Legion of Honour: Difference between revisions

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| caption = Current version of the Grand Cross of the order given by President [[René Coty]] to Dutch Prime Minister [[Willem Drees]]

The '''National Order of the Legion of Honour''' ({{lang-fr|Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur}} {{IPA-|fr|ɔʁdʁ nɑsjɔnal də la leʒjɔ̃ dɔnœʁ||LL-Q150 (fra)-Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick-ordre national de la Légion d'honneur.wav}}), formerly the '''RoyalImperial Order of the Legion of Honour''' ({{lang|fr|Ordre royalimpérial de la Légion d'honneur}}), is the highest French [[order of merit]], both [[military]] and [[Civil society|civil]], and currently comprises five classes. Established in 1802 by [[Napoleon|Napoleon Bonaparte]], it has been retained (with occasional slight alterations) by all later French governments and regimes.

[[File:Jean-François Arsène Klobb.jpg|thumb|[[Jean-François Arsène Klobb]] receipentrecipient of the Legion of Honour]]

[[File:111-SC-38214 - NARA - 55235582-cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Philippe Pétain]] and [[John J. Pershing]] were decorated with the ''{{lang|fr|Grand-croix''}} of the Legion of Honor, as were several US generals with the ''{{lang|fr|Commandeur''}} and ''{{lang|fr|Chevalier''}} medal shortly after World War I, in 1919.]]

The Grand Chancery is headed by the Grand Chancellor (''{{lang|fr|grand chancelier''}}), usually a retired general, as well as the Secretary-General (''{{lang|fr|secrétaire général''}}), a civilian administrator.

The Grand Chancery also regulates the [[National Order of Merit (France)|National Order of Merit]] and the ''{{lang|fr|[[médaille militaire]]}}'' (Military Medal). There are several structures funded by and operated under the authority of the Grand Chancery, like the [[Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur|Legion of Honour Schools]] (''{{lang|fr|Maisons d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur}}'') and the [[Musée de la Légion d'honneur|Legion of Honour Museum]] (''{{lang|fr|Musée de la Légion d'honneur}}''). The Legion of Honour Schools are élite boarding schools in {{lang|fr|[[Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis|Saint-Denis]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|fr|Camp des Loges|italic=no}} in the forest of {{lang|fr|[[Saint-Germain-en-Laye]]|italic=no}}. Study there is restricted to daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters of members of the order, the ''{{lang|fr|[[médaille militaire]]}}'' or the ''{{lang|fr|[[ordre national du Mérite]]}}''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melh.info/spip.php?rubrique4|title=Modalités d'admission|website=Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225155804/http://www.melh.info/spip.php?rubrique4|archive-date=25 December 2013}}</ref>

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.<ref name=France24/> The composers [[Maurice Ravel]] and [[Charles Koechlin]], for example, declined the award when it was offered to them.<ref name=grove>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Kelly |first=Barbara L. |author-link=Barbara L. Kelly |year=2001 |encyclopedia=[[Grove Music Online]] |title=Ravel, (Joseph) Maurice |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=Oxford |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.52145 |isbn=978-1-56159-263-0 |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-0000052145 }} {{Grove Music subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Orledge, p.|first=Robert |author-link=Robert Orledge |year=1989 |title=Charles Koechlin (1867–1950): His Life and Works |page=16|publisher=[[Psychology Press]] |location=London |isbn=978-3-7186-0609-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/charleskoechlin10001orle |url-access=registration }}</ref>

[[File:Wearing of the insignia of the Légion d'honneur (gentlemens).svg|thumb|upright=3.2|center|The five classes wearing their respective insignia (gentlemen): 1: ''{{lang|fr|Chevalier}}''; 2: ''{{lang|fr|Officier}}''; 3: ''{{lang|fr|Commandeur}}''; 4: ''{{lang|fr|Grand-officier}}''; 5: ''{{lang|fr|Grand-croix}}'']]

