HOW BELGRADE HAS BEEN DECORATED

This brief overview of French orders, decorations and P haleristics is an auxiliary science of history and numismatics that studies award decorations, their origin, development, organisational and legal characteristics, aesthetics, artistic expression and the social In order to be nominated for the Order of the Legion of Honour (as a rule, a person cannot submit their own candidacy, but the medals testifies to both the virtues that are worthy of awarding and the historical circumstances under which these decorations were established, but also the values promoted by the French state. In addition to prominent individuals, in exceptional cases these decorations can also be awarded to cities Médaille Légion d’Honneur Ordonnance Chevalier circumstances in which such decorations were introduced. Order can be entered posthumously, which was introduced This is a brief overview of French orders, the moments in hisafter World War I), a person must have amassed 20 years of tory when they were introduced and the ideas that prompted exceptional merit during peacetime (this applies to civilians) their introduction. or to show exceptional courage during wartime (this applies to military personnel). The Order of the Legion of Honour THE NATIONAL ORDER OF THE LEGION OF HONOUR for War Merit automatically includes the awarding of the (ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LÉGION D’HONNEUR) Cross of War (Croix de Guerre), France’s highest military The highest French decoration, which was established decoration. The Order of the Legion of Honour has 92,000 on 19 th May 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then First members. A total of 2,800 people can be decorated annually, Consul of the First Republic, as a recognition of military or both for military and civilian merit, with the award able to be civilian merit regardless of the origin, religious affiliation or granted to a maximum of 320 foreigners who, unlike French place of birth (homeland) of the recipient (at the time this nationals, cannot be members of the Order. was a revolutionary idea that was completely in line with the The motto of the Order is Honour and Motherland (Honneur ideas of the French Revolution), under the condition that the et Patrie), and the seat of the Order of the Legion of Honour candidate to be decorated is committed to the fundamental is in the Palace of the Legion of Honour (Palais de la Légion ideas of the French Revolution, which were freedom, equality d’Honneur) situated on the left bank of the Seine in Paris. and fraternity. In exceptional cases, this order can also be awarded to a In line with Napoleonic ideas and ideals, membership city, which was the case when French Marshal and Honorary in the National Order of the Legion of Honour is extremely Duke of the Serbian Army, Franchet d’Espèrey, presented this egalitarian: recipients can be both women and men, civilians recognition to the City of Belgrade on 21 st December 1920. and military personnel, regardless of rank, status, birthplace Apart from Belgrade, only a few other cities outside France or religious affiliation, so in principle people of any status can have received this decoration: Liege (Belgium), Luxembourg become members of the Order of the Legion of Honour. This (Luxembourg), Volgograd (Russia), Algiers (Algeria), BrazOrder is awarded in the ranks of knight, officer, commander, zaville (Congo) and the latest in the group, London (United grand officer and grand cross. Kingdom), which received the award on 18 th June this year.

Ordre National du Mérite Chevalier

Arts et Lettres Chevalier NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT (ORDRE NATIONAL DU MÉRITE)

The National Order of Merit is a very important and prestigious French decoration that was established in 1963. French President Charles de Gaulle used it to replace a series of other decorations that had existed until then. It is awarded for special merit, on behalf of the President of the Republic of France, to both foreigners and French citizens, in the ranks of knight, officer, commander, grand officer and grand cross.

ORDER OF CHIVALRY (ORDRE DES ARTS ET DES LETTRES)

This decoration is mostly awarded to crown the realisation of a person’s career in the field of art and literature, with the recipient having already achieved their greatest results. However, it is sometimes awarded as a stimulus to youth, in order to encourage zeal, courage and an innovative spirit, which are necessary instigators of changes in our view of the world.

The order is awarded by the French Ministry of Culture to “persons who have distinguished themselves through creativity in the fields of art or literature and thus contributed to the artistic and cultural heritage of France and the world”.

Established in 1957, it “prompts respect and envy among artists, writers and creators”, according to André Malraux. It has three ranks, knight, officer and commander. This decoration is annually awarded to 450 new knights, 140 new officers and around 50 commanders worldwide, which is a relatively small number compared to many other decorations, making it even more prestigious. ORDER OF ACADEMIC PALMS (ORDRE DES PALMES ACADÉMIQUES)

Th e O r d e r o f Academic Palms is awarded on behalf of the French Ministry of Education to prominent individuals who have contributed, and continue to contribute, to spreading knowledge and education, including internationally, and in particular to strengthening ties that unite two countries. This decoration, e s t a b l i s h e d m o r e than 200 years ago, Palmes académiques Officier is awarded to French nationals and foreigners for their scientific and professional commitment, and their contribution to strengthening France’s global reputation. The decoration was established by Napoleon Bonaparte as an acknowledgement of eminent members of the University of Paris. Foreign nationals have also been able to receive this recognition since 1866.

The Order of Academic Palms has had three ranks since 1955: knight, officer and commander.

HONOUR MEDAL OF THE NATIONAL POLICE (MÉDAILLE D’HONNEUR DE LA POLICE NATIONALE)

This decoration, established in 1903 at the request of Émile Combe, then French interior minister, is intended primarily for French civil servants who have achieved exceptional results in the performance of their duties, or for those who have amassed 20 years of impeccable interior civil service. In exc e p t i o n a l Médaille d’honneur de la Police nationale cases it can also be awarded to foreigners who have contributed greatly to the work of the French national police. Since 2013 this medal has had two degrees - gold and silver.

