The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French
order of merit
The Order of Merit (french: link=no, Ordre du Mérite) is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by K ...
, both
military
A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
and civil. Established in 1802 by
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, it has been retained (with occasional slight alterations) by all later French governments and regimes.
The order's
motto
A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...
is ' ("Honour and Fatherland"); its
seat
A seat is a place to sit. The term may encompass additional features, such as back, armrest, head restraint but also headquarters in a wider sense.
Types of seat
The following are examples of different kinds of seat:
* Armchair (furniture), ...
is the
Palais de la Légion d'Honneur
The Palais de la Légion d'honneur ( French for "Palace of the Legion of Honour") is a historic building on the Left Bank of the River Seine in Paris, France. It houses the Musée de la Légion d'honneur ("Museum of the Legion of Honour") and is ...
next to the
Musée d'Orsay
The Musée d'Orsay ( , , ) ( en, Orsay Museum) is a museum in Paris, France, on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The museum holds mainly French art ...
, on the left bank of the
Seine
)
, mouth_location = Le Havre/Honfleur
, mouth_coordinates =
, mouth_elevation =
, progression =
, river_system = Seine basin
, basin_size =
, tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle
, tributarie ...
in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
.
The order is divided into five degrees of increasing distinction: ' (
Knight
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the Gr ...
), ' (Officer), ' (
Commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
), ' (Grand Officer) and ' (
Grand Cross
Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...
).
History
Consulate
During the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
, all of the French
orders of chivalry
An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic military orders of the Crusades ( 1099–1291) and paired with medieval concep ...
were abolished and replaced with
Weapons of Honour
Weapons of Honour ( French: Armes d'honneur) are ceremonial weapons awarded for service or assistance to France.
History
Swords of honour were awarded during the Ancien Régime for exceptional service. On 30 April 1746, Minister of the Navy Maur ...
. It was the wish of
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
, the
First Consul
The Consulate (french: Le Consulat) was the top-level Government of France from the fall of the Directory in the coup of 18 Brumaire on 10 November 1799 until the start of the Napoleonic Empire on 18 May 1804. By extension, the term ''The Con ...
, to create a reward to commend civilians and soldiers. From this wish was instituted a , a body of men that was not an order of
chivalry
Chivalry, or the chivalric code, is an informal and varying code of conduct developed in Europe between 1170 and 1220. It was associated with the medieval Christianity, Christian institution of knighthood; knights' and gentlemen's behaviours we ...
, for Napoleon believed that France wanted a
recognition of merit rather than a new system of nobility. However, the did use the organization of the old French orders of chivalry, for example, the . The insignia of the bear a resemblance to those of the , which also used a red ribbon.
Napoleon originally created this award to ensure political loyalty. The organization would be used as a façade to give political favours, gifts, and concessions. The was loosely patterned after a
Roman legion
The Roman legion ( la, legiō, ) was the largest military unit of the Roman army, composed of 5,200 infantry and 300 equites (cavalry) in the period of the Roman Republic (509 BC–27 BC) and of 5,600 infantry and 200 auxilia in the period of ...
, with
legionaries
The Roman legionary (in Latin ''legionarius'', plural ''legionarii'') was a professional heavy infantryman of the Roman army after the Marian reforms. These soldiers would conquer and defend the territories of ancient Rome during the late Republi ...
,
officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
, commanders, regional "
cohort
Cohort or cohortes may refer to:
* Cohort (educational group), a group of students working together through the same academic curriculum
* Cohort (floating point), a set of different encodings of the same numerical value
* Cohort (military unit ...
s" and a grand council. The highest rank was not a Grand Cross but a (Grand Eagle), a rank that wore the insignia common to a Grand Cross. The members were paid, the highest of them extremely generously:
* 5,000
franc
The franc is any of various units of currency. One franc is typically divided into 100 centimes. The name is said to derive from the Latin inscription ''francorum rex'' (Style of the French sovereign, King of the Franks) used on early France, ...
s to a ,
* 2,000 francs to a ,
* 1,000 francs to an ,
* 250 francs to a .
