The Order of the Star of Ethiopia was established as an order of knighthood of the Ethiopian Empire, founded by the Negus of Shoa and later Emperor of Ethiopia Menelik II in 1884–1885. It is currently awarded as a house order by the Crown Council of Ethiopia.
The Order was established to honour foreign and domestic civilian and military officials and individuals for service to the country, and is considered the fifth ranking order of the Empire of Ethiopia alongside the Order of Menelik II.