Baudelaire

Remains

Strange is the fate of the poet Baudelaire: in his own time he was neither understood nor accepted, and was renowned the least. But as time passed, so his poetry became ever more influential. From it sprouted symbolism. It seemed that he reached the zenith of his fame at that time through his followers Mallarme, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Apollinaire and Breton. That wasn't the case. As time goes on, Baudelaire becomes increasingly famous. His rise does not cease, his currentness is timeless. André Gide was undoubtedly correct when he said: “Fashion passes, critics likewise, while Baudelaire remains” (Jovan Hristić)

The son of Joseph-François Baudelaire and Caroline Archimbault-Dufays, Charles Baudelaire was born in Paris on 9 th April 1821. Baudelaire’s father, who was his mother’s senior by thirty years, died when the poet was just six. Baudelaire was very close to his mother (much of what is known of his later life comes from letters that he wrote to her), but was deeply distressed when she married Major Jacques Aupick. The family moved to Lyon in 1833, where Baudelaire attended a military boarding school. He was kicked out of the school shortly before graduation for refusing to give up a note passed to him by a classmate. Baudelaire spent the next two years living in the Latin Quarter of Paris, pursuing a career as a writer and accumulating debt. It is also believed that he contracted syphilis around this time.

In 1841 his parents sent him to India by ship, hoping the experience would help reform his bohemian urges. He left the ship, however, and returned to Paris in 1842. Upon returning, he received a large inheritance, which allowed him to live the life of a Parisian dandy. He developed a love for clothing and spent his days in the art galleries and cafes of Paris. He experimented with drugs, such as hashish and opium. He fell in love with Jeanne Duval, who inspired the Black Venus section of Les Fleurs du mal. By 1844, he had spent nearly half of his inheritance. His family won a court order that appointed a lawyer to manage Baudelaire’s fortune and pay him a small “allowance” for the rest of his life.

To supplement his income, Baudelaire wrote art criticism, essays and reviews for various journals. His

early criticism of contemporary French painters, such as Eugene Delacroix and Gustave Courbet, earned him a reputation as a discriminating if idiosyncratic critic. He published the autobiographical novella La Fanfarlo in 1847. His first published poetry also began to appear in journals in the mid-1840s. He published translations of the works of Edgar Allan Poe, whom he dubbed a “twin soul”, in 1854 and 1855, with the translations being widely acclaimed.

In 1857, Auguste Poulet-Malassis published the first edition of Les Fleurs du mal. Baudelaire was so concerned with the print quality that he took a room near the press to help supervise the book’s production. Six of the poems, which described lesbian love and vampires, were condemned as obscene by the Public Safety section of the French Interior Ministry. The ban on these poems was not lifted in France until 1949. In 1861, Baudelaire added 35 new poems to the collection. Les Fleurs du mal afforded Baudelaire a degree of notoriety; writers such as Gustave Flaubert and Victor Hugo wrote in praise of the poems. Flaubert wrote to Baudelaire claiming, “You have found a way to inject new life into Romanticism. You are unlike anyone else [which is the most important quality].” Unlike earlier Romantics, Baudelaire looked to the urban life of Paris for inspiration. He argued that art must create beauty from even the most depraved or “non-poetic” Writers such as Stephane experienced increasingly poor health in 1862. He left Paris for Brussels in of situations. Mallarmé, Paul Verlaine and 1863 to give a series of lectures, but Les Fleurs du mal, with its explicit sexual content and juxtapositions of urban beauty and decay, only added Arthur Rimbaud claimed him as a predecessor. His works suffered from several strokes that resulted in partial paralysis. On 31 st August 1867, at the age of 46, Charles to Baudelaire’s reputation as a poéte maudit (cursed poet). Baudelaire enhanced this reputation by flauntwere celebrated in the 20 th century by thinkers and artists Baudelaire died in Paris. Although doctors at the time didn’t mention it, it is likely that syphilis caused his ing his eccentricities; for instance, he as diverse as Jean-Paul Sartre, final illness. His reputation as poet once asked a friend in the middle of a conversation “wouldn’t it be agreeable Walter Benjamin, Robert at that time was secure; writers such as Stephane Mallarmé, Paul Verlaine to take a bath with me?” Because of Lowell and Seamus Heaney and Arthur Rimbaud claimed him the abundance of stories about the as a predecessor. His works were poet, it is difficult to differentiate fact from fiction. celebrated in the 20 th century by thinkers and artists as

Baudelaire continued to write articles and essays diverse as Jean-Paul Sartre, Walter Benjamin, Robert on a wide range of subjects and figures throughout the Lowell and Seamus Heaney. 1860s. He was also publishing prose poems, which were Baudelaire’s poetry left a legacy of conciseness posthumously collected in 1869 as Petits poémes en prose and perfection of form, precision and symbolism of (Little Poems in Prose). By calling these non-metrical language, special rhythm and musicality of verse, a compositions poems, Baudelaire was the first poet to gloomy experience of the world and pessimism. Synesmake a radical break with the form of verse. thesia, that most beautiful and richest metaphor, was

Baudelaire began suffering from nightmares and created in this poetry.