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The Legion of Honour: France's Super Award!

Imagine a special medal for super brave and important people in France – that's the Legion of Honour!

Images

Michel Schifres receives the medal of Knight of Legion of Honour in Paris, on September 30th, 2004. Photo by Lucas Schifres

Michel Schifres receives the medal of Knight of Legion of Honour in Paris, on September 30th, 2004. Photo by Lucas Schifres

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Order of the Legion of Honour star (France 1830-1848) - Tallinn Museum of Orders
Legion of Honour - Officer (France)
The Museum of the Order of the Legion of Honour, Paris
Napoleon is depicted as King of Italy. He wears the 'Grand Aigle' (collar) of his (French) Legion of Honour and the sash and star of the Order of the Iron Crown
Legion of Honour - Commander (France)
Order of the Legion of Honour star (France 1804-1814) - Tallinn Museum of Orders
Legion of Honour - Knight (France)
Wincenty Danilewicz French Order of Legion of Honour, 1814
Legion of Honour - Grand Officer (France)
Legion of Honour - Grand Cross (France)
HRH Crown Prince Alexander II with Legion of Honour

Key Facts

Award Type
France's highest national order of merit, for military and civil achievements.
Established
1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Number of Classes
Five different levels of distinction.
Motto
Honour and Fatherland.

What's This Fancy Medal?

The Legion of Honour is like France's biggest 'Good Job!' award. It's given to people who do amazing things for their country, whether they're soldiers fighting bravely or scientists making cool discoveries. It's a very special medal that shows France is super proud of them. Think of it as the ultimate sticker for being awesome!

Who Started This Awesome Award?

A long, long time ago, in 1802, a famous leader named Napoleon Bonaparte wanted a way to thank people who helped France. So, he created the Legion of Honour! It's been around for so long that many different leaders have kept it going. It’s like a tradition that’s older than your grandparents' grandparents!

Why Is It So Important?

This award is a HUGE deal in France. It's the highest honor they can give, meaning it's the most special. Getting it means you've done something truly remarkable for France. It's like winning the biggest prize at the Olympics for your country! It tells everyone, 'This person is a hero!'

Levels of Awesome!

The Legion of Honour isn't just one medal; it has different levels, like climbing a ladder of greatness! There are five steps: Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer, and the very top one, Grand Cross. Each level means you've done even more amazing things. It’s like getting different badges for being super good at different things!

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Based on content from Wikipedia · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0