LEGION OF HONOUR, Order of the. This order of merit was instituted by Napoleon in 1802, all previously existing French military or religious orders—those of St Michael, the Holy Ghost, St Louis, and Military Merit, as well as the united orders of St Lazarus and Our Lady of Mount Carmel—having been abolished at the Revolution. All soldiers on whom sabres of honour had been already conferred were forthwith declared to be members, and all citizens of sufficient merit were declared to be eligible for admission, whatever their birth, rank, religion, or social position might be. At their reception they were required to swear upon their honour to employ all just, reasonable, and lawful means for the service of the republic, the maintenance of its territory, the support of the government, the law, and the public property, and to withstand every effort towards the restoration of the feudal system and its various accompaniments—in short, to co-operate as much as in them lay for the assertion of the principles of freedom and equality. The grand master was Napoleon himself; under him were 105 grand officers, 300 commanders, 450 officers, and 3665 chevaliers. To the members of the various classes yearly allowances, ranging from 5000 francs in the case of a grand officer to 200 in that of a chevalier, were assigned. Some unimportant modifications in details were made when the empire was introduced. Between 1805 and 1814 about 48,000 nominations were made, 1400 only being in favour of civilians. Shortly after the accession of Louis XVIII. considerable changes took place. The old military and religious orders were restored, and that of the Legion of Honour reduced to the last place; the king was of course its grand master; the membership was divided into five grades,—80 grand ...