Cross of the Schools of the Legion of Honour, Type II, V Class Cross
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The Cross of the Schools of the Legion of Honour was established by Louis XVIII on March 3, 1816. It was not officially part of the Order of the Legion of Honour, although it was under the direction of the Grand Chancellor.
It was conferred upon female faculty who worked in the Schools of the Legion of Honour at Ecouen, Les Loges, and Saint Denis. The Cross has five grades and was displayed in a manner to show the difference in the rank of the faculty.
The Cross was not permitted to be worn outside of the institutions, however after 20 years of service, special permission could be obtained from the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour.
The Cross is classified into four types according to changes instituted in different time periods.
The Type II Cross was worn during the July Monarchy. It has rays in between each arm, a surmounting crown with ballpoint embellishments, and oval medallions. The obverse medallion depicts the Virgin on a gold background, and the reverse medallion has an inscription in its centre. The reverse inscription translates to “Honour and Fatherland, School of Saint Denis.”
The I Class Cross is identical to the II Class Cross. The I Class Cross was worn by Superintendents on a sash and the II Class Cross was worn by Dignitaries suspended from a ribbon worn around the neck.
Rev: HONNEUR ET PATRIE MAISON D'EDUCATION DE SAINT DENIS
Obv: MAISON DE ST DENIS Rev: HONNEUR ET PATRIE LEGION D'HONNEUR
This version is unofficial.
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