Legend (The Golden), a semi-dramatic poem by Longfellow, taken from an old German tale by Hartmann von der Aue [Our], called Poor Henry (1851). Hartmann was one of the minnesingers, and lived in the twelfth century. (See Henry, Poor.)
Legend of Montrose, a novel by Sir W. Scott (1819). This brief, imperfect story contains one of Scott’s best characters, the redoubted Rittmaster, Dugald Dalgetty, a combination of soldado and pedantic student of Mareschal College, Aberdeen.
Legends (Golden), a collection of monkish legends, in Latin, by Jacob de Voragine or Varagine, born at Varaggio, in Grenoa. He wrote Legenda Sancta, which was so popular that it was called “Legenda Aurea” (1230-1298).
Legion of Honor, an order of merit, instituted by Napoleon I. when “first consul,” in 1802. The undress badges are, for:
Chevaliers, a bow of red ribbon in the buttonhole of their coat, to which a medal is attached.
Officers, a rosette of red ribbon, etc., with medal.
Commanders, a collar-ribbon.
Grand-officers, a broad ribbon under the waistcoat.
Grand-cross, a broad ribbon, with a star on the breast, and a jewel-cross pendant.
⁂ Napoleon III. instituted a lower degree than Chevalier, called Médaille Militaire, distinguished by a yellow ribbon.