The cavalry regiments, on the other hand, remained under the authority of a colonel general, were commanded individually by mestres de camp until the French Revolution.
The rank of mestre de camp was demonstrated by wearing a pair of épaulettes with gilded or silver fringes.
The rank was abolished during the French Revolution and replaced by that of chef de brigade.
The buyer, if he had prior service as an officer, was promoted ipso facto mestre de camp.
In certain cases, the King let the regiment pass from father to son, like a patrimonial estate.