LEGION OF HONOR, an order of merit instituted under the French republic in 1802 by the first consul, as a recompense for military and civil services. It was ostensibly founded for the protection of republican principles and the laws of equality, and for the abolition of differences of rack in society, every social grade being equally eligible; but its real aim doubtless was, by popularizing the idea of personal distinction, to pave the way for the establishment of the empire and of the more exclusive titles of nobility that were to accompany it. The proposal for its institution was at first violently opposed by the legislative body and the tribunate, on democratic grounds, and carried eventually by a narrow majority.
The order originally comprised three classes—grand officers, commanders, and legion aries. The class of grand officers was, on the coronation of Napoleon I., divided into knights of the grand eagle (the highest class), and grand officers. On the restoration of the legion was retained, but remodeled so as to lose much of its original character. The eagle was called a cross, and the effigy of Henry IV. replaced that of Napoleon. The knights of the grand eagle became grand crosses, the legionaries were transformed into knights, and the numerous educational institutions, founded by Napo leon for the children and relatives of the members of the order, were much reduced in scale. In 1837 a new military class called officers was admitted. Under the president ship of Louis Napoleon, part of the property of Louis Philippe, which had been restored to the state, was set apart as an endowment for the legion, and new regulations were made regarding the pensious of the different classes. 'I he original form of decoration N•as reintroduced, which under the second empire was somewhat modified. As worn then, it consisted of a cross of ten points of white enamel edged with gold, the points connected with a wreath of laurel proper, and in the center, with an azure circle charged with the words "Napoleon III., Empereur des Francais," was a head of the emperor.
The cross is ensigned by the imperial crown of France, and worn attached to a red rib bon. The grand officers also wore on the right breast a silver star charged with the imperial eagle. The same star was worn on the left breast by the knights grand cross, and their cross wa's attached to a broad red ribbon which passes over the right shoulder.
The vast numbers of this order, and the insignificance of many of the persons on whom it has been conferred, have detracted much from its value. The number of mem bers in 1872 was 69,179; but the law passed in that year. that only one new member should be added for every two vacancies, reduced the membership in the next five years (1877) to 59,208. The revenue of the college of the legion has been augmented by the addition of property belonging to Louis Philippe. Out of this fund pensions are paid to those members of the order who have served in the army or navy; the civilian members receive no pension. These pensions amounted in 1877 to the sum of R44.554. By the existing statutes, candidates in time of peace must have served in some military or civil capacity for 20 years; exploits in the field or severe wounds constitute a claim in time of war. Two distributions take place in the year. The nomination of military persons takes place on parade, and of civil in the courts of justice. No ignoble punishment can be inflicted on a member of the order so long as he belongs to it. To rise to a superior rank. it is indispensable, at least for natives of France, to have passed through the inferior grades.