Question

The Queen who took the title 'Empress of India’:

• A. Mary
• B. Elizabeth I
• C. Victoria
• D. Elizabeth II

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Victoria

Victoria's Reign and the Title 'Empress of India'

• Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom reigned from 1837 to 1901, making her the second-longest reigning British monarch.
• The title 'Empress of India' was formally adopted by Victoria on May 1, 1876.
• This title was created by the Royal Titles Act 1876, passed by the British Parliament.
• Prior to this act, the British Crown had gained control over significant parts of India following the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, leading to the dissolution of the British East India Company and the direct rule of India by the British government.
• The title change signified a more direct and symbolic assertion of British imperial power over India.
• Victoria was previously the monarch of India as its Queen, but the new title emphasized a more personal and imperial connection.
• This period is often referred to as the height of the British Raj.
• The proclamation of Victoria as Empress of India was a significant event in the history of the British Empire and India's colonial period.