Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur
The highest French distinction
The Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor, founded by Napoleon in 1802, administers the Legion of Honor, the highest French distinction, as well as other national awards. It also manages two schools and the Museum of the Legion of Honor. It performs three public service missions, all governed by the Code of the Legion of Honor: - To administer the four highest French honors (Legion of Honor, Military Medal, Order of Merit, National Medal of Recognition for Victims of Terrorism). - To run two top class public boarding schools (the maisons d'éducation of the Legion of Honor), also created by Napoleon in 1805, and to this day open exclusively to the female descendants of the honorees of France's three highest decorations. - To manage the Museum of the Legion of Honor and Orders of Chivalry, founded after the First World War. The Museum is a worldwide reference in its field and contributes to spreading knowledge of French and foreign awards. These three important missions lead to a fourth: the conservation and restoration of the Legion of Honor's heritage, including not only historical buildings, but also works of art and archives. The Legion of Honor owns and is responsible for the upkeep of several prestigious historical buildings. These include the 18th century Palace of the Legion of Honor in Paris and the former Royal Abbey of Saint-Denis, next to the Basilica which contains the necropolis of the Kings of France. Both of these buildings figure on the French National Register of Historic Places. Philanthropy plays a vital role in financing their renovation, modernization and upgrading. Only basic maintenance costs are covered by the French State.
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Memory of Honor : save and digitalize archives
The United States is the foreign country with the most recipients of France’s highest honors . Over the past 80 years, 13,000 americans have been awarded the Legion of Honor or the National Order of Merit. Americans have forged a special relationship with the Grand Chancery over the centuries. Thomas Jefferson , then ambassador to Paris, was so captivated by the Hôtel de Salm (which later became the headquarters of our institution) that he used it as inspiration for his Monticello residence, and even the White House reflects some of its features. Precisely 100 years ago, Adolph B. de Bretteville-Spreckels replicated the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco to house the city’s Fine Arts Museum. And just a year later, thanks to the immense generosity of William Nelson Cromwell and his friends, the museum of Legion of honor and the orders of chivalry opened in Paris. The ‘Mémoire de l’honneur’ project aims to safeguard the unique archives belonging to the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor, and make them fully accessible to the public . These archives bear witness the names and achievements of two million people who served France and have been decorated since 1802, when the Legion of Honor was established, and since 1963, when the National Order of Merit was created. Through the “Mémoire de l’honneur” project, descendants of decorated individuals, historians, sociologists, genealogists, and others around the world will be able to learn about these exemplary lives . For this large-scale project, the institution has mobilized both its scientific and technical teams, as well as leading a sustained campaign to seek financial and skills-based philanthropy. Thanks to the generosity of many patrons, it has already begun developing a building dedicated to these archives , which will open its doors in 2025. However, to successfully digitize these documents and create a public consultation platform , it needs additional support. By supporting “Mémoire de l’honneur” today, you will help continue this remarkable relationship , playing a vital role in sharing and preserving this shared history . Watch the project video
- Raised
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