Napoleon famously declared, "You call these baubles, well, it is with baubles that men are led... Do you think that you would be able to make men fight by reasoning? Never. That is good only for the scholar in his study. The soldier needs glory, distinctions, rewards." This has been often quoted as "It is with such baubles that men are led."
The order was the first modern
order of merit
The Order of Merit (french: link=no, Ordre du Mérite) is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by K ...
. Under the monarchy, such orders were often limited to Roman Catholics, all
knights
A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...
had to be noblemen, and military decorations were restricted to
officers
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
. The , however, was open to men of all ranks and professions; only merit or bravery counted. The new legionnaire had to be sworn into the .
All previous orders were Christian, or shared a clear Christian background, whereas the is a secular institution. The badge of the has five arms.
First Empire
In a decree issued on the (30 January 1805), a grand decoration was instituted. This decoration, a cross on a large
sash
A sash is a large and usually colorful ribbon or band of material worn around the body, either draping from one shoulder to the opposing hip and back up, or else running around the waist. The sash around the waist may be worn in daily attire, bu ...
and a silver star with an eagle, symbol of the Napoleonic Empire, became known as the (Grand Eagle), and later in 1814 as the (big sash, literally "big ribbon"). After Napoleon crowned himself
Emperor of the French
Emperor of the French ( French: ''Empereur des Français'') was the title of the monarch and supreme ruler of the First and the Second French Empires.
Details
A title and office used by the House of Bonaparte starting when Napoleon was procl ...
in 1804 and established the
Napoleonic nobility in 1808, award of the gave right to the title of "Knight of the Empire" (). The title was made hereditary after three generations of grantees.
Napoleon had dispensed 15 golden collars of the among his family and his senior ministers. This collar was abolished in 1815.
Although research is made difficult by the loss of the archives, it is rumoured that three women who fought with the army were decorated with the order:
Virginie Ghesquière
Virginie Ghesquière (1768–1867), was a French soldier. She served in the Napoleonic army dressed as a man from 1806 to 1812. She served under Andoche Junot during the Peninsular War, and was promoted to sergeant and lieutenant.
She is know ...
,
Marie-Jeanne Schelling and a
nun
A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...
, Sister
Anne Biget Anne Biget, known as Sister Marthe (1749-1824), was a French nun and army nurse.Sœur Marthe / par J.-M. Suchet (1819-1904), impr. de J. Jacquin (Besançon), 1870.
She was originally a nun in Besançon. When the convents were dissolved in France in ...
.
The was prominent and visible in the French Empire. The Emperor always wore it, and the fashion of the time allowed for decorations to be worn most of the time. The king of
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
therefore declined the order; it was too common in his eyes. Napoleon's own decorations were captured by the
Prussians and were displayed in the (armoury) in Berlin until 1945. Today, they are in Moscow.
Restoration of the Bourbon King of France in 1814
Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. He spent twenty-three years in ...
changed the appearance of the order, but it was not abolished. To have done so would have angered the 35,000 to 38,000 members. The images of Napoleon and his eagle were removed and replaced by the image of King
Henry IV, the popular first king of the
Bourbon Bourbon may refer to:
Food and drink
* Bourbon whiskey, an American whiskey made using a corn-based mash
* Bourbon barrel aged beer, a type of beer aged in bourbon barrels
* Bourbon biscuit, a chocolate sandwich biscuit
* A beer produced by Bras ...
line. Three Bourbon replaced the eagle on the reverse of the order. A king's crown replaced the imperial crown. In 1816, the grand cordons were renamed grand crosses and the legionnaires became knights. The king decreed that the commandants were now commanders. The became the second-ranking order of knighthood of the French monarchy, after the
Order of the Holy Spirit
The Order of the Holy Spirit (french: Ordre du Saint-Esprit; sometimes translated into English as the Order of the Holy Ghost), is a French order of chivalry founded by Henry III of France in 1578. Today, it is a dynastic order under the House of ...
.
July Monarchy
![Louis philippe 1835 par desnos](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Louis_philippe_1835_par_desnos.jpeg)
Following the overthrow of the Bourbons in favour of King
Louis Philippe I
Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate monarch of France.
