Orders, decorations, and medals of France

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This is a list of some of the modern orders, decorations and medals of France. Some, like the Legion of Honour, are awarded to both the armed forces and civilians. Others are decorations of a pure civilian or military character. Only four of the 19 Ministerial orders have survived the reform of the French system of decorations in 1963. The others were replaced by the Ordre national du Mérite.

Contents

The Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honour classifies the national system of honours of France into two categories: those honours awarded on behalf of the President of the Republic and ministerial honours. The orders and decorations presented on behalf of the president are the Legion of Honour, Order of Liberation, Military Medal, National Order of Merit, and National Medal of Recognition for victims of terrorism. The ministerial honours include French military decorations, the existing ministerial orders, ministerial awards for acts of courage and honor medals, and commemorative medals. [1]

National orders

Legion of Honour Order of Liberation National Order of Merit
Chevalier legion d'honneur.jpg
Ordre de la Liberation France.jpg
Ordre national du merite chevalier FRANCE.jpg
Legion Honneur Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre de la Liberation 2nd ribbon.svg
Ordre national du Merite Chevalier ribbon.svg

Ministerial orders

Order of Academic Palms Order of Arts and Letters Order of Agricultural Merit Order of Maritime Merit
Commandeur de l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques avers.jpg
Kunsten en Letteren Ridder.jpg
Officier de l'Ordre du Merite Agricole.jpg
Kruis van een Commandeur in de Orde Merite Maritime.jpg
Palmes academiques Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite agricole Chevalier 1999 ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite maritime Chevalier ribbon.svg

Military decorations

Military Medal War Cross (1914–1918) War Cross (1939–1945) War Cross for foreign operational theaters Cross for Military Valour Medal of the Gendarmerie nationale
Medaille Militaire dite de la 4e Republique, fabrication officielle Monnaie de Paris (France).jpg
Croix de Guerre 1914 1918.jpg
Croix de Guerre 1939 France AVERS.jpg
AVERS Croix de Guerre TOE France 2 citations.jpg
Croix de la Valeur Militaire France AVERS.jpg
Medaille de la Gendarmerie Nationale.png
Medaille militaire ribbon.svg
Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 ribbon.svg
Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 ribbon.svg
Croix de Guerre des Theatres d'Operations Exterieurs ribbon.svg
Croix de la Valeur Militaire ribbon.svg
Medaille de la Gendarmerie Nationale ribbon.svg
Resistance Medal Escapees' Medal Volunteer combatant's cross 1914–1918 Volunteer combatant's cross Cross of the resistance volunteer combatant Combatant's Cross
Medaille-resistance-IMG 0950.jpg
Medaille des Evades France AVERS.jpg
Croix du combattant volontaire 1914 18.jpg
Croix du combattant volontaire FRANCE.jpg
Croix du combattant de la resistance FRANCE.jpg
Croix du combattant FRANCE.jpg
Medaille de la Resistance ribbon.svg
Medaille des Evades ribbon.svg
Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1914-1918 ribbon.svg
Croix du Combattant Volontaire 1939-1945 ribbon.svg
Croix du Combattant Volontaire de la Resistance ribbon.svg
Croix du Combattant (1930 France) ribbon.svg
Aeronautical Medal Overseas Medal Medal for voluntary military service National Defence Medal Medal for the War Wounded Military Health Service honour medal
Medaille de l Aeronautique francaise.jpg
Medaille d'Outre-Mer.jpg
Medaille des Services Militaires Volontaires Bronze.jpg
Medaille de la defense nationale bronze.jpg
Medaille des blesses 2eme type.jpg
MHSSA.jpg
Medaille de l'Aeronautique ribbon.svg
Medaille d'Outre-Mer (Coloniale) ribbon.svg
Medaille des Services Militaires Volontaires Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille de la Defense Nationale Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille (Insigne) des Blesses Militaires ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur du Service de Sante des Armees Bronze ribbon.svg

