The personal belongings of the commanders and monarchs of the countries participating in the war of 1812 are interesting museum exhibits. The full set of Napoleon Bonaparte’s orders fell into the hands of his conquerors after the Battle of Waterloo. A special place in it belongs to the star of the Legion of Honor established in 1802 at the initiative of the first consul and future emperor of all French. A new insignia was to fill the void formed after the abolition of all royal awards. Napoleon himself wrote on this occasion: “The French have only one feeling, honor, so we need to give food to this feeling; they need distinctions”.
At first, the idea was categorically rejected as contradicting the main revolutionary principle of universal equality. Therefore, the order was established as an organization uniting the most prominent French. The design of the insignia corresponds to the style of the Roman Empire and the medieval chivalric orders. In the charter, the words “reward” or “rewarding” never occur; the order was originally conceived precisely as an association of citizens who distinguished themselves by military exploits or achieved success in the civil service.
After Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor in 1804, the first 5,000 members were accepted into the order. After 4 years, reorganization took place, and five degrees of reward appeared: Cavaliers, Officers, Commanders, Senior Officers and Dignitaries. This structure has been preserved till this day. For two centuries, the awarding of the Order of the Legion of Honor remains a sign of recognition of special merits to France.
The order has lifelong membership. The awarded were named knights and this title was inherited. Of no less importance is the fact that they all received a lifetime pension, and their children received the right to preferential education in the best schools and universities in the country. In 1814, there were already 32,000 members of the order. Later, they had to limit their number so as not to drop the prestige of France’s highest award. Citizens of other states also became knights of the Order, including Russia and the USSR.
Knights of the Order pinned the small gold star on a red ribbon on the left side of the chest. The big silver star was worn by senior officers. The highest degree gave the right to a red ribbon worn over the shoulder and pinned on the left thigh with gold imperial eagle. On the chest, the dignitaries wore a large star with 10 rays covered with white enamel, framed by a wreath of oak leaves. In the center of the order, there shone a round golden bas-relief of the Emperor. Napoleon’s personal jeweler Marguerite made a star of this design for the Emperor. Bonaparte decorated his parade uniform with the order on the day of his coronation, and today we can see it in the museum.
At first, the idea was categorically rejected as contradicting the main revolutionary principle of universal equality. Therefore, the order was established as an organization uniting the most prominent French. The design of the insignia corresponds to the style of the Roman Empire and the medieval chivalric orders. In the charter, the words “reward” or “rewarding” never occur; the order was originally conceived precisely as an association of citizens who distinguished themselves by military exploits or achieved success in the civil service.
After Bonaparte was proclaimed Emperor in 1804, the first 5,000 members were accepted into the order. After 4 years, reorganization took place, and five degrees of reward appeared: Cavaliers, Officers, Commanders, Senior Officers and Dignitaries. This structure has been preserved till this day. For two centuries, the awarding of the Order of the Legion of Honor remains a sign of recognition of special merits to France.
The order has lifelong membership. The awarded were named knights and this title was inherited. Of no less importance is the fact that they all received a lifetime pension, and their children received the right to preferential education in the best schools and universities in the country. In 1814, there were already 32,000 members of the order. Later, they had to limit their number so as not to drop the prestige of France’s highest award. Citizens of other states also became knights of the Order, including Russia and the USSR.
Knights of the Order pinned the small gold star on a red ribbon on the left side of the chest. The big silver star was worn by senior officers. The highest degree gave the right to a red ribbon worn over the shoulder and pinned on the left thigh with gold imperial eagle. On the chest, the dignitaries wore a large star with 10 rays covered with white enamel, framed by a wreath of oak leaves. In the center of the order, there shone a round golden bas-relief of the Emperor. Napoleon’s personal jeweler Marguerite made a star of this design for the Emperor. Bonaparte decorated his parade uniform with the order on the day of his coronation, and today we can see it in the museum.