As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself commanding troops during the Revolutionary War ...
of the
House of Orléans
The 4th House of Orléans (french: Maison d'Orléans), sometimes called the House of Bourbon-Orléans (french: link=no, Maison de Bourbon-Orléans) to distinguish it, is the fourth holder of a surname previously used by several branches of the Ro ...
, the Bourbon monarchy's orders were once again abolished and the was restored in 1830 as the paramount decoration of the French nation. The insignia were drastically altered; the cross now displayed
tricolour flags. In 1847, there were 47,000 members.
Second Republic
Yet another revolution in Paris (in 1848) brought a new republic (the second) and a new design to the . A nephew of the founder,
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, was elected president and he restored the image of his uncle on the crosses of the order. In 1852, the first recorded woman,
Angélique Duchemin, an old revolutionary of the 1789 uprising against the absolute monarchy, was admitted into the order. On 2 December 1851, President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte staged a
coup d'état
A coup d'état (; French for 'stroke of state'), also known as a coup or overthrow, is a seizure and removal of a government and its powers. Typically, it is an illegal seizure of power by a political faction, politician, cult, rebel group, m ...
with the help of the armed forces. He made himself
Emperor of the French
Emperor of the French ( French: ''Empereur des Français'') was the title of the monarch and supreme ruler of the First and the Second French Empires.
Details
A title and office used by the House of Bonaparte starting when Napoleon was procl ...
exactly one year later on 2 December 1852, after a successful
plebiscite
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...
.
Second Empire
An Imperial crown was added. During
Napoleon III
Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was the first President of France (as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870. A nephew ...
's reign, the first American was admitted:
Thomas Wiltberger Evans, dentist of Napoleon III.
Third Republic
![111-SC-38214 - NARA - 55235582-cropped](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/111-SC-38214_-_NARA_-_55235582-cropped.jpg)
In 1870, the defeat of the French Imperial Army in the
Franco-Prussian War brought the end of the Empire and the creation of the
Third Republic (1871–1940). As France changed, the changed as well. The crown was replaced by a
laurel
Laurel may refer to:
Plants
* Lauraceae, the laurel family
* Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel
People
* Laurel (given name), people with the given name
* Laurel (surname), people with the surname
* Laurel (mus ...
and oak wreath. In 1871, during the
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune (french: Commune de Paris, ) was a revolutionary government that seized power in Paris, the capital of France, from 18 March to 28 May 1871.
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, the French National Guard had defended ...
uprising, the , headquarters of the , was burned to the ground in fierce street combats; the archives of the order were lost.
In the second term of President
Jules Grévy
François Judith Paul Grévy (15 August 1807 – 9 September 1891), known as Jules Grévy (), was a French people, French lawyer and politician who served as President of France from 1879 to 1887. He was a leader of the Opportunist Republicans, ...
, which started in 1885, newspaper journalists brought to light the trafficking of Grévy's son-in-law, Daniel Wilson, in the awarding of decorations of the . Grévy was not accused of personal participation in this scandal, but he was slow to accept his indirect political responsibility, which caused his eventual resignation on 2 December 1887.
During
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, some 55,000 decorations were conferred, 20,000 of which went to foreigners. The large number of decorations resulted from the new posthumous awards authorised in 1918. Traditionally, membership in the could not be awarded posthumously.
Fourth and Fifth Republics
The establishment of the
Fourth Republic in 1946 brought about the latest change in the design of the Legion of Honour. The date "1870" on the obverse was replaced by a single star. No changes were made after the establishment of the
Fifth Republic in 1958.
Organization
Legal status and leadership
The Legion of Honour is a national order of France, meaning a public incorporated body. The Legion is regulated by a
civil law code, the "Code of the Legion of Honour and of the Military Medal". While the
President of the French Republic
The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is ...
is the Grand Master of the order, day-to-day running is entrusted to the Grand Chancery (').
Grand Master
![GrandCollier](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/GrandCollier.jpg)
Since the establishment of the Legion, the Grand Master of the order has always been the Emperor, King or President of France.
