Ordre National du Mérite

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The Ordre National du Mérite (in English: The National Order of Merit) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. It was founded on December 3, 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle. The reason of 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 more liberally than the prestigious Légion d'honneur.

The Order can be awarded to French nationals, men and women, for distinguished civil and military achievements, though of a lesser level than that required for the conferrment of the Légion d'honneur. Foreigners are not admitted into the Order as such, but may receive the insignia of the Order as a mark of respect. The President of France is the Grand Master of the Order and appoints all other members of the Order--by convention, on the advice of the Government. The Order has a common Chancellor and Chancery with the Légion d'honneur. Every French prime minister is made a grand cross of the order after six months of service.

1 Grades
2 Insignia
3 Orders abolished by the creation of the Ordre du Mérite
4 See also
5 External link

[edit] Grades

The Order has five classes, the same as the Légion d'honneur:

Grand Cross (grand-croix) - wears the badge on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star on the left chest;
Grand Officer (grand officier) - wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest, plus the star on the right chest;
Commander (commandeur) - wears the badge on a necklet;
Officer (officier) - wears the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
Knight (chevalier) - wears the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

[edit] Insignia

The badge and the plaque of the Order were designed by the French sculptor Max Léognany.

The badge of the Order is a six-armed 'Maltese Asterisk' (for want of a better description - see Maltese Cross) 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. 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 (or 'plaque') is worn by Grand Cross (in gilt on the left chest) and Grand Officer (in silver on the right chest) 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.