On June 15, 1812, he enlisted as a volunteer for the 4th Region of the French Army Imperial Honor Guard, which was headed for Strasbourg.

Avezzana fought against Ferdinand VII’s restoration to the Spanish throne in September 1823, and was captured and held prisoner for several weeks.

Avenzzana successfully maneuvered a small force at Ciudad Victoria, capturing artillery, supplies, and three times as many government troops as he commanded.

He married an Mary Frances Morrogh, the daughter of an Irish diplomat, and led a quiet mercantile life until the Italian Revolutions of 1848.

Promptly returning to Italy, he fought the Austrians and Sardinians at Genoa, and then he and a few thousand followers defended Rome for two months against 100,000 soldiers in the allied armies.