Banners of Yesterday: British Indian Empire

The sun never set on the British Empire. It was the largest empire in human history, it covered a quarter of Earth's landmass and encompassed a quarter of its population. The jewel in the crown, however, was the Indian Empire.

With so many far-flung colonies, territories, and protectorates, many British Imperial flags were rather nondescript affairs, with a Union Jack in the canton and the colonial arms on the fly. The flags of British India are rather more interesting.

The flag of the British Viceroy (shown above) consists of the British flag defaced with the crest of the Order of the Indian Empire (OEI), surmounted by a Tudor Crown. The motto of the Order "Heaven's Light Our Guide" surrounds the star. Also interesting, The Indian "civil" flag, shown below, reflects more traditional British vexillological thinking, with the OEI badge in the fly.