Home > Légion d'honneur

1 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).

2 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 Knights Grand Cross, 321 Knights Grand Officers, 3 626 Knights Commanders, 22 401 Officers and 87 371 Knights. 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.

3 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 laurelThe name Laurel is widely used in English, once being a moderately common name typically for girls; also as Laurie''. Following are other uses of Laurel Many trees and shrubs are called Laurel . Bay laurel, botanically Laurus nobilis the original True lau and oakThis article is about oak trees and shrubs. OAK is also the three-letter IATA airport code for Oakland International Airport in Oakland, California USA. See also Oak, Nebraska, USA. See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the commo 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 ribbonA ribbon is a thin band of flexible material, typically cloth but also plastic or sometimes metal, used primarily for binding and tying. Cloth (esp. silk) ribbons are often used in connection with dress, but also applied for innumerable useful, ornamental 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'.