Order of Military Merit (France)

The Order of Military Merit, initially known as the Institution of Military Merit (French: Institution du Mérite militaire) was an order of the French Ancien Régime created on 10 March 1759 by King Louis XV. It was created to reward the non-Catholic officers of the French Army.[1]

For the newer order of the same name, see Ordre du Mérite militaire (France).
Order of Military Merit
Ordre du Mérite Militaire
Cross of the Order
Awarded by the King of France
TypeMeritorious award
Established10 March 1759
Royal houseHouse of France
MottoLatin: Pro virtute bellica
EligibilityNon-catholic military officers
Awarded forExceptional merit
StatusAbolished by the July Revolution in 1830
FounderLouis XV of France
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of Saint Michael
EquivalentOrder of Saint Louis
Awarded to Catholics

History

By the 18th Century there were regiments of Swedish, German, and Swiss troops in service to France, the most famous being the Swiss Guards. Since many of these regiment's officers were Protestant there lacked a suitable reward for distinguished service. The Order of Saint Louis was intended as a reward for exceptional military officers, but could only be awarded to those of the Roman Catholic faith. King Louis XV created the Institution du Mérite militaire to be an outward sign of distinction, but not an order since French orders were limited to Catholics.[1] Presented in three grades the names of which were formalized as Knight, Grand Cordon, and Grand Cross in 1785, mirroring those of the Order of St. Louis. King Louis was careful to promote the prestige of the award by appointing the most talented officers. The first Grand Crosses were presented to Swiss Field Marshal Count Waldner and German Lieutenant General Prince William of Nassau-Saarbrücken.[2]

In 1791, during the French Revolution, the Orders of St. Louis and Military Merit were merged into the single Décoration Militaire. In 1792, after the proclamation of the Republic the Décoration Militaire was abolished. King Louis XVIII continued to make awards of the order while in exile. On 28 November 1814, during the restoration Louis XVIII reaffirmed the Order of Military Merit, increasing the number of Grand Crosses to four and Grand Cordons to eight. The ribbon color was also changed to match that of the Order of St. Louis. The last appointment to the order was made in 1829.[2]

Method of wear

  1. Knight's Cross
  2. Officer or Grand Cordon
  3. Grand Cross

Notable recipients
  • John Paul Jones wearing the Order of Military Merit by Charles Wilson Peale, c1781
  • Johann de Kalb wearing the Order of Military Merit
  • Sir James Leith

References
  1. "Les ordres et décorations de mérite sous l'Ancien Régime" (PDF). musee-legiondhonneur.fr. Le Musée de la Légion d’honneur. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  2. Marc Champenois. "Institution du Mérite militaire" (in French). France-phaleristique.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
  3. "No. 17194". The London Gazette. 23 November 1816. p. 2226.
  4. Bulletins and Other State Intelligence Compiled and Arranged from the Official Documents published in the London Gazette, 1820. R. G. Clarke, Cannon Row, Westminster. 26 May 1820. p. 220.
  5. Hart, Captain H. G. (1844). Hart's Annual Army List, Special Reserve List, and Territorial Force List, Volume 5. John Murray, Albemarle Street, London. p. 288.
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