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
Emmanuel Macron
Emmanuel Macron (; born 21 December 1977) is a French politician who has served as President of France since 2017. ''Ex officio'', he is also one of the two Co-Princes of Andorra. Prior to his presidency, Macron served as Minister of Econ ...
therefore became the Grand Master of the Legion on 14 May 2017.
The Grand Master appoints all other members of the order, on the advice of the French government. The Grand Master's insignia is the
Grand Collar
A collar also known as collar of an order is an ornate chain, often made of gold and enamel, and set with precious stones, which is worn about the neck as a symbol of membership in various chivalric orders. It is a particular form of the livery ...
of the Legion. The President of the Republic, as Grand Master of the order, receives the Collar as part of his investiture, but the Grand Masters have not worn the Collar since
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry René Marie Georges Giscard d'Estaing (, , ; 2 February 19262 December 2020), also known as Giscard or VGE, was a French politician who served as President of France from 1974 to 1981.
After serving as Minister of Finance under prime ...
.
The Grand Chancery
The Grand Chancery is headed by the Grand Chancellor, usually a retired general, and the Secretary General, a civilian administrator.
* Grand Chancellor:
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
Benoît Puga
Benoît Puga (born 30 January 1953) is a general in the French Army and the Grand Chancellor of the National Order of the Legion of Honour and the National Order of Merit.
Military career
Puga joined the École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cy ...
(since 23 August 2016)
* Secretary-General:
Luc Fons
Luc or LUC may refer to:
Places
* Luc, Hautes-Pyrénées, France, a commune
* Luc, Lozère, France, a commune
* Le Luc, France, a commune
* Luč, Baranja, Croatia, a settlement
People and fictional characters
* Luc (given name)
* Luc (surn ...
(since 2007)
The Grand Chancery also regulates the
National Order of Merit and the ' (Military Medal). There are several structures funded by and operated under the authority of the Grand Chancery, like the
Legion of Honour Schools (') and the
Legion of Honour Museum ('). The Legion of Honour Schools are élite boarding schools in
Saint-Denis and Camp des Loges in the forest of
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the centre of Paris.
Inhabitants are called ''Saint-Germanois'' or ''Saint-Ge ...
. Study there is restricted to daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of members of the order, the ' or the '.
Membership
There are five classes in the Legion of Honour:
* (Knight): minimum 20 years of public service or 25 years of professional activity with "eminent merits"
* (Officer): minimum 8 years in the rank of
* (Commander): minimum 5 years in the rank of
* (Grand Officer): minimum 3 years in the rank of
* (Grand Cross): minimum 3 years in the rank of
The "eminent merits" required to be awarded the order require the flawless performance of one's trade as well as doing more than ordinarily expected, such as being creative, zealous and contributing to the growth and well-being of others.
The order has a maximum quota of 75 Grand Cross, 250 Grand Officers, 1,250 Commanders, 10,000 Officers, and 113,425 (ordinary) Knights. the actual membership was 67 Grand Cross, 314 Grand Officers, 3,009 Commanders, 17,032 Officers and 74,384 Knights. Appointments of veterans of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, French military personnel involved in the
North African Campaign and other foreign French military operations, as well as wounded soldiers, are made independently of the quota.
Members convicted of a felony ( in French) are automatically dismissed from the order. Members convicted of a misdemeanour ( in French) can be dismissed as well, although this is not automatic.
Wearing the decoration of the without having the right to do so is a serious offence. Wearing the ribbon or
rosette of a foreign order is prohibited if that ribbon is mainly red, like the ribbon of the Legion of Honour. French military personnel in uniform must salute other military members in uniform wearing the medal, whatever the rank and the military rank of the bearer. This is not mandatory with the ribbon. In practice, however, this is rarely done.
There is not a single, complete list of all the members of the Legion in chronological order. The number is estimated at one million, including about 2,900 Knights Grand Cross.
French nationals
French nationals, men and women, can be received into the , for "eminent merit" () in military or civil life. In practice, in current usage, the order is conferred on entrepreneurs, high-level
civil servants
The civil service is a collective term for a sector of government composed mainly of career civil servants hired on professional merit rather than appointed or elected, whose institutional tenure typically survives transitions of political leaders ...
