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Ordre national du Mérite

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National Order of Merit
File:Ordre du mérite chez.jpg
Insignia of a Knight of the National Order of Merit
Awarded by  France
TypeOrder of merit
Established3 December 1963
Awarded forDistinguished civil and military achievements
StatusActive
Grand MasterPresident of the French Republic
ClassesFive degrees
Precedence
Next (higher)Military Medal
Next (lower)Croix de guerre

Ribbon of a Knight of the order

Knight of the Order
Star and riband of a Grand-Croix

The National Order of Merit (French: 'Ordre national du Mérite') is a French order of merit with membership awarded by the President of the French Republic, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason for the order’s establishment was twofold: to replace the large number of ministerial orders previously awarded by the ministries; and to create an award that can be awarded at a lower level than the Legion of Honour, which is generally reserved for French citizens.[1] It comprises about 187,000 members worldwide.

History

Defunct ministerial orders

The National Order of Merit replaced the following ministerial and colonial orders:[1]

Colonial orders

Special ministerial orders of merit

Organisation

Statutes

French citizens as well as foreign nationals, men and women, can be received into the order for distinguished military or civil achievements, though of a lesser level than that required for the award of the Legion of Honour. The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the order and appoints all its members by convention on the advice of the Government of France. The order has a common Chancellor and Chancery with the Legion of Honour. Every Prime Minister of France is made a Grand cross of the order after 24 months of service.[1]

Ranks

The Order has five classes, the same as the Légion d’honneur:[1]

  • Chevalier (Knight): to be of a minimum age of 35, have a minimum of 10 years of public service (although, in practice, 15 years is the minimum commonly needed to be conferred the rank of Chevalier), and "distinguished merits" (for active duty commissioned officers, this is achieved after fifteen years of meritorious service)
  • Officier (Officer): minimum of 5 years in the rank of Chevalier (for active duty commissioned officers, this is achieved after seven years in the rank of Chevalier)
  • Commandeur (Commander): minimum of 5 years in the rank of Officier (for active duty commissioned officers, this is achieved after five years the rank of Officier)
  • Grand Officier (Grand Officer): minimum 3 years in the rank of Commandeur
  • Grand-Croix (Grand Cross): minimum 3 years in the rank of Grand Officier

Insignia

  • Grand-Croix - wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
  • Grand Officier - wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest, plus the star on the right chest;
  • Commandeur - wears the badge on a ribbon around the neck;
  • Officier - wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
  • Chevalier - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.
Reverse of the Knight's insignia of the Order

The medal and the plaque of the Order were designed by the French sculptor Max Leognany.[1]

  • The medal of the order is a six-armed Maltese asterisk in gilt (silver for chevalier) enamelled blue, with laurel leaves between the arms. The obverse central disc features the head of Marianne, surrounded by the legend République française (French Republic). The reverse central disc has a set of crossed tricolores, surrounded by the name of the order and its foundation date. The badge is suspended by a laurel wreath.
  • The star (plaque) is worn by Grand-Croix (in gilt on the left breast) and Grand Officier (in silver on the right breast) respectively; it is a twelve-armed sunburst, with rays (formerly plain, now in blue enamel) between the arms. The central disc features the head of Marianne, surrounded by the legend République française and the name of the Order, and in turn surrounded by a wreath of laurel.
  • The ribbon for the medal is a solid blue field. For the grade of Officier and above, a rosette is centered in the field. For the grades of Commandeur, Grand Officier, and Grand-Croix, the rosette is centered bar of silver; silver and gold, and a solid gold respectively.
Undress ribbons
Chevalier
Officier
Commandeur
Grand Officier
Grand-Croix

Notable recipients

See also: List of foreign recipients of the National Order of Merit

The individuals listed below have been admitted as members of the National Order of Merit:

  • Commandant Jacques Cousteau, a Grand-Croix of the Ordre national du Mérite.
    Commandant Jacques Cousteau, a Grand-Croix of the Ordre national du Mérite.
  • Actor, director and writer Jacques Weber, a Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite.
    Actor, director and writer Jacques Weber, a Chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite.
  • US Navy Admiral Frank Bowman, an Officier of the Ordre national du Mérite
    US Navy Admiral Frank Bowman, an Officier of the Ordre national du Mérite

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Battini, Jean; Zaniewicki, Witold (2003). Guide pratique des décorations françaises actuelles. Paris: LAVAUZELLE. pp. 37–48. ISBN 2-7025-1030-2. {{cite book}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ http://bfmbusiness.bfmtv.com/entreprise/ce-que-la-legion-d-honneur-signifie-pour-les-licornes-965324.html

Sources

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