The Ordre national du Mérite is a Frenchorder 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. It comprises about 185,000 members; 306,000 members have been admitted or promoted in 50 years.
History
The Ordre national du Mérite comprises about 185,000 members; 306,000 members have been admitted or promoted in 50 years. Half of its recipients are required to be women.
Defunct ministerial orders
The Ordre national du Mérite replaced the following ministerial and colonial orders:
* Officer : minimum of 5 years in the rank of Knight
* Commander : minimum of 5 years in the rank of Officer
Two dignities:
* Grand Officer : minimum 3 years in the rank of Commander
* Grand Cross : minimum 3 years in the rank of Grand Officer
Insignia
Knight – wears the Medal on the left chest
Officer – wears the Medal with rosette on the left chest
Commander – wears the necklet on the neck for men and women
Grand Officer – wears the Medal with rosette on the left chest, plus the Star on the right side of the stomach;
Grand Cross – wears the Sash on the right shoulder to the left hip and the Star on the left side of the stomach.
The medal and the plaque of the Order were designed by the French sculptor Max Leognany.
The medal of the order is a six-armed Maltese asterisk in giltenamelled blue, with laurel leaves between the arms. The obverse central disc features the head of Marianne, surrounded by the legendRépublique 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 is worn by Grand-Croix and Grand Officier respectively; it is a twelve-armed sunburst, with rays 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.
Notable recipients
The individuals listed below have been admitted as members of the National Order of Merit:
