Napoleon understood something his enemies were slow to learn: that men will face death for a scrap of ribbon more readily than for gold. He created the Légion d'honneur in 1802 and turned its giving into theatre — most spectacularly at the Camp de Boulogne in 1804, where he distributed the first crosses to the assembled army in a vast ceremony staged for maximum effect. When critics sneered that the decorations were mere baubles, he answered, so the story goes, "It is with such baubles that men are led." Cynical, perhaps — but he was right. A cross pinned on a grenadier's chest before his comrades, as in this scene, bought a loyalty no paymaster could, and the army loved him for it.

The set stages the ceremony in miniature — Napoleon in his green Chasseur coat presenting the cross, an aide in hussar light blue reading the citation, a Guard officer attending, and grenadiers in white parade dress and bearskins drawn up to witness the honour. It makes a centrepiece for a French command diorama. Set it before the ranks of the French Grenadiers of the Guard, link it to the staff of Napoleon's Headquarters, and pair it with the mounted Emperor Napoleon reviewing the parade.

Tradition of London model 0749. 54mm, white metal, hand-painted in gloss enamel. Eight-figure scene of Napoleon presenting the Légion d'honneur to a grenadier, with attending officers and Guard grenadiers. Supplied in the Tradition Classic Red Box. Allow 2–3 weeks delivery.