The Médaille militaire (Military Medal) is a military decoration of the French Republic first established in 1852 by Emperor Napoleon III for award to privates and non-commissioned officers who distinguished themselves by acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. He may have taken his inspiration from a medal established and awarded by his father, Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland. An interesting feature of the médaille is that it is also the supreme award for leadership, being awarded to generals and admirals who had been commanders-in-chief. This particular médaille is considered superior even to the grand cross of the Légion d'honneur. Soon after the First World War, the Military Medal was also temporarily awarded for wounds received in combat.