** ''{{lang|fr|Chevalier}}'' (Knight): badge worn on left breast suspended from ribbon

** ''{{lang|fr|Officier}}'' (Officer): badge worn on left breast suspended from a ribbon with a [[rosette (decoration)|rosette]]

** ''{{lang|fr|Commandeur}}'' (Commander): badge around neck suspended from ribbon necklet

** ''{{lang|fr|Grand officier}}'' (Grand Officer): badge worn on left breast suspended from a ribbon (Officer), with star displayed on right breast

** ''{{lang|fr|Grand-croix}}'' (Grand Cross), formerly ''{{lang|fr|Grande décoration}}'', ''{{lang|fr|Grand aigle}}'', or ''{{lang|fr|Grand cordon}}'': the highest level; badge affixed to sash worn over the right shoulder, with star displayed on left breast

The ''badgestar'' of the(or {{lang|fr|Légionplaque}}) is shapedworn asby athe five-armedGrand "MalteseCross [[Asterisk]]",(in usinggilt fiveon distinctivethe "arrowhead"left shapedchest) arms inspired byand the [[MalteseGrand CrossOfficer (symbol)|Maltesein Cross]].silver Theon badgethe isright renderedchest) inrespectively; [[gilding|gilt]]it (inis silversimilar forto chevalier)the enameledbadge, but whitewithout enamel, and with anthe enameledwreath [[laurelreplaced wreath|laurel]]by anda [[oak]]cluster wreathof rays in between theeach armsarm. The obverse central disc is in gilt, featuringfeatures the head of [[Marianne]], surrounded by the legend ''{{lang|fr|République Française}}'' on a blue enamel ring. The reverse central disc is also in gilt, with a set of crossed (''{{lang|fr|[[flagFrench of France|tricolores]]}}Republic'',) surrounded byand the Légion's motto ''{{lang|fr|Honneur et Patrie}}''.<ref>{{cite (Honourweb and|title=The Country)Legion andof itsHonor foundationin date10 onquestions a blue enamel ring|url=http://www.legiondhonneur.fr/en/page/legion-honor-10-questions/406 |publisher=The badgeGrand isChancery suspendedof bythe anLegion enameledof laurelHonour and|access-date=18 oakSeptember wreath.2017}}</ref>

For less formal occasions, recipients wear a simple stripe of thread sewn onto the lapel (red for {{Lang|fr|chevaliers}} and {{Lang|fr|officiers}}, silver for {{Lang|fr|commandeurs}}). 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]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Donadio |first=Rachel |date=11 May 2008 |title=That Isn't Lint on My Lapel, I'm an Officier |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/fashion/11chevalier.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=7 August 2020}}</ref>

|The very first model of the Legion d'Honneur did not hang from a crown or wreath. It lasted for just 9 months from May 1804 until February 1805 and encompassed the founding of the [[First French Empire]] on the 18th May 1804. Despite being officially established on 19th19 May 1802, no awards were made until this version. This version shows the [[Emperor of the French|Emperor]] on the obverse and the imperial eagle on the reverse. The text on the ring on both the obverse and reverse would remain the same during the entirety of [[Napoleon|Napoleon's]] reign.

|[[First French Empire|1806-18081806–1808]]

|[[First French Empire|1808-18091808–1809]]

|[[First French Empire|1809-18141809–1814]]

|The fifth and final version of the First Empire is different from the other versions by the execution of larger text on the rings, with the reverse showing a distinct wreath like object at the bottom. The obverse on some models shows and enamelled [[laurel wreath]] adorning the Emperors head, while on the reverse the eagle is back facing left. The crown is also radically different from the previous models.

|[[Bourbon Restoration in France|1814-18301814–1830]]

|The sixth model from the [[Bourbon Restoration in France|Bourbon Restoration]] period marks the first major alteration from the original design, due to the fact that the [[Kingdom of France|regime]] and leader of France had changed. The crown the cross hangs from has been altered and also features the main symbol of the [[House of Bourbon]]; the [[Fleurfleur-de-lis]]. The obverse features the profile of "The Good King" [[Henry IV of France|Henri IV]] with the text of the ring bearing the words; Henry IV, King of France and the [[Kingdom of Navarre|Navarre]]. The reverse keeps the text of the previous versions; "Honour{{lang|fr|Honneur andet Fatherland"Patrie}} and depicts the three Fleurfleurs-de-lis, the symbol of the Bourbons.

