Legion of Honour facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Order of the Legion of Honour |
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Current version of the Grand Cross of the order given by President René Coty to Dutch Prime Minister Willem Drees
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| Awarded by President of France | |
| Type | Order of merit |
| Established | 19 May 1802 |
| Country | France |
| Motto | Honneur et patrie ("Honour and Fatherland") |
| Eligibility | Military and civilians |
| Awarded for |
Excellent civil or military conduct
delivered, upon official investigation |
| Founder | Napoleon Bonaparte |
| Grand Master | Emmanuel Macron, President of France |
| Grand Chancellor | François Lecointre |
| Secretary-General | Julien Le Gars |
| Classes |
(in 2010)
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| Statistics | |
| First induction | 15 July 1804 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | None |
| Next (lower) |
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Ribbon bars of the order |
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The National Order of the Legion of Honour is France's highest award for special achievements. It is given to both military members and civilians. Napoleon Bonaparte created this award in 1802. Since then, all French governments have kept it, with only small changes.
The order's motto is Honneur et Patrie, which means "Honour and Fatherland." Its main office is in the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur in Paris. The Legion of Honour has five different levels, each showing a higher level of recognition.
Contents
History of the Legion of Honour
How the Award Started
During the French Revolution, all old French awards for knights were stopped. Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then the First Consul of France, wanted a new way to reward people. He wanted to honor both everyday citizens and soldiers for their great actions.
So, Napoleon created the Légion d'honneur. He wanted it to be a way to recognize merit, not just for noble families. However, it did use some ideas from older French awards, like the Ordre de Saint-Louis. The Legion of Honour's badge even looks a bit like the old Ordre de Saint-Louis badge, and both use a red ribbon.
Napoleon famously said, "You call these baubles, well, it is with baubles that men are led." He believed that people are motivated by glory and recognition.
This award was special because it was the first modern "order of merit." Before, many awards were only for certain religions or noblemen. Military awards were often just for officers. But the Légion d'honneur was open to everyone, no matter their rank or job. Only their bravery or good deeds mattered. It was also a non-religious award, unlike many older ones.
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Changes Over Time
The design of the Legion of Honour has changed many times throughout history. This is because France itself changed governments often, from empires to monarchies and republics. Each new government would update the award to fit its own symbols and leaders.
For example, when Napoleon became Emperor, the award showed his image and an imperial eagle. Later, when kings returned to power, the image of a king and symbols like the fleur-de-lis (a lily symbol) appeared on the badge. When France became a republic again, the image of Marianne (a symbol of the French Republic) and the French flag were used.
The headquarters of the Legion of Honour, the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur, was burned down in 1871 during an uprising. Sadly, many important records of the order were lost then.
During World War I, many awards were given out, including to foreigners. After 1918, it became possible to give the award to people after they had died, which was not allowed before.
The current design of the Legion of Honour has been mostly the same since 1870. The only small changes were made in 1946.
- The Legion of Honour under the Empire
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First Légion d'Honneur investiture, 15 July 1804, at Saint-Louis des Invalides by Jean-Baptiste Debret (1812)
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A depiction of Napoleon making some of the first awards of the Legion of Honour, at a camp near Boulogne on 16 August 1804
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Embroidered insignia of the Legion of Honour, detail of Napoleon's uniform of colonel of the Chasseurs à cheval of the Imperial Guard
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How the Legion of Honour Works
Who Leads the Order?
The Legion of Honour is a national organization in France. The President of France is always the Grand Master of the order. This means they are the highest leader. Currently, Emmanuel Macron is the Grand Master.
The President chooses all new members of the order. They get advice from the French government. The Grand Master wears a special "Grand Collar" as their symbol.
The daily work of the order is handled by the Grand Chancery. This office is led by a Grand Chancellor, usually a retired general, and a Secretary-General. They also manage other French awards.
The Grand Chancery runs special schools called the Legion of Honour Schools. These are boarding schools for the daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of people who have received the Legion of Honour or other similar awards. There is also a Legion of Honour Museum where you can learn more about the order.
Who Can Join?
There are five levels, or classes, in the Legion of Honour:
- Chevalier (Knight): This is the first level. You need at least 20 years of public service or 25 years of professional work with "excellent merits."
