"When did the drum major get his mace?" Topic

In the TOE of early 18th C. infantry regiments ones finds often, in addition to the drummers attached to the companies, one attached to the regimental staff. In the late 18th C. one find instead a drum major -without a drum but a command mace.
It is tempting to conclude that the 'regimental drummer' -initially with a drum to 'broadcast' the colonel's orders?- became the drum major? Can anyone confirm or refute this?
Funcken suggests that the drum major's mace was at first a sergeant cane -indeed the drum major is of sergeant status, having corporal drummers under his command.

Anyway when did the drum major receive his mace?

There is one if Philipoteaux' Fontenoy

but the painting dates from 1873 and other details are, according to current 'mainstream' opinions, rather suspicious, such as the turn backs of the coats?

In Jean Baptiste Le Paon's Défilé des Gardes Suisses

link
no drum major is visible (though he be hidden behind a rider in the forefront?)

but anyway the painting is not dated (the title refers to Louis XV, but the artist died in 1785); the grenadiers suggest that the scene took place after 1763.
Btw does anyone has better images of this painting (kept at Versailles, seemingly)? It is full of interesting details, such as the regimental pioneers (with *white* facings?) leading the march, followed by the regimental guns:

According to PDF link ,since the 16th century at least.

As a Drum major I am very interested in this discussion.

It may of been even earlier, there is a connection back to Greek and Roman period of a Band leader of flutes, Horns and drums wearing clothing relating to Mercury/Hermes and carrying a Caduceus(He is the patron god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence (and thus poetry),messages/communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery and thieves; he is also the guide of souls to the underworld

Mercury's caduceus (was a mace entwined with cords) in his left hand ( a caduceus is also represented with heralds who also carry a similar mace in thier left hand to represent messenger). This is the root word of Cadence, or marching.

There are a few archeological images and later paintings reflecting this.
first a cadence

Hermes

Trajans column, note the Hermes figure behind band

1614—Dresden, Germany: An image documenting a procession in honor of the baptism of Duke August depicts two trombones and a cornetto, followed by a person dressed as Mercury

Ottoman band

The Coronation Procession of King James II and Queen Mary of Modena. 1685

so a few early examples

cheers
matt

*Very* interesting: thanks

"When did the drum major get his mace?"

Presumably after one of his friends got attacked on the way home one night.