During the life of his father, he bore the title of lord, and subsequently, Count of Charolais, which he had received from his mother.
Since 1351, he actively participated in the battles of the Hundred Years' War, fighting under the command of his father, or for his lord, Philip III, Duke of Burgundy, or John, Duke of Berry, or the king of France.
As lord of Charolais he was not required, according to the terms of the Treaty of Brétigny, to pay a humiliating tribute to those he had fought for several years; Edward III, king of England, and his son, The Black Prince, Prince of Wales.
But it was the first and only time, to support the call from King Charles V against the actions of the Prince of Wales, which ultimately led to the liberation of Biscay from the English occupation.
This ended a quarrel, which for 89 years had set the two most powerful families in the south of France against each other.