- Time Period: Pre-War, World War I, World War II, Post-WW2
- Institution: 22 January 1852
- Country: France
The Médaille Militaire (or Military Medal) is a distinguished military decoration of France, awarded for acts of bravery and meritorious service in action against an enemy. Reserved for non-commissioned ranks, it stands as the third-highest honor in the French Republic, following the Legion of Honour, which serves both civil and military purposes, and the Order of Liberation, an order established solely for the Second World War. This makes the Médaille militaire the highest exclusively military decoration still awarded in France.
During World War I, over 230,000 Médaille militaire honors were conferred, a testament to the sacrifices made, with 1.4 million French soldiers killed and 3 million wounded. By comparison, the British Military Medal was awarded approximately 115,000 times, and the Victoria Cross, the UK’s highest military decoration, was awarded to 627 recipients.
Established in 1852 by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, then-President of France, the award may have drawn inspiration from a similar medal created by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland. Following World War I, the Médaille militaire was briefly awarded to soldiers wounded in combat, adding a unique dimension to its legacy.
The Médaille Militaire Design
The Médaille militaire is a distinguished silver medal adorned with a laurel wreath, measuring 28 mm (1.1 in) across, encircling a central gold medallion. The medallion displays the left-facing profile of Marianne, symbolizing the French Republic, although earlier versions from the Second Empire featured Emperor Napoleon III’s profile instead. Encircling the medallion is a blue enamel ring inscribed in gold with “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” (“FRENCH REPUBLIC”), accompanied by a small gold star at the bottom. The number of stars varies by era, with one star for the Fourth Republic version and three stars for the Fifth Republic; the Third Republic medal bore the year “1870,” while the Second Empire version included “LOUIS-NAPOLEON” instead of “RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE” and floral embellishments beside the star.
Originally, the medal was topped with a silver imperial eagle, while later versions are adorned with a design combining a breastplate over crossed cannons, an anchor, sabres, swords, and battle axes, with a looped ring for attaching the ribbon. The reverse of the medal remains consistent across all versions, displaying the inscription “VALEUR ET DISCIPLINE” (“VALOUR AND DISCIPLINE”) in relief, surrounded by the blue enamel ring.
The Médaille militaire ribbon is 37 mm (1.5 in) wide, yellow with green edges measuring 6 mm (0.24 in) each. This ribbon design was inspired by the Order of the Iron Crown, which the Médaille militaire succeeded in France.
