1 mei 1876: Victoria wordt keizerin van India

1 May 1876

Victoria is declared empress of India

India came under direct British government control in 1858, when the remaining authority of the East India Company was dissolved. The Conservative prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli, suggested to the queen that she should be proclaimed empress. His motive seems mainly to have been flattery. Despite objections from the Liberal opposition, who were not consulted, the title was endorsed and Victoria used it officially from 1877.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/timeline/victorianbritain_timeline_noflash.shtml (20061208)