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Legion of Honour

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French Legion of Honor

The Légion d'honneur (in English: Legion of Honor) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. First instituted by Emperor Napoleon I on May 19, 1802, it is one of the most prestigious French awards and the country's highest civilian honor. This Order replaces the previous Orders of Saint Michael, The Holy Spirit, Saint Lazarus, Saint Louis and Mount Carmel.

Description

The order is conferred upon men and women, either French citizens or foreigners, for outstanding achievements in military or civil life. In practice, in current usage, the order is conferred to many entrepreneurs, high-level civil servants, sport champions as well as other people with high connections in the executive.

According to some sources, Napoleon declared: On appelle ça des hochets, je sais, on l'a dit déjà. Et bien, j'ai répondu que c'est avec des hochets que l'on mène les hommes. — "These are called [trinkets], I know, it has already been said. Well, I answered that it's with [trinkets] that you lead people." (the actual word hochet means a child's rattle).

Composition

The President of France is the Grand Master of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order--by convention, on the advice of the Government. Following Continental practice (unlike the British orders), the Legion of Honour has no Sovereign.

The Order has a maximum quota of 75 Knights Grand Cross, 250 Knights Grand Officers, 1 250 Knights Commanders, 10 000 Officers and 113 425 (ordinary) Knights. As of 2000 the actual membership is at 61, 321, 3 626 , 22 401 and 87 371 Knights, respectively. Appointments of veterans of World War II, French military personnel involved in the North African Campaign and other foreign French military operations, as well as invalid soldiers are made independently of the quota.

The Order has two principal officers--the Chancellor and the Secretary-General.

Insignia

  • The badge of the Legion is a five-armed 'Maltese Asterisk' (for want of a better description - see Maltese Cross) in gilt (in silver for chevalier) enamelled white, with an enamelled laurel and oak wreath between the arms. The obverse central medallion is a personification of the French Republic with the legend République Française on a blue enamel ring. The reverse central medallion is a set of crossed tricolores with the Legion's motto Honneur et patrie (Honour and Fatherland) and its foundation date on a blue enamel ring. The badge is suspended by a enamelled laurel and oak wreath.
  • The ribbon for the badge is plain red; it is worn as a sash on the right shoulder for Grand Cross, around the neck for Commander, on the left chest with rosette for Grand Officer and Officer, and on the left chest without rosette for Chevalier.
  • The star (or 'plaque') is worn by Grand Cross (in gilt on the left chest) and Grand Officer (in silver on the right chest) respectively; it is similar to be badge, but without enamel, and with the wreath replaced by a cluster of rays in between each arm. The central medallion is a personification of the French Republic with the legend République Française and the motto 'Honneur et patrie'.

Museum of the Legion of Honor

The Musée national de la Legion d'Honneur can be found at:

2, rue Bellechasse
F-75007 Paris
Open daily (except on Mondays) 02-05 pm
RER: Musée d'Orsay (opposite the main entrance of the Musée d'Orsay)

See also

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