Motte-Rouge was trained at the Saint-Cyr military school from 1819 to 1821, he was assigned to the Spanish expedition as a second lieutenant in the 22nd line infantry battalion.

He received the command of the 2nd Division of the Army of the East, was twice wounded in a general assault that ends the Battle of the Chernaya.

Retired in 1869, he was elected the same year as the official candidate of Napoleon III in the legislative body in the st district of the North Coast.

The government ordered him to march on Orleans, which he reached onOctober 6, 1870, but his troops are beaten at Artenay by the corps of the Bavarian general von der Thann.

La Motte-Rouge had to evacuate Orléans on October 11 but he was immediately dismissed and replaced by General Louis d'Aurelle de Paladines.