Overview

• President Emmanuel Macron participated in the Camerone commemoration on April 30, 2025, at the Legion's headquarters in Aubagne, a first for any French president.
• The ceremony honors the 1863 Battle of Camerone, where 65 legionnaires, led by Captain Jean Danjou, resisted 1,500 Mexican soldiers for 11 hours, ensuring the safe passage of a supply convoy.
• The Camerone ceremony, institutionalized in 1931, features a fixed military liturgy including the presentation of Captain Danjou’s wooden prosthetic hand, preserved as a revered relic.
• Macron's remarks emphasized France’s shared values and unity, reflecting the Legion’s ethos of loyalty and sacrifice that transcends nationality and origin.
• The event underscores the enduring legacy of the French Foreign Legion, which comprises over 9,500 soldiers from around 150 nationalities.