Rewards for acts of courage and ministerial honour medals

Honour medal for courage and devotion Honour medal for penitentiary administration Honour medal of Aeronautics Honour medal of Foreign Affairs Honour medal of agriculture Insignia for wounded civilians
Medaille d'honneur pour acte de courage et de devouement.jpg
Medaille-d-honneur-de-l-administration-penitentiaire-bronze.png
Medaille d'honneur de l'aeronautique or.jpg
Medaille d'honneur des affaires etrangere type 1.jpg
MEDAILLE D'HONNEUR AGRICOLE Frankrijk.jpg
Blesses civils.PNG
Medaille d'honneur pour acte de courage et de devouement ribbon.png
Medaille d'honneur de l'administration penitentiaire Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur-05.jpg
Medaille d'honneur pour acte de courage et de devouement ribbon.png
Medaille d'honneur Agricole.svg
Medaille (Insigne) des Blesses Civils ribbon.svg
Honour medal for railways Honour medal for Indirect Taxation Regional, departmental and municipal honour medal Customs honour medal Honour medal for water and forests Honour medal of teaching of the first degree
MEDAILLE D'HONNEUR DES CHEMINS DE FERargent 1977.jpg
Medaille d'honneur communale regionale et departementale vermeil.jpg
Medaille d'honneur des douanes.JPG
Medaille d'honneur (universel-2) ribbon.svg
Medaille Contributions Indirectes.svg
Medaille regionnale.jpg
Medaille d'honneur des douanes ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur des eaux et forets ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur de l'enseignement du premier degre ribbon.svg
Medal of the French Family Honour medal for youth, sports and associative engagements Honour medal for merchant seamen and fisheries Medal of Mines Honour medal for civilian personnel of the defense ministry Honour medal of the National Police
Medaille de la Famille francaise, bronze.jpg
Medaille d'honneur de la jeuness et des sports bronze a.jpg
Marine marchande type 1.jpg
Medaille-des-mines-Argent.jpg
Medaille d'honneur des personnels civils du ministere de la defense ARGENT TERRE.jpg
Medaille d'honneur de la Police nationale.jpg
Medaille de la Famille Francaise Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille de la Jeunesse et des Sports Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur des marins du commerce ribbon.svg
Ruban de la Medaille des Mines.svg
Medaille d'honneur (universel-3) ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur de la Police nationale ribbon.svg
Honour medal for post and telecommunications Honour medal for judicial protection of youth National Recognition Medal of Victims of Terrorism Honour medal for Health and Social Affairs Honour medal for firefighters Medal for internal security
Medailles des postes et telecom.jpg
Medaille victimes terrorisme revers.jpg
MEDAILLE D'HONNEUR DE LA SANTE ET DES AFFAIRES SOCIALES EN OR France.jpg
Honour Medal of Firefighters avers Exceptional Services pre 1981.jpg
Medaille de la securite interieure.jpg
Medaille d'honneur des postes et telegraphes Bronze (1902) ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur de la protection judiciaire de la jeunesse Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille nationale de reconnaissance aux victimes du terrorisme ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur de la sante et des affaires sociales Bronze ribbon.svg
Ribbon for Medaille d'honneur des Sapeurs Pompiers.jpg
Medaille de la securite interieure (France) echelon bronze.svg
Honour medal for judicial services Honour medal for music and chorale societies Medal of Tourism Honour medal for road transport Honour medal for work Honour medal for public works
Medaille d'honneur des services judiciaires en Bronze.jpg
Medaille d'honneur des Societes Musicales et Chorales.jpg
Medaille d'or d'honneur du travai haut niveaul.jpg
Medaille d'honneur des services judiciaires Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur des societes musicales et chorales Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille du Tourisme Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur (universel-2) ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur (universel-3) ribbon.svg
Medaille d'honneur (universel-2) ribbon.svg

