As during his first investiture in 2017, Emmanuel Macron, who was re-elected for a second term, was again presented with the necklace associated with the title of Grand Master of the Legion of Honor, during the ceremony which took place held this Saturday at the Elysée.
“Mr. President of the Republic, we recognize you as Grand Master of the National Order of the Legion of Honor”: these words were pronounced again by Army General Benoît Puga, while putting on the large collar order to Emmanuel Macron, as in 2017.
The opportunity to return to the history of this object which remains unknown to the general public. It should also be known that the large collar “is not a decoration but the insignia of the function of Grand Master of the Legion of Honor”, as specified by the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of Honor.
The story of the big necklace
There are three necklaces, the first model of which was imagined and then created in 1804. This first necklace of the Legion of Honor had been worn under the First Empire, by the emperor and the princes of his family in particular.
During the Third Republic, a new necklace was created, inspired by the first. If the 16 links were still present, the symbolism had however been adapted to the Republic. In addition, the motto of the order had also been changed, since it could read “Honneur et Patrie”, which had replaced the imperial eagles.
Since 1953, the current necklace, which will therefore be presented to Emmanuel Macron this Saturday, has taken over from the second model. This 952 gram jewel was made by the great jeweler Arthus-Bertrand from a drawing by the art ironworker, Raymond Subes and the architect, André Arbus.
However, the current necklace was also inspired by the first necklace, since it is composed of 16 links, which are nothing more than a reminder of the “16 cohorts of the Legion of Honor created by Napoleon”.
As General Benoît Puga, guest on the CNEWS set this morning, said, “the 16 links symbolically represent the main activities of the state”.
“Each link corresponds to a presidential mandate”
In addition, the names of the Presidents of the Republic appear on the reverse of these links, accompanied by the year of their accession to power.
“Each link corresponds to a presidential term” explained the army general, after specifying that for Emmanuel Macron’s second term, the symbol on the link is “knowledge of the world including a world map with a book” is represented.
The monogram “HP”, or “Honneur et Patrie”, from the motto of the order is also always annotated there, as is the star which has remained suspended.