, scientists, artists, including famous actors and actresses, sport
champion
A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, an ...
s, and others with connections in the
executive
Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to:
Role or title
* Executive, a senior management role in an organization
** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators
** Executive dir ...
. Members of the
French Parliament
The French Parliament (french: Parlement français) is the bicameral legislature of the French Republic, consisting of the Senate () and the National Assembly (). Each assembly conducts legislative sessions at separate locations in Paris: ...
cannot receive the order, except for valour in war, and ministers are not allowed to nominate their accountants.
Until 2008, French nationals could only enter the Legion of Honour at the class of (Knight). To be promoted to a higher class, one had to perform new eminent services in the interest of France and a set number of years had to pass between appointment and promotion. This was however amended in 2008 when entry became possible at Officer, Commander and Grand Officer levels, as a recognition of "extraordinary careers" (). In 2009,
Simone Veil
Simone Veil (; ; 13 July 1927 – 30 June 2017) was a French magistrate and politician who served as Health Minister in several governments and was President of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982, the first woman to hold that office. A ...
became the first person to enter the Order at Grand Officer level. Veil was a member of the , a former
Health Minister A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services.
Some governments have separate ministers for mental health.
Count ...
and
President of the European Parliament
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
*President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...
, as well as an
Auschwitz
Auschwitz concentration camp ( (); also or ) was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland (in a portion annexed into Germany in 1939) during World War II and the Holocaust. It con ...
survivor. She was promoted to Grand Cross in 2012.
Every year at least five recipients decline the award. Even if they refuse to accept it, they are still included in the order's official membership.
[ The composers ]Maurice Ravel
Joseph Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with Impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composers rejected the term. In ...
and Charles Koechlin
Charles-Louis-Eugène Koechlin (; 27 November 186731 December 1950), commonly known as Charles Koechlin, was a French composer, teacher and musicologist. He was a political radical all his life and a passionate enthusiast for such diverse things ...
, for example, declined the award when it was offered to them.
Non-French recipients
While membership in the is technically restricted to French nationals, foreign nationals who have served France or the ideals it upholds may receive the honour. Foreign nationals who live in France are subject to the same requirements as the French. Foreign nationals who live abroad may be awarded a distinction of any rank or dignity in the . Foreign heads of state and their spouses or consorts of monarchs are made Grand Cross as a courtesy. American and British veterans who served in either World War
A world war is an international conflict which involves all or most of the world's major powers. Conventionally, the term is reserved for two major international conflicts that occurred during the first half of the 20th century, World WarI (1914 ...
on French soil, or during the 1944 campaigns to liberate France, may be eligible for appointment as Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, provided they were still living when the honour was approved.
Collective awards
Collective appointments can be made to cities, institutions or companies. A total of 64 settlements in France have been decorated, as well as six foreign cities: Liège
Liège ( , , ; wa, Lîdje ; nl, Luik ; german: Lüttich ) is a major city and municipality of Wallonia and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège.
The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse, in the east of Belgium, not far from b ...
in 1914, Belgrade
Belgrade ( , ;, ; Names of European cities in different languages: B, names in other languages) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city in Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers a ...
in 1920, Luxembourg City
Luxembourg ( lb, Lëtzebuerg; french: Luxembourg; german: Luxemburg), also known as Luxembourg City ( lb, Stad Lëtzebuerg, link=no or ; french: Ville de Luxembourg, link=no; german: Stadt Luxemburg, link=no or ), is the capital city of the Lu ...
in 1957, Volgograd
Volgograd ( rus, Волгогра́д, a=ru-Volgograd.ogg, p=vəɫɡɐˈɡrat), geographical renaming, formerly Tsaritsyn (russian: Цари́цын, Tsarítsyn, label=none; ) (1589–1925), and Stalingrad (russian: Сталингра́д, Stal ...
(the World War II 'Stalingrad') in 1984, Algiers
Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques ...
in 2004, and London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
in 2020. French towns display the decoration in their municipal coat of arms.
