King of France Louis XVI Signed Royal Military Commission of Sieur Eustache René de Buat regarding the appointment to the rank of Second Lieutenant in a Cavalry Regiment. 
Countersigned by Étienne-François de Choiseul (1719–1785) – Duke of Praslin, French statesman and Secretary of State for War in Versailles, May 21, 1769.
Context Summary: 
This original commission, issued in the name of King Louis XV of France, formally appoints Sieur Eustache René de Buat, one of the six Musketeers of the First Company, to the rank of Second Lieutenant 
in a cavalry regiment. The decree specifies that he is to serve in this capacity within the Regiment of Cuirassiers, assuming rank from the date of the order but without entitlement to pay.
Size of Document: 14.2" x 9.3" (36 cm x 23.5 cm), Signed and Watermarked 
Eustache-René du Buat, seigneur des Chapelles, was a musketeer, captain in the King's Cuirassiers, and a prominent Freemason, serving as vénérable (Worshipful Master) of the military lodge L’Invincible
Fraternité and deputy of the Ancienne rite to the Grand Orient of France. He represented the last of the Bazoches branch of the du Buat family, an ancient noble lineage from Lower Normandy.
Noble House: The du Buat family was a well-established French noble house from Basse-Normandie, with branches in Avranchin and Séez. The Bazoches line, to which Eustache-René belonged, traced back to Jacques I
du Buat, seigneur de Montcollin. Though this line became extinct with him, a cadet branch, the seigneurs de Tréhéru, continued. Additionally, he was active in Freemasonry, serving as venerable of the military lodge "Invincible
Fraternité" and holding high Masonic grades such as Maître Parfait, Élu, and Grand Écossais.
These details closely align with the document, which grants him the rank of Second Lieutenant (later reaching captaincy) and places him in the Cuirassiers—directly confirming his status and career trajectory.
Broader Context: The Musketeers & Career Path  
The First Company of the Musketeers was a prestigious royal guard unit, originally formed by Louis XIII in 1622, composed of elite noblemen serving close to the monarch in both military and ceremonial roles.  
By the mid‑18th century (during Louis XV’s reign), such positions remained highly symbolic, often serving as steppingstones to higher military command—especially in cavalry units like the Cuirassiers.
Historical Context:
Dated May 21, 1769, and signed at Versailles, this document exemplifies the administrative and ceremonial structure of pre-revolutionary France’s military hierarchy. The Musketeers, elite soldiers of the royal household, 
were not only famed for their battlefield service but also held a prominent role in court life and noble advancement. The Cuirassiers, heavily armored cavalry, played a crucial tactical role in France’s professional army.
This commission falls during the later years of Louis XV's reign—a period marked by fiscal strain, military restructuring, and rising discontent among both nobility and commoners that would culminate in the French Revolution two decades later.
Significance:
Such military commissions served as both honors and official records of royal favor, offering insight into the patronage systems, noble aspirations, and military organization of the Ancien Régime. The explicit clause
denying pay suggests either a voluntary commission or a symbolic rank conferred for prestige, a common practice among aspiring noble officers.
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