Skip to main content

Gwalior Campaign Star (Punniar): CM.1413-2009

An image of Gwalior Campaign Star (Punniar)

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Alternative views

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Mint: Calcutta
Issuer: East India Company
Ruler: Victoria (1837-1901) (Struck in the rule of)

Entities

Categories

Description

The Kingdom of Gwalior, whose capital lies south of Agra in the north of modern India, was ruled along with Ujjain by the Maratha Scindia dynasty from 1731, although after the defeat of the Maratha states in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818 it was forced to recognise British suzerainty. Its native rulers however continued to hold local power until the creation of independent India in 1947.
In 1843 however Maharaja Jankojirao II Scindia died, with his appointed heir Jayajirao still an infant of 10 years, and the Maharaja's widow, not Jayajirao's mother, was party to the instalment of a regency under the Prime Minister, Dada Khasgee Wala, that opposed the succession of the British-supported Jayajirao. A contemporary account exists by the later Baron of Aliwal of the subsequent British campaign that ousted Dada Khasgee Wala and emplaced the young Maharajah on his throne; it culminated in a decisive battle at Maharajpur.
Another battle was fought the same day at Punniar with similarly decisive results, and for participation in that or the Battle of Maharajpur, this star was issued by the Honourable East India Company. The main star was common to both awards; the inner star that specifies the battle for which the award was made is held in by nuts on the reverse.
This star was awarded to Private George Homeshaw of the 9th Lancers, otherwise known as The Queen's Own. Lester Watson purchased his star at some point before 1928.

Notes

History note: Gift of L. Hoyt Watson; ex Lester Watson Collection, bt before 1928

Legal notes

Given by Lester Watson through Cambridge in America, 2009

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 43.2 mm
Weight: 35.02 g

Place(s) associated

  • Calcutta

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2009) by Watson, Lester

Dating

Production date: AD 1844

Materials used in production

Bronze

Techniques used in production

Struck

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: Inscriptions on small six-pointed star mounted on larger one

  • Text: PUNNIAR / 1845
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Six-pointed star engraved with recipient's name

  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.1413-2009
Primary reference Number: 141507
Watson Catalogue: 325
Ordering: M-0296
Previous object number: LW.0296
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 15 January 2024 Last processed: Monday 15 January 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Gwalior Campaign Star (Punniar)" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141507 Accessed: 2024-10-14 16:49:28

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/141507 |title=Gwalior Campaign Star (Punniar) |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-10-14 16:49:28|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-141507

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/cm/cm15/LW_0296_281_29.jpg"
        alt="Gwalior Campaign Star (Punniar)"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Gwalior Campaign Star (Punniar)</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>
    

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...