|[[July Monarchy|1830-18481830–1848]]

|The seventh model from the [[July Monarchy]] period is similar to the previous Bourbon Restoration period. The crown is very similar, with just the Fleurfleur-de-lis omitted, the obverse keeps the profile of Henri IV but the obverse ring bears just his name, with the rest of the ring filled with stars and a wreath. The reverse bears the first depiction of what would continue for many future iterations; the two crossed [[Tricolour|tricolours]] with the usual reverse ring motto "{{lang|fr|Honneur et Patrie"}}.

|[[French Second Republic|1848-18511848–1851]]

|The eighth model, used for only three years during the [[French Second Republic|Second Republic]] is the only other example apart from the very first model to not have any hanging device (no crown/wreath). The obverse once again shows a portrait of Napoleon, with the text sayingreading "Bonaparte [[French Consulate|First Consul]]" and the date of the order's founding; 19th19 May 1802. The reverse shows the crossed tricolours as before, however this time the "{{lang|fr|Honneur et Patrie}} is written underneath and not on the ring, the first and only time this was the case. The reverse ring instead reads "{{lang|fr|République Française"}} which would later feature on the obverse ring.

|[[French Second Republic|1851-18521851–1852]]

|The ninth or {{lang|fr|[[Napoleon III|"La Presidence"]]}} model was only used between 1851 and 1852 and is considered by some to be a hybrid model. It is at the very least a transitional model from the design used during the Second Republic to the [[Second French Empire|Second Empire]]. The execution of the cross is very similar to Second Republic models, just with the addition of a crown (different to that of the Second Empire models) while the obverse continues to show Napoleon, with the ring text of "{{lang|fr|Napoleon Emp. des Français"}}. The reverse shows the imperial eagle and the usual ring text. The central discs bear a striking resemblance to the fifth model.

|[[Second French Empire|1852-18701852–1870]]

|The tenth model used in the Second Empire would be the last to date to use either Napoleon's image or a crown of any sort. The crown used is quite unique and resembles the [[Crown of Napoleon III]], while the obverse shows the Napoleon I with the ring text of "{{lang|fr|Napoleon Empereur des Français"}} (the only model to fully spell out Emperor). The reverse shows the usual imperial eagle, though this time facing right like the fourth model. The usual reverse ring text is present with a large wreath at the bottom.

|[[French Third Republic|1870-19401870–1940]]

|The eleventh model created for the [[French Third Republic|Third French Republic]] would be another radical change, and the first to show much of the symbolism of today's model. It was the first model to hang from a wreath of laurel and oak leaves, and the first to feature the profile of [[Marianne]] on the obverse. The ring on the obverse reads; "{{lang|fr|République Française"}}, the first since the early Second Republic and the first time on the obverse, with the date [[1870 in France|1870]]. The back features the tricolours and the usual text of Honour{{lang|fr|Honneur andet FatherlandPatrie}}, in a design almost identical to the seventh model used during the July Monarchy.

|[[France|1946-1946–]]

|The twelfth12th, final and current version is almost identical to the eleventh11th. The only differences are found on the ring of the obverse, where the date of 1870, the Third Republic's founding, is replaced with a star. The reverse is also almost identical, with just the wreath at the bottom of the ring being replaced with "{{lang|fr|29 Floréal an X" }} (29th[[French Republican calendar|29 Floréal Year 10]]), the date of the order's founding (19th19 May 1802) in the [[French Republican calendar|French Revolutionary Calendar]]. Except for these changes the {{lang|fr|Legion d'Honneur}} has remained unchanged from 1870, with this exact form being kept during both the [[French Fourth Republic|Fourth]] and current [[French Fifth Republic|Fifth Republic]].