1765 Military Leave Certificate for a Captain in the Poitou (Saint Mauris) Regiment

Rouen, Normandy. Good. 1765. Ephemera. On offer is is a gorgeous military certificate created in pre-revolutionary France. Dated September 14th, 1765, this is a leave certificate for Captain Jacques Laport in the Poitou Regiment (known as the Saint Mauris Regiment until 1762). The certificate notes, among other personal descriptions, that Captain Laport was 24 years old and came from the city of Rouen in Normandy. The Poitou Regiment had been raised in 1616 and remained on the French Order of Battle until 1795 when it was amalgamated into the 49th Brigade. The Regiment saw continuous service in the many wars fought in Europe throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. An excerpt from the document follows: Infantierie francaise Regiment du infanterie de Poitou Conge Militaire Vu par nous Marechal de camp d'armee du roy, inspecteur d'infanterie, Saint Mauris Montbarry. [Translation: French Infantry Poitou Infantry Regiment Military Leave Seen by us Marshal of the royal army camp, infantry inspector, Saint Mauris Montbarry]. The document is signed by Louis César Renaud, viscount of Choiseul, the Colonel of the Regiment and bears a large, impressive red wax seal. For a historian, this is a direct link to two of pre-revolutionary France’s great infantry regiments and to major battles that shaped European history right up to this day. Ireland still grapples with the fallout from the Battle of the Boyne. Suitable for framing, this certificate would look stunning on a wall. This mounted document measures 8.25 inches by 10.25 inches. It is affixed to a black mounting board measuring 9.25 inches by 13.5 inches. It is in excellent condition with one flaw – the lower right corner has been damaged and is missing. The document is a printed form with space for particulars to be inserted. The handwriting is quite legible. ; Manuscripts; 8.25"x10.25"; 1 pages; Signed by Author .