He later fought in the 1628 to 1631 War of the Mantuan Succession, and was part of the Royalist force that suppressed the rebellion of Henri II de Montmorency at the Battle of Castelnaudary in 1632.

[5] La Mothe-Houdancourt's career benefitted from being connected through his mother to Cardinal Richelieu, French Chief Minister from 1624, as well as support from the Secretary of War, François de Noyers.

In recognition, he was appointed Viceroy of Catalonia, Marshal of France, and made Duke of Cardona, although the title