Commemorative medals

19th century

Saint Helena Medal Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign Commemorative medal of the 1860 China Expedition Commemorative medal of the 1862 Mexico Expedition Commemorative medal of the 1870–1871 War
Medaille de ste helene FRANCE.jpg
Medaille de la campagne d'italie 1859 AVERS.jpg
Second empire - Medaille de l'expedition de chine - recto.jpg
Medaille expedition du mexique FRANCE.jpg
Medaille commemorative de la guerre 1870-1871 France AVERS.jpg
Medaille de Sainte-Helene ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de la Campagne d'Italie 1859 ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de l'expedition de Chine ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de l'expedition du Mexique ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de la guerre 1870-1871 ribbon.svg
First Madagascar campaign medal 1883 Tonkin Expedition commemorative medal 1883–1885 Dahomey Expedition commemorative medal 1892 Second Madagascar campaign medal 1894–1895 Colonial Medal
Medaille commemorative de Madagascar 1e campagne.jpg
Medaille de Chine TONKIN 1883-85 AVERS.jpg
Medaille commemorative du Dahomey de la campagne de1892.jpg
Medaille de madagascar FRANCE.jpg
French Medaille Coloniale.jpg
Medaille commemorative de Madagascar (1886 et 1896) ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de l'expedition du Tonkin ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de l'expedition du Dahomey ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de Madagascar (1886 et 1896) ribbon.svg
Medaille d'Outre-Mer (Coloniale) ribbon.svg

1900–1914

1901 China expedition commemorative medal Morocco commemorative medal (1909)
Medaille de chine 1900 rebellion des boxers.jpg
Medaille du maroc France.jpg
Ruban de la Medaille commemorative de Chine (1901).PNG
Medaille commemorative du Maroc ribbon.svg

First World War (1914–1918)

1914–1918 Inter-Allied Victory medal 1914–1918 Commemorative war medal Dardanelles campaign medal Orient campaign medal
Medaille victoire inter alliee FRANCE recto.jpg
Medaille comemo 1914 18 France.jpg
Medaille Commemorative des Dardanelles avers.jpg
Medaille d orient FRANCE.jpg
World War I Victory Medal ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de la Guerre 1914-1918 ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative des Dardanelles ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative des Operations du Moyen-Orient ribbon.svg
Medal of French Gratitude Medal for civilian prisoners, deportees and hostages of the 1914-1918 Great War Medal for victims of the invasion
Medaille de la reconnaissance francaise AVERS.jpg
Civils deportes et otages ww1.jpg
Medal for Victims of the Invasion.jpg
Medaille de la Reconnaissance Francaise Bronze ribbon.svg
Medaille des prisonniers civils, deportes et otages de la Grande Guerre 1914-1918 ribbon.svg
Medaille des Victimes de l'Invasion ribbon.svg

Between the two wars (1918–1939)

Syria-Cilicia commemorative medal
Medaille du levant France.jpg
Medaille commemorative de Syrie-Cilicie (Levant) ribbon.svg

Second World War (1939–1945)

1939–1945 Commemorative war medal 1943–1944 Italian campaign medal Medal of a liberated France
Medaille Commemorative 1939-45 France AVERS.jpg
Medaille commemorative de la campagne d'Italie 1943-1944 AVERS.jpg
Medaille de la France liberee.jpg
Medaille commemorative de la Guerre 1939-1945 ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de la Campagne d'Italie ribbon.svg
French Liberation Medal ribbon.png
Commemorative medal for voluntary service in Free France Deported for acts of resistance medal Interned for acts of resistance medal Political deportee's medal Political internee's medal Recusant's insignia
Medaille commemorative des services volontaires dans la France libre.jpg
Medal for deported resistance members.jpg
Medal for interned resistance members.jpg
MEDAILLE DES DEPORTES POLITIQUE.jpg
MEDAILLE DES INTERNES POLITIQUE.jpg
Medaille du Refractaire 1939 1945.jpg
Medaille commemorative des Services Volontaires dans la France Libre ribbon.svg
Medaille de la Deportation pour faits de Resistance ribbon.svg
Medaille de l'Internement pour faits de Resistance ribbon.svg
Medaille de la Deportation Politique ribbon.svg
Medaille de l'Internement Politique ribbon.svg
Medaille (Insigne) du Refractaire ribbon.svg

