THE ORDERS OF THE CHIVALRY, THE ORDER OF THE REUNION

The animals of the orders of the Chevalerie, the order of the gathering.

After the previous episodes featuring animals from the orders of the chevalerie, Esprit Joaillerie highlights a new order, The order of the meeting. A new discovery of the treasures of Museum of the Legion of Honor.

In the Netherlands, a territory previously known as the United Provinces or the Batavian Republic, distinctions of merit were not widely practiced before Napoleon, with only a few very local exceptions.
Once on the throne, Louis Bonaparte created his own order of distinction. His success was such that Napoleon, at the time of the unification of Holland into the Empire, being unable to ignore this enthusiasm, was forced to find a new way to bind them to his dynasty in order not to disappoint them or divert them from his person. Through their deliberations, the archchancellor Cambacérès, the archtreasurer Lebrun, and the grand chancellor of the Legion of Honor Lacépède enabled the creation of an Imperial Order of Reunion by decree of October 18, 1811. Within this order, all recipients of the orders from the countries annexed to the Empire whose orders had been abolished could, in exchange for their old distinctions, apply for a place.

With the creation of the Order of the Réunion, the Emperor’s intention was not only to compensate the former members of the abolished orders, but also to relieve the Legion of Honor, whose nominations quickly exceeded all expectations. The decree of October 18, 1812 set out the form of the insignia that were to symbolize the various provinces annexed and brought together within the Empire: «The Réunion consists in the gathering of Holland, the Hanseatic cities, Rome, and Tuscany.».

The central shield features a throne supported by two lions and a ledge strewn with the same bees. On the seat is a cushion and an ancient laurel crown. On the front are the arms of Piedmont and the wolf lying at the foot of the throne, nursing the two children Romulus and Remus (symbol of Rome). To the right, the bundle of seven arrows symbolizes Holland and to the left, the stylized flower of Tuscany.