- Officier (Officer): To reach this level, you must have been a Knight for at least 8 years.
- Commandeur (Commander): You need to have been an Officer for at least 5 years.
- Grand officier (Grand Officer): You need to have been a Commander for at least 3 years.
- Grand-croix (Grand Cross): This is the highest level. You need to have been a Grand Officer for at least 3 years.
"Excellent merits" means doing your job perfectly and going above and beyond what is expected. This could include being creative, working hard, and helping others.
There are limits on how many people can be in each class. For example, there can only be 75 Grand Cross members. However, veterans from wars or wounded soldiers can be appointed outside these limits.
If a member is found guilty of a serious crime, they are automatically removed from the order.
French Citizens
French citizens, both men and women, can receive the Legion of Honour for "eminent merit" in their military or civilian lives. This includes business leaders, government workers, scientists, artists (like famous actors), and sports champions. All Olympic Gold Medal winners from France receive the Legion of Honour.
Usually, French citizens start at the Knight level. To move up, they need to do more great things for France and wait a certain number of years. However, since 2008, people with "extraordinary careers" can sometimes enter at higher levels. For example, Simone Veil, a famous politician and Holocaust survivor, was the first person to enter at the Grand Officer level in 2009.
Some people choose to decline the award when it's offered, like the composers Maurice Ravel and Charles Koechlin.
Non-French Recipients
Even though it's mainly for French citizens, people from other countries can also receive the Legion of Honour. This happens if they have helped France or supported its values. Foreign leaders and their spouses often receive the Grand Cross as a special honor. American and British veterans who fought in World War I or World War II on French land can also be eligible.
Group Awards
Cities, organizations, or companies can also receive the Legion of Honour. For example, 64 French cities have been honored, as well as six foreign cities like London and Volgograd. When a city gets this award, it can display the Legion of Honour symbol on its city coat of arms.
Other groups that have received the award include the French Red Cross and the French National Railway Company.
Military Awards
Military awards of the Legion of Honour are given for bravery in battle or for long, excellent service.
- For extreme bravery: The Legion of Honour is given along with a "mention in dispatches." This is France's highest award for bravery and is often given to soldiers who died in battle.
- For service: The award is given for 20 years of excellent service. Soldiers who show great bravery can receive the Legion of Honour directly, even if they haven't served that long.
When a military unit receives the award, its flag is decorated with the Knight's insignia. Many French military units have been honored this way, as well as some foreign units like the U.S. Military Academy.
Classes and Insignia
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The Legion of Honour has five levels, or classes, each with its own special badge:
- Chevalier (Knight): The badge is worn on the left side of the chest, hanging from a red ribbon.
- Officier (Officer): The badge is worn on the left side of the chest, hanging from a red ribbon with a small red flower (a rosette).
- Commandeur (Commander): The badge is worn around the neck, hanging from a red ribbon.
- Grand officier (Grand Officer): The badge is worn on the left side of the chest (like an Officer), and a silver star is worn on the right side of the chest.
- Grand-croix (Grand Cross): This is the highest level. The badge is attached to a wide red sash worn over the right shoulder, and a gold star is worn on the left side of the chest.
The badge of the Legion looks like a five-pointed star with "arrowhead" shaped arms. It is usually gold (or silver for Knights) and has white enamel. Between the arms, there's a green wreath of laurel and oak leaves.
The front of the badge has a gold circle with the head of Marianne, who represents the French Republic. Around her, it says République Française (French Republic) on a blue ring. The back of the badge has crossed French flags and the motto Honneur et Patrie (Honour and Fatherland) with the founding date on a blue ring.
The star (or plaque) is worn by Grand Officers and Grand Cross members. It looks like the badge but without enamel, and instead of a wreath, it has rays of light between the arms. The center of the star also shows Marianne and the motto.
The ribbon for the medal is plain red.