After 1945

United Nations operations in Korea commemorative medal Indochina Campaign commemorative medal Middle East operations commemorative medal North Africa Security and Order Operations Commemorative Medal North Africa medal
Medaille Commemorative de la Coree France AVERS.jpg
Indochine insigne des blesses France AVERS.jpg
MEDAILLE COMMEMORATIVE DES OPERATIONS DU MOYEN - ORIENT 1956 AVERS.jpg
Medaille du Maintien de l'Ordre AFN FRANCE AVERS.jpg
Medaille d'Afrique du Nord AVERS.jpg
Medaille commemorative des Operations des Nations Unies en Coree ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative de la Campagne d'Indochine ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative des Operations du Moyen-Orient ribbon.svg
Medaille commemorative des Operations de securite et de Maintien de l'ordre ribbon.svg
Medaille de Reconnaissance de la Nation (d'Afrique du Nord) ribbon-2.png
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon medal Medal of the Nation's Gratitude French commemorative medal Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory
Medaille de la FINUL (recto) Medaille de lONU-R.JPG
Médaille de la FINUL (recto)
Medaille de la Reconnaissance de la Nation France AVERS.jpg
Medaille Commemorative Francaise.jpg
Medal for the Military Protection of the Territory.jpg
UNIFIL Ribbon bar.gif
Medaille de Reconnaissance de la Nation (d'Afrique du Nord) ribbon-2.png
Medaille commemorative Francaise ribbon.svg
PROTECTION MILITAIRE DU TERRITOIRE ribbon.jpg

Territorial order

Order of Tahiti Nui
Ridder in de Orde van Tahiti Nui.jpg
Ordre de Tahiti Nui Chevalier ribbon.svg

Abolished or dormant decorations

Royal orders

Order of the Holy Spirit Order of Saint Michael Order of Saint Louis Order of Military Merit
Spilla dell'ordine di santo spirito donata da luigi XV a filippo o ferdinando di parma, 1750 ca, daiamanti, rubino, oro e argento.jpg
Saint Michel-Order.jpg
Ordre de Saint-Louis GTColl.jpg
Merite militaire Louis XV protestants.jpg
Ordre du Saint-Esprit Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre de Saint-Michel Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre Royal et Militaire de Saint-Louis Chevalier ribbon.svg
Institution du Merite militaire ribbon.png

Ministerial orders

Order of Combatant Merit Order of Military Merit Order of Civil Merit Order of Social Merit Order of Working Merit
Croix de Chevalier de l'ordre du Merite combattant.jpg
Chevalier Ordre du merite militaire.jpg
Ordre du Merite Civil (14 octobre 1957 - 3 decembre 1963) (cropped).jpg
Chevalier Merite Social.jpg
Ordre du Merite combattant Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite militaire Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite civil Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite social Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite du travail Chevalier ribbon.svg
Order of Touristic Merit Order of the National Economy Order of Commercial & Industrial Merit Order of Artisanal Merit Order of Public Health
Ordre du merite commercial et industriel.jpg
Chevalier Order de la Sante Publique.jpg
Ordre du Merite touristique Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre de l'Economie nationale Cavalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite Commercial et Industriel Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite artisanal Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre de la Sante publique Chevalier ribbon.svg
Order of Postal Merit Order of Sporting Merit
Officier in de Orde van Postale Verdienste.jpg
Medal, order (AM 2014.7.13-18).jpg
Ordre du Merite Postal Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite sportif Chevalier ribbon.svg

Colonial orders

Indochinese Order of Merit Saharan Order of Merit Order of the Black Star Order of the Star of Anjouan Order of Nichan el Anouar
Orde van Verdienste voor de Sahara Officier.jpg
Ster en Grootkruisvan de Orde van de Zwarte Ster.jpg
Ridder in de Orde van Anjouan.jpg
Nichan el Anouar.jpg
Ordre du Merite Indochinois ribbon.svg
Ordre du Merite Saharien Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre de l'Etoile Noire Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre de l'Etoile d'Anjouan Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre du Nichan el-Anouar Chevalier ribbon.svg
Order of the Dragon of Annam Royal Order of Cambodia
Ordre du Dragon.jpg
Ordre royal du Cambodge.jpg
Ordre du Dragon d'Annam (par le Gouvernement Francais) Chevalier ribbon.svg
Ordre Royal du Cambodge Chevalier ribbon.svg

Rewards for acts of courage and ministerial honour medals

Departmental and municipal honour medal
Medaille d'honneur departementale et communaleniveau argent.jpg
Medaille d'honneur departementale et communale Argent ribbon.svg

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References

  1. "The national system". Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honor. Retrieved 25 January 2017.