Organisations to receive the honour include the French Red Cross
The French Red Cross (french: Croix-Rouge française), or the CRF, is the national Red Cross Society in France founded in 1864 and originally known as the ''Société française de secours aux blessés militaires'' (SSBM). Recognized as a public u ...
(), the ( Abbey of ), the French National Railway Company (), the (Prefecture of Police of Paris
The police prefecture (french: préfecture de police) is the unit of the French Ministry of the Interior that provides police, emergency services, and various administrative services to the population of the city of Paris and the surrounding t ...
), and various (National (Elite) Colleges) and other educational establishments.
Military awards
The military distinctions () are awarded for bravery () or for service.
* award for extreme bravery: the is awarded jointly with a mention in dispatches
To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
. This is the top valour award in France. It is rarely awarded, mainly to soldiers who have died in battle.
* award for service: the is awarded without any citation.
=French service-members
=
For active-duty commissioned officers, the Legion of Honour award for service is achieved after 20 years of meritorious service, having been awarded the rank of of the . Bravery awards lessen the time needed for the award—in fact decorated servicemen become directly chevaliers of the , skipping the . NCOs almost never achieve that award, except for the most heavily decorated service members.
=Collective military awards
=
Collective appointments can be made to military units. In the case of a military unit, its flag is decorated with the insignia of a knight, which is a different award from the . Twenty-one schools, mainly schools providing reserve officers during the World Wars, were awarded the Légion d'Honneur. Foreign military units can be decorated with the order, such as the U.S. Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...
.
The Flag or Standard of the following units was decorated with the Cross of a Knight of the Legion of Honour:
* 1st Foreign Regiment
The 1st Foreign Regiment (french: 1er Régiment étranger, 1er RE) and the 2nd Foreign infantry Regiment are the original and most senior founding regiments of the Foreign Legion in the French Army.
The regiment is also responsible for running sp ...
* 1st Marine Artillery Regiment
* 1st Marine Infantry Regiment
The 1st Marine Infantry Regiment (french: 1er Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine, 1er RIMa) is a French regiment heir of the colonial infantry. The regiment is one of the « quatre vieux » regiments of the Troupes de Marine, with the 2nd Marine ...
* 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
* 1st Photographic Technical Unit (USAAF
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
Forward-deployed Reconnaissance Unit)
* 1st Parachute Regiment
* 1st Regiment of African
* 1st Regiment of Algerian
* 1st Regiment of Riflemen
* 1st Regiment of Senegalese
* 1st Train Regiment
* 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (french: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP) is the only airborne regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. It is one of the four infantry regiments of the 11th Parachute Brigade and part o ...
* 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment
The 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment (french: 2e Régiment d'Infanterie de Marine, 2e RIMa) is an infantry regiment of the Troupes de marine in the French Army, the only regiment to bear 16 battle honours inscriptions of the regimental colors. The re ...
* 2nd Regiment of Algerian
* 2nd Regiment of
* 3rd Algerian Infantry Regiment
* 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment
The 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (french: 3e Régiment étranger d'infanterie, 3e REI) is an infantry regiment of the Foreign Legion in the French Army. The regiment is stationed in French Guiana. Its mission includes the protection of the C ...
* 3rd Regiment of
* 4th Tunisian Tirailleurs Regiment
* 4th Regiment of
* Joint 4th Regiment of and
* 7th Algerian Infantry Regiment
* 8th Infantry Regiment
* 8th Zouaves Regiment
* 9th Regiment of
* 11th Marine Artillery Regiment
* 23rd Infantry Regiment
* 23rd Marine Infantry Regiment
* 24th Marine Infantry Regiment
* 26th Infantry Regiment
* 30th Battalion of
* 43rd Marine Infantry Regiment
* 51st Infantry Regiment
* 57th Infantry Regiment
* 112th Line Infantry Regiment (French infantry regiment consisting of mostly Belgians, known as "The Victors of Raab
Raab is a market town (''Marktgemeinde'') in the district of Schärding in Upper Austria in Austria.
History
The village historically belonged to the Duchy of Bavaria until the Treaty of Teschen transferred the area to Austria in 1780. During t ...
