Napoleon Bonaparte founds the Legion of Honour.

Napoleon Bonaparte, later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led a series of military campaigns across Europe during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars from 1796 to 1815. He led the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804, then ruled the French Empire as Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1814, and briefly again in 1815. He was King of Italy from 1805 to 1814 and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine from 1806 to 1813.

The National Order of the Legion of Honour, formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour, is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Consisting of five classes, it was originally established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte and it has been retained by all subsequent French governments and regimes.