with varying titles. Alternatively, the ranks are referred to by number (for example "Ist class" instead of "Grand Cross"). Typical rankings are: Each of these ranks wear