It recognizes people who particularly distinguished themselves in the service of its ideals of cooperation and friendship, promoting the role of the French language in their own countries or in the world.

It was created in 1976 on initiative of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie.

[2] In this reverse chronological list, each item intentionally referred to the following (historically preceding) one: There are five classes (in descending order of precedence): The badge of the Order of La Pléiade is a seven-pointed star, blue enameled at both sides.

The reverse silver central disc features the Adolphe Bridge in Luxembourg, where the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie was founded, and symbolizes unity.

[citation needed] The ribbon is sky blue with small yellow stripes near each border.