Being opposed to the ideas of the Revolution, he emigrated in 1791, but soon returned, and, on the Insurrection of 10 August 1792, took part in the defence of the Tuileries Palace against the mob of Paris.

The day after, he was forced to leave the capital, and took refuge in the château of Clisson near Bressuire.

[1] On the outbreak of the Revolt in the Vendée against the Republic, he was arrested and imprisoned with all his family, as one of the promoters of the rising.

After an unsuccessful attack on Nantes, he joined forces with La Rochejaquelein and tried in vain to rally the troops of the dispersed Catholic and Royal Army.

Their peasant troops, opposed to the French Revolutionary Army General François Joseph Westermann, sustained multiple defeats, but finally gained a victory between Tiffauges and Cholet on 19 September 1793.