The French Republic possessed in Asia, Africa and America a large colonial empire.
For the purposes of this huge area, a number of "Colonial orders of knighthood" were established or incorporated.
They were : In addition, the Governor-General of French Indo-China established in 1900 : France had also not enough in the fatherland with the Legion of Honor.
The traditional position of the Legion of Honour as highest and most prominent award remained formally intact but the French ministers founded for use in homeland and overseas no less than 11 new orders.
The 19 Ministerial Orders - which all knew three grades Commander, Officer and Knight - were each administered by a Board which was chaired by the relevant Minister.