Bien mérité de la Patrie


Bien mérité de la Patrie is a French expression that qualifies national heroes. During the French Revolution, the phrase became a formula discerned as an award by the National Convention to deserving citizens.

History

During the Ancien Régime, the Monarchy bestowed awards to deserving subjects in the form of noble titles, precious swords personally awarded by the King, or membership in chivalric orders; in particular, the Royal and Military Order of Saint Louis could be bestowed upon non-nobles. During the French Revolution, after the advent of the First French Republic, these customs fell in disfavour due to their monarchic connotations, and the anti-egalitarian sentiment of having special titles of nobility or awards that were only available for nobles. Thus, for instance, when Captain Jean-Baptiste-François Bompart was awarded a gold medal by the population of New York to commemorate the Action of 31 July 1793, he accepted on the condition that he would not have to wear it.
To fill the requirement of an equalitarian national award, the National Convention developed the practice of passing resolutions by vote, solemnly stating that a deserving citizen, or group of citizen, had Bien mérité de la Patrie. These resolutions were published in Le Moniteur Universel, in a manner similar to being mentioned in dispatches.
The practice was pursued under the French Consulate, which furthermore instituted the award of Weapons of Honour for the military, and scarfs of honour to civilians. These were replaced by the Legion of Honour, founded by Bonaparte on 9 May 1802, morphing the award back into an order of chivalry.

Later use

The term "bien mérité de la Patrie", or the close "bien mérité du pays", is still used in citations awarding the Legion of Honour. For instance, the city of Verdun was awarded the Legion of Honour on 12 September 1916 for
The pediment of the Panthéon carries the closely related mention "Aux grands hommes, la patrie reconnaissante".