People usually don't wear the full badge or star every day. Instead, they wear a small red ribbon or rosette on their clothing. For less formal times, they might wear a simple red thread sewn onto their lapel.
| Historical Era/Period | Notes | Obverse | Reverse | Hanging Device |
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| 1804 | The first design of the Legion of Honour did not hang from a crown or wreath. It was used for only 9 months. This version shows Napoleon on the front and the imperial eagle on the back. |  |
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| 1805 | This second design added an imperial crown on top of the cross. The image of the Emperor is a bit smaller. |  |
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| 1806-1808 | This third design is similar to the second, but Napoleon's image is more like the first version. The crown is now separate and hangs above the cross. |  |
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| 1808-1809 | The fourth design shows a slightly different Napoleon. The eagle on the back faces right, which is unique for this period. The crown is also very different. |  |
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| 1809-1814 | The fifth and final design from the First Empire has larger text on the rings. The eagle on the back faces left again. The crown is also very different from earlier models. |  |
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| 1814-1830 | This sixth design came after the Bourbon kings returned. It was a big change. The crown now includes the Fleur-de-lis (lily symbol) of the Bourbon family. The front shows King Henri IV. |  |
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| 1830-1848 | The seventh design from the July Monarchy kept King Henri IV on the front. The back shows two crossed tricolour flags for the first time, which would become a common feature. |  |
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| 1848-1851 | This eighth design was used for only three years. It did not have a crown or wreath. The front shows Napoleon again, and the back shows the crossed tricolour flags. |  |
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| 1851-1852 | This ninth design was a short-lived "hybrid" model. It added a crown back to the design. The front still showed Napoleon, and the back showed the imperial eagle. |  |
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| 1852-1870 | The tenth design, used during the Second Empire, was the last to feature Napoleon's image or any crown. The crown used was unique. The eagle on the back faced right. |  |
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| 1870-1940 | This eleventh design was a big change and looks much like today's award. It was the first to hang from a wreath of laurel and oak leaves. The front shows Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic. |  |
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| 1946- | This twelfth, and current, design is almost the same as the eleventh. The only differences are on the front, where the date "1870" is replaced with a star. The back also has the original founding date in the French Revolutionary Calendar. |  |
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Images for kids
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Original Légionnaire insignia, the first ever model (1804)
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Late Empire Légionnaire insignia: the front features Napoleon's profile and the rear, the imperial Eagle. An imperial crown joins the cross and the ribbon.
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Louis XVIII era (1814) Knight insignia: the front features Henry IV's profile and the rear, the arms of the French Kingdom (three fleurs-de-lis). A royal crown joins the cross and the ribbon.
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Reverse of a Second Republic cross, with two crossed French flags
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The insignia of an officer class of the Legion d'Honneur from the current Fifth Republic
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Fifth Republic officer class, decorated with a rosette
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Fifth Republic Knight insignia: the centre features Marianne's head. A crown of laurels joins the cross and the ribbon.
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Chiang Kai-shek's Légion d'honneur plaque. In his day, the plaque was not gilded in gold.
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Chiang Kai-shek's Légion d'honneur. This is the reverse of his Grand Cross.
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The insignia of a Grand Cross. Nowadays the star of a Grand Cross is gilt. The silver star is the Grand Officer's badge.
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Charles Lindbergh's Legion of Honour
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Insignia with figure of Henry IV
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Certificate of the Order of the Legion of Honour
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Certificate for Major G M Reeves, a British recipient in 1958
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The Grand Cross of the current version of the Legion of Honour
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Commander of the Order of the Legion of Honour
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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
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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
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Grand Cross badge of the Legion d'Honneur, in gold, by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils, from the Third Republic (Obverse)
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Grand Cross badge of the Legion d'Honneur, in gold, by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils, from the Third Republic (Reverse)
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Grand Cross Breast Star of the Legion d'Honneur – Third Republic, c. 1871, by Ouizille Lemoine et Fils Paris
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The Fourragère of the Legion of Honor
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Ribbon Bar of the Grand Cross of the order
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Ribbon Bar of the Grand Officer of the order
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Rosette flanked both sides in gold, denoting the wearer has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
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Rosette flanked both sides in silver, denoting the wearer has been awarded the Commander of the Legion of Honour
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Miniature of the order
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Second Empire Grand Cross star in diamonds
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See also
In Spanish: Legión de Honor para niños
- List of Légion d'honneur recipients by name
- List of British recipients of the Légion d'Honneur for the Crimean War
- List of foreign recipients of the Légion d'Honneur
- Musée national de la Légion d'honneur et des ordres de chevalerie
- Ribbons of the French military and civil awards
