medals-vatican-book

The educational institutions, committed to preserving the values that inspired their creation by Napoleon in 1805, have educated generations of young women, providing them with both instruction and moral development. This original and unique institution has continuously adapted to societal changes, thereby maintaining its exceptional reputation to this day. This extensively documented and richly illustrated work comprehensively inventories, for the first time, the official insignia, commemorative medals, awards, and historical documents associated with these institutions, contextualizing each item.

From Sevastopol to the trenches of the First World War, to London in 1940, from Indochina to Afghanistan, on land, at sea, or in the air, the chaplain, holding neither rank nor grade, stands alongside all who seek solace from their faith, whatever it may be. Whether in ecclesiastical vestments or military uniform, their religious and functional insignia serve as the sole distinguishing marks of their mission. For the first time, supported by regulatory texts dating back to 1852, these insignia are cataloged, identified, and illustrated for each branch of the armed forces and every denomination. The meticulous research of the authors and the rich iconography make this book not only a valuable record of religious heritage but, more importantly, an exceptional reference work for all enthusiasts of military history and symbolism.

Orders and decorations serve as dual mirrors reflecting the history of individuals and their eras. The nearly complete collection of French and foreign orders and decorations received by Charles de Gaulle during his lifetime, exhibited at the Museum of the Order of Liberation, stands as testament to this. The liberator of the territory and founder of the Fifth Republic was decorated both as a military officer and as Head of State. This exceptional collection is, for the first time, the subject of a scientific study based on the exhaustive examination of French and foreign archives, drawing upon the expertise of French and international historians and specialists in phaleristics.

The National Order of the Legion of Honor is France's highest distinction. Since 1802, it has recognized eminent services rendered to the Nation by both civilians and military personnel. This Order, rich in its past, present, and future grandeur, also possesses an exceptional heritage. Whether it is the Palais de Salm, located in the heart of the capital, the Château d'Écouen, the Maison des Loges, or the Royal Abbey of Saint-Denis, all these edifices are integral to the timeline of French history. This exceptional architectural heritage houses the Grand Chancellery of the Legion of Honor, the Museum of the Legion of Honor and Orders of Chivalry, the National Renaissance Museum, and the educational institutions of the Legion of Honor. Eight renowned authors, supported by a wealth of iconography, invite us to rediscover them.