French Legion d’Honneur picked up at Waterloo

During the French Revolution all French orders of chivalry were abolished and replaced with Weapons of Honour. It was the wish of Napoleon Bonaparte, to create a reward to commend both civilians and soldiers. This wish led to the institution of the Légion d’Honneur, a body of men that was not an order of chivalry, as Napoleon believed France wanted recognition of merit rather than a new system of nobility. The Légion, however, did use the organization of old French Orders of Chivalry, like the Ordre de Saint-Louis. The badges of the legion bear a resemblance to the Ordre de Saint Louis, which also used a red ribbon.

The design has varied over the years. Those with the first pattern for Napoleon Bonaparte are known as the awards of the First Empire.

The Order is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer), and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). The motto of the order is Honneur et Patrie (“Honour and Fatherland”), and its seat is the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur on the left bank of the River Seine in Paris.

The Légion was loosely patterned after a Roman Legion, with legionaries, officers, commanders, regional “cohorts” and a grand council. The highest rank was not a grand cross but a grand aigle (great eagle), a rank that wore all the insignia common to grand crosses.

During the fierce fighting at Waterloo it is not surprising that a decoration worn openly might become detached and fall to the ground, to be collected by advancing troops. It is not possible to ascertain to name of the loser of the award since the medals were not named.