Autograph document signed 'Aubert du Bayet', with six other co-signatures by politic figures.

JEAN-BAPTISTE ANNIBAL AUBERT DU BAYET, (French General and politician during the period of the French Revolution, and an 18th-century ambassador to the Ottoman Empire), (1759-1797).

Letterhead "Liberte - Egalite, Pera-Les-Constantinople"., Constantinople (Istanbul), [ca. 1796-1797].

Original manuscript autograph document signed by Jean-Baptiste Annibal Aubert du Bayet. 31,5x20,5 cm. In French. 1 p. With a blind-stamped seal. A legible and fine handwritten letter. Text: Le General Aubert du Bayet, Ambassadeur de la Republique Francaise pres de la porte Othomane, le depart de la compagnie d'Artillerie, legere employee a l'instruction des turcs et celui des officiers francaises precedemment employere ou destinee au service du grand seigneur; Arrete que le citoyen Collin ancien major d'infanterie venu a Constantinople d'apres l'autorisation du gouvernement retournera incessamment en France et qu'il profitera a cet effet du batiment qui va conduire la compagnie d'Artillerie legere a Ancone. English: General Aubert du Bayet, Ambassador of the French Republic near the Othomane gate, the departure of the company of Artillery, light employee in the instruction of the Turks and that of the French officers previously employed or destined to the service of the great lord; Decrees that the citizen Collin, former major of the infantry who came to Constantinople after authorization from the government, will return to France shortly and that he will benefit for this purpose from the building which will lead the company of light artillery to Ancona [sic. Angora - Ankara]. Jean-Baptiste Annibal Aubert du Bayet (19 August 1759, Louisiana - 17 December 1797, Istanbul) was a French General and politician during the period of the French Revolution. Aubert du Bayet was born in Baton-Rouge in the French American colony of Louisiana in 1759. Aubert du Bayet participated in the campaigns in America during the American Revolutionary War. Aubert du Bayet arrived in France at the beginning of the Revolution, but was initially hostile to revolutionary ideas. While in Metz, as a young Captain, he published an anti-Jewish pamphlet entitled Le cri du citoyen contre les Juifs. However, he soon saw that it could serve his ambitions. He became a member of the legislature in 1791. Aubert du Bayet was President of the French National Assembly (the "Legislative Assembly") from 8 July 1792 to 22 July 1792. In 1793, he served as General of Brigade in the heroic defense of Mayence in 1793, when he finally had to surrender to the Prussian Army. He then seconded Hoche in Vendée in the fight against the Chouans in the War in the Vendée. He then became Minister of Defense of France ("Minister of War") from 3 November 1795 to 8 February 1796. In 1796, General Aubert du Bayet was appointed as ambassador ("Minister of the Republic") to the Ottoman Empire. He was sent to the Ottoman court with artillery equipment, and French artillerymen and engineers to help with the development of the Ottoman arsenals and foundries. Infantry and cavalry officers were also to train the Spahis and Janissaries, but they were frustrated by the opposition of the Janissaries. Ironically, some of these troops, trained to Western methods, were successfully employed against the French troops of Napoleon a few years later under Sir Sydney Smith at the Siege of Saint-Jean d'Acre in 1799. Their behaviour delighted Selim III, and upon their return, they were named Nizam-gedittes or "New Regulars", but they were eventually slaughtered and dispersed by the Janissaries and conservative clerics and politicians, leading to the deposition of Selim III. Aubert du Bayet died of fever in 1797, in Constantinople. Co-signed by six politic figures in its period, however, they cannot be determined. Very rare.