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In 1857 the Second Empire officially celebrated the surviving napoleonic war veterans by instituting a new civic decoration in their honour. This article explores the distinct concept of “honour” which emerged around the veterans, binding them together as a group and informing their dealings with the rest of society. Through the important social and political functions they performed during the national festivities of the Saint-Napoléon on the 15th of August, these veterans highlighted the continuing strength of the Napoleonic legend in nineteenth-century France, and particularly underscored its critical role in underpinning the political legitimacy of the Second Empire.