It is important to know the decorated individual’s nationality, dates of birth and death, and if possible, profession. These preliminary steps can be aided by consulting “Le guide des recherches sur l’histoire des familles” (A family history research guide) by Gildas Bernard, published by the Archives Nationales in 1988. Check the special section on orders, decorations and honorary awards (“Ordres, décorations, récompenses honorifiques”). This work can also be consulted on the website www.francegenweb.org.

Research guide

The Museum of the Legion of Honour’s “Guide de recherches en histoire de la Légion d’honneur,” is a 484 page inventory of the public and private French sources of the history of the Legion of Honour.

It was published in 2002 by the Friends of the Museum and Monelle Hayot Art Publications and can be purchased in the museum shop (18 Euros).
 

First steps
A complete, chronological list of the members of the Legion of Honour nominated from the very first ceremony in 1803 to now does not exist.  The number is estimated at one million. 

Members of the Legion of Honour nominated between 1803 and 1930 (exclusive of 1914-1918)  

The existing files of the members of the Legion of Honour nominated between 1803 and 1930 (deceased before 1954) can be consulted at the National Archives, Centre d’Accueil et de Recherches des Archives Nationales (CARAN), 11-13 rue des Quatre Fils, 75003 Paris.  Tel:  33 1 40 27 64 19.  They can be photocopied upon request.

The files are listed on the Léonore database at http://www.culture.gouv.fr/documentation/leonore/pres.htm (or minitel, dial 3614 code Joconde base Léonore).  This database lists the reference number of the member’s file,  surname and first names, date and place of birth but does not give the date of nomination to the Legion of Honour.

To find the date of the nomination of a member to the Order, or for more complete information, contact the Museum by phone (33) 1 40 62 84 25 or fax (33) 1 40 62 84 96, or write to the Musée de la Légion d’honneur by post or email  (2, rue de la Légion d’honneur  75007 Paris;
musée@legiondhonneur.fr).

Members of the Legion of Honour nominated after 1930

For information concerning the members nominated  from 1930 to today, or the period covering World Wars I and II, write to the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d’honneur (Service Gestion Membres de la Légion d’honneur), 1 rue de Solférino, 75007 Paris.  Indicate the person’s civil status as completely as possible.
 

 

The Medal of Saint Helena was initiated by Napoleon III on 12 August 1857. It was awarded to more than 400,000 veterans of the wars from the Revolution to the Empire. Unfortunately the list of names and documents kept at the Grand Chancery were destroyed in the fire of 1871. Only a few boxes concerning the recipients from Wurtemberg survived.


About 180,000 French and non-French recipients of the Medal of Saint Helena are listed on the website www.stehelene.org. They are regularly kept up to date from lists and certificates stored in departmental archives (series R and M), and from sources conserved in Belgium, Luxembourg and in Denmark.

This decoration is reserved for non-commissioned officers, simple soldiers and for generals who commanded on battlefields. It was created by Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the future Napoleon III, on 22 January 1852. It is the second national award in the order of precedence and is administered by the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honour.

For further information, write to the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d’honneur, Service de la Médaille Militaire, 1 rue de Solférino, 75007 Paris.

This Order was founded by General de Gaulle, President of the Republic, on 3 December 1963. It is the third national award in line of precedence and is managed by the Grand Chancery of the Legion of Honour.

For further information, write to the Grande Chancellerie de la Légion d’honneur, Service de l’Ordre national du Mérite, 1 rue de Solférino, 75007 Paris.

National Orders and decorations
“La Légion d’honneur, un ordre au service de la nation”, by Anne de Chefdebien and Bertrand Galimard-Flavigny, published by Collection Gallimard-Découvertes, 2002. Probably the most authoritative book on the Legion of Honour written for the layperson. Richly illustrated; French text only. Available in the museum bookstore.
“La Légion d’honneur”, by Louis Bonneville de Marsangy, Claude Ducourtial and Isabelle du Pasquier, published by Lavauzelle. Available in the museum bookstore.
Similar books can be found on the Médaille Militaire and the Ordre National du Mérite.

French Orders
The Museum catalogue is available in the museum shop. Richly illustrated; French text; 167 pages (15 Euros).

World Orders
For initial background information on the different orders throughout the world, check the numerous websites that are brought up to date regularly on www.skf-vzw.org .
The national chancery websites can be consulted for the types of orders awarded in their country.
Several books on non-French orders can be consulted in the museum library.