France

Legion of Honour (Legion d'honneur)

Awarded solely for services rendered to the nation. Admission requires eminent merit, normally at least 20 years of activity, and good character. Only French citizens are members. Foreigners can be decorated but are not members. About 77,000 members.^3,4,2

Country

France

Established

1802-05-19 (29 floreal an X), at the initiative of First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte¹

Conferred by

Awarded in the name of the Head of State, the President of the Republic. Administered by the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour^2,3

How announced

Promotions are published in the Journal officiel, including civilian promotions on 1 January and 14 July and separate promotions for foreign recipients.²

Revocation

Members can receive a reprimand, suspension or definitive exclusion. Exclusion is automatic after conviction for a crime or a prison sentence of at least one year without suspension. The President decides on the advice of the Council of the Order. For foreigners the only penalty is definitive withdrawal, which is not published.⁵

Grades

• Chevalier
• Officier
• Commandeur
• Grand officier (dignity)
• Grand'croix (dignity)

Notable holders on this record

• Bashar al-Assad ReturnedGrand'croix 2001
• Harvey Weinstein Revocation initiatedChevalier March 2012

Official page: www.legiondhonneur.fr/fr/les-decorations/les-decorations-francaises/la

Sources

1. Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur, La Legion d'honneur: les fondements et l'histoire
2. Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur, La Legion d'honneur
3. Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur, Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur, home page
4. Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur, La Legion d'honneur: les criteres d'attribution
5. Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur, La discipline