In 1783 he joined the Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire and became a lieutenant of dragoons within three years.

He served in Transylvania and against the Ottomans but resigned and returned to France during the French Revolution.

He fought in the French Revolutionary Wars, becoming an Adjutant General Chef de brigade (colonel) on 12 April 1794.

Assigned to lead a brigade in the VI Corps, he fought at Haslach-Jungingen and Dürrenstein in the War of the Third Coalition.

In the War of the Fifth Coalition his division of French-allied Germans guarded Napoleon's line of communications.