Item number: M7

Year: AD 1851-1852

Material: Gold and Enamel

Size: 180.0 x 60.0 mm

Weight: 38.57 g

Provenance: Liverpool Medals 2022

This is the full size order of the Legion of the Honour of France, which belongs to the commander class. The Legion of Honour, instituted in AD 1802 during Napoleon Bonaparte’s first consulship, serves as a merit-based order designed to commend individuals—both military and civilian—for their outstanding service to the nation. Its inception aimed to reinforce the legitimacy of his rule, with conceptual roots traceable to Louis XIV’s establishment of the Order of Saint Louis and the Saint Louis Medal in AD 1693.

The Legion of Honour consists of five hierarchical ranks corresponding to military positions: Knight (chevalier), Officer (officier), Commander (commandeur), Grand Officer (grand officier), and Grand Cross (grand-croix). This particular medal is identified as the Commander‘s badge, discernible from the order’s material and the design of the upper clasp (where the ribbon is attached).

The obverse of the order features the portrait of Napoleon I, encircled by the inscription “Napoleon Empereur des Francais” (Napoleon Emperor of the French). The reverse side features the iconic symbol of the Napoleonic era—the eagle—surrounded by the inscription “Honneur et Patrie” (Honour and Fatherland). Encircling the central emblem is a white-enamelled five-pointed star, incorporating design elements from the Maltese cross and the insignia of the old French orders of chivalry. The surrounding elements include green enamel laurel leaves and oak leaves, with the top of the order adorned with a crown symbolizing royal authority.

This order traces its origins to the transitional period between the late Second Republic and the early Second Empire (AD 1851-1852). Following the overthrow of the July Monarchy in AD 1848, the French Second Republic was declared. Louis-Napoleon, who seized power through a coup, assumed the presidency and declared himself emperor in AD 1851, marking the commencement of the Second Empire, which endured for over 18 years.

The outer inscription on the obverse and the depiction of the eagle on the reverse of this order both manifest its authority and imperial nature. However, the arch shape of the crown retains the decorative motif of a trefoil, indicative of the characteristics of the First Empire era.

Napoleon I once said the following famous quote: 

“You call these baubles, well, it is with baubles that men are led… I don’t believe that the French people love liberty and equality; the French have not changed in ten years of revolution; they are what the Gauls were, proud and light. They have only one feeling, honor: therefore, one must feed that feeling, they need distinctions… Do you think that you would be able to make men fight by reasoning? Never. That is good only for the scholar in his study. The soldier needs glory, distinctions, rewards.” 

From the above statement, it can be seen that Napoleon had a deep understanding of and valued the importance of decorations for his soldiers. He considered them a crucial means of boosting the morale of his troops. As a result, Napoleon particularly favored having his soldiers and officers carry these decorations at all times. 

Throughout history, the Legion of Honour has rewarded outstanding military and civilian achievements. However, only those awarded military or similar distinctions from the Legion of Honour are entitled to special privileges, such as receiving a national pension. Despite this, the annual subsidy received by recipients is not sufficient to make them wealthy. Those honored with the Legion of Honour must spend a larger amount each year to acquire and maintain the insignia, including regularly paying fees to the Legion of Honour’s management committee. Therefore, the retirement pension alone is not enough to make the recipients wealthy; instead, receiving the Legion of Honour brings prestige only. 

The table at the bottom of the page compares the annual retirement pensions of recipients of the Legion of Honour at various ranks between the early 20th century and the present day. 

物件編號: M7

年代: 公元 1851-1852 年

材質: 黃金, 琺瑯

尺寸: 180.0 x 60.0 mm

重量: 38.57 g

來源: 利物浦獎章 2022

此枚為法國的官方版指揮官級榮譽軍團勳章。榮譽軍團是拿破崙擔任第一執政時於公元1802年創設的勳位，頒予對國家有功績的軍人和平民，旨在希望能夠強化自身的統治合法性，其概念構想發源於路易十四在公元1693年建立的聖路易騎士團和聖路易勳章。 

榮譽軍團成員分為五種勳位級別，對應到五個軍階，分別是騎士級 (chevalier)、軍官級(officer)、指揮官級commander、大軍官級(grand officer)、和大十字級(grand cross) 。此枚勳章為領綬的指揮官級勳章(掛章)，從勳章的材質和勳章頂部扣環(與綬帶連接處)的朝向可看出。 

勳章的正面為拿破崙一世的肖像，外圈銘文為「法蘭西拿破崙帝國」(Napoleon Empereur des Francais)，背面則是拿破崙王朝的經典象徵——雄鷹，背面的外圈銘文刻有「榮譽與祖國」(Honneur et Patrie)。圍繞勳章中心的是白色分岔的五角星，此種概念吸收了馬爾他十字和法國舊騎士團的勳章設計，周圍環繞的是綠色琺瑯製造的月桂葉和橡樹葉，勳章頂部則是作為王室威權象徵的皇冠。

此枚勳章的年代介於第二共和國晚期至第二帝國早期(公元1851-1852年)的過渡期之間。公元1848年，七月王朝被推翻後，法蘭西第二共和國宣告成立，通過政變取得政權的路易·拿破崙成為總統，他在公元1851年稱帝，開始了長達18年多的第二帝國時期。 

此勳章的正面外圈銘文與背面的雄鷹圖樣都展現其權威與帝國性，然而皇冠拱形上仍保留著三葉草的裝飾，即第一帝國時期的特色。 

拿破崙一世曾說過這麼一段名言: 

「你管這些東西(勳章)叫小玩意兒，嗯，正是有了這些小玩意兒，人們才被引導……我不相信法國人熱愛自由和平等；在十年的革命中，法國人並未改變；他們就像高盧人一樣，驕傲和光榮。他們只有一種感情，那就是榮譽：因此，我們必須滿足這種感情，他們需要榮譽。……你認為你能透過推理讓人們戰鬥嗎？絕不。這只對研究中的學者有好處。士兵需要榮耀、榮譽、獎勵。”」 

從上面這段宣言可以看到，拿破崙十分了解且重視勳章之於他的士兵們的重要性，將其作為一種鼓舞士兵們士氣的重要方式，也因此拿破崙尤其喜愛讓他的士兵和軍官們時刻配帶著這些勳章。 

一直以來，榮譽軍團都獎勵傑出的軍事及民事成就，不過只有軍事或類似身分授予的榮譽軍團勳章才有權享有國家退休金的特殊待遇，不過比起每年得到的補助金，受勳者每年需要花更大量的金額添購徽章，並定期支付費用給榮譽勳位管理會，因此，這筆退休金並不足以使受勳者致富，獲頒榮譽軍團勳章只會帶來聲望。 

下方的表格是過去20世紀初和現代的榮譽軍團勳章各勳位受勳者的年退休金的比較。