")
* 137th Infantry Regiment
* 152nd Infantry Regiment
* 153rd Infantry Regiment
* 298th Infantry Regiment
* Fighter Squadron 1/30 Normandie-Niemen
* (Naval Infantry)
* Moroccan
* Paris Fire Brigade
The Paris Fire Brigade (french: Brigade des sapeurs-pompiers de Paris, BSPP) is a French Army unit which serves as the primary fire and rescue service for Paris, the city's inner suburbs and certain sites of national strategic importance.
The ...
* (Colonial Infantry Regiment of Morocco). Book of the regiment will be fighting its most decorated emblem of the French army.
Classes and insignia
The order has had five levels since the reign of King Louis XVIII, who restored the order in 1815. Since the reform, the following distinctions have existed:
* Three ranks:
** ' (Knight): badge worn on left breast suspended from ribbon
** ' (Officer): badge worn on left breast suspended from a ribbon with a rosette
** ' (Commander): badge around neck suspended from ribbon necklet
* Two dignities:
** ' (Grand Officer): badge worn on left breast suspended from a ribbon, with star displayed on right breast
** ' (Grand Cross), formerly ', ', or ': the highest level; badge affixed to sash worn over the right shoulder, with star displayed on left breast
The ''badge'' of the is shaped as a five-armed "Maltese Asterisk
The asterisk ( ), from Late Latin , from Ancient Greek , ''asteriskos'', "little star", is a typographical symbol. It is so called because it resembles a conventional image of a heraldic star.
Computer scientists and mathematicians often voc ...
", using five distinctive "arrowhead" shaped arms inspired by the Maltese Cross
The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically.
It is a heraldic cross variant which developed f ...
. The badge is rendered in gilt (in silver for chevalier) enameled white, with an enameled laurel
Laurel may refer to:
Plants
* Lauraceae, the laurel family
* Laurel (plant), including a list of trees and plants known as laurel
People
* Laurel (given name), people with the given name
* Laurel (surname), people with the surname
* Laurel (mus ...
and oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
wreath between the arms. The obverse central disc is in gilt, featuring the head of Marianne
Marianne () has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty.
Marianne is displayed i ...
, surrounded by the legend ' on a blue enamel ring. The reverse central disc is also in gilt, with a set of crossed ', surrounded by the Légion's motto ' (Honour and Country) and its foundation date on a blue enamel ring. The badge is suspended by an enameled laurel and oak wreath.
The ''star'' (or ') is worn by the Grand Cross (in gilt on the left chest) and the Grand Officer (in silver on the right chest) respectively; it is similar to the badge, but without enamel, and with the wreath replaced by a cluster of rays in between each arm. The central disc features the head of Marianne
Marianne () has been the national personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, as a personification of liberty, equality, fraternity and reason, as well as a portrayal of the Goddess of Liberty.
Marianne is displayed i ...
, surrounded by the legend ' (French Republic) and the motto '.
The ''ribbon
A ribbon or riband is a thin band of material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily as decorative binding and tying. Cloth ribbons are made of natural materials such as silk, cotton, and jute and of synthetic mater ...
'' for the medal is plain red.
The badge or star is not usually worn, except at the time of the decoration ceremony or on a dress uniform
Full dress uniform, also known as a ceremonial dress uniform or parade dress uniform, is the most formal type of uniforms used by military, police, fire and other public uniformed services for official parades, ceremonies, and receptions, incl ...
or formal wear
Formal wear or full dress is the Western dress code category applicable for the most formal occasions, such as weddings, Baptism, christenings, confirmations, funerals, Easter traditions, Easter and Christmas traditions, in addition to certain ...
. Instead, one normally wears the ribbon or rosette on their suit.
For less formal occasions, recipients wear a simple stripe of thread sewn onto the lapel (red for and , silver for ). Except when wearing a dark suit with a lapel, women instead typically wear a small lapel pin called a barrette. Recipients purchase the special thread and barrettes at a store in Paris near the Palais Royal.
Gallery
File:Chevalier-legion-dhonneur-empire-1804.jpg, Original ' insignia (1804).
File:Chevalier-legion-dhonneur-empire.jpg, Late Empire ' insignia: the front features Napoleon's profile and the rear, the imperial Eagle. An imperial crown joins the cross and the ribbon.
File:Chevalier-legion-dhonneur-LouisXVIII-1814.jpg, Louis XVIII
Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. He spent twenty-three years in ...
era (1814) Knight insignia: the front features Henry IV's profile and the rear, the arms of the French Kingdom (three '). A royal crown joins the cross and the ribbon.
File:Chevalier-legion-dhonneur-2e-republique.jpg, Rear of a Republican cross, with two crossed French flags.
File:Chevalier-legion-dhonneur-republique.jpg, Fifth Republic Knight insignia: the centre features Marianne's head. A crown of laurels joins the cross and the ribbon.
File:Offizierskreuz.jpg, Fifth Republic officer class, decorated with a rosette.
File:Legion Honneur CKS plaque p1090335.jpg, Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
's ' plaque. In his day, the plaque was made of silver.
File:Legion Honneur CKS p1090334.jpg, Chiang Kai-shek's '. This is the reverse of his Grand Cross.
File:Legion d honneur 1.jpg, The insignia of a Grand Cross. Nowadays the star of a Grand Cross is gilt. The silver star is the Grand Officer's badge.
File:Legion of Honor - Knight.JPG, Charles Lindbergh
Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...
's Legion of Honour.
File:Legion dHonneur mg 3440.jpg, Insignia with figure of Henry IV.
File:Legion dHonneur mg 3456.jpg, Certificate of the Order of the Legion of Honour.
File:Certificate - ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR.jpg, Certificate for Major G M Reeves, a British recipient in 1958.
File:Commandeur de l'Ordre de la Légion d'Honneur avers.jpg, Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honour.
File:Grand--croix--légion--d'honneur.jpg, Rosette flanked both sides in gold, denoting the wearer has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
File:Legion d’Honneur Grand Cross - Third Republic c.1871.png, Set of the Grand Cross from the Third Republic, c.1871 consisting of sash, badge, star and original case of issue by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils of Paris.
File:Legion d’Honneur Grand Cross - Third Republic set.png, Set of the Grand Cross from the Third Republic, c.1871 consisting of sash, badge, star, two rosettes and original case of issue by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils of Paris.
File:Badge of the French Legion d’Honneur - Third Republic (Obverse).png, Grand Cross badge of the Legion d’Honneur, in gold by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils, from the Third Republic (Obverse).
File:Badge of the French Legion d’Honneur - Third Republic (Reverse).png, Grand Cross badge of the Legion d’Honneur, in gold by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils, from the Third Republic (Reverse).
File:Grand Cross Breast Star of the Legion d’Honneur - Third Republic.png, Grand Cross Breast Star of the Legion d’Honneur - Third Republic, c.1871 by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils Paris.
File:Fourragère--légion--d'honneur.jpg, The Fourragère of the Legion of Honor
File:Grand croix de la légion d'honneur.jpg, The Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor
File:Grand--croix--légion--d'honneur--vareuse d'uniforme.jpg
File:Grand--officier--légion d'honneur.jpg
File:Commandeur--légion d'honneur--boutonnières.jpg
File:C--légion d'honneur.jpg
File:Officier--de--la--légion--d'honneur.jpg, The insignia of an officer class of the Legion d’Honneur from the current Fifth Republic.
See also
* List of recipients by name
* List of British recipients of the for the Crimean War
* List of foreign recipients of the
* '
* Ribbons of the French military and civil awards This is a list of the ribbons of the French military and civil awards.
French national orders
French ministerial orders
French military decorations
Medals of Honor
French commemorative awards
Other awards
Order of precedence
Official ...
References and notes
Notes
Citations
External links
Official website
''Code de la légion d'honneur et de la médaille militaire''
legifrance.gouv.fr
on the website of the French Ministry of Culture
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legion of Honour
1802 establishments in France
Awards established in 1802
Civil awards and decorations of France
French awards
Military awards and decorations of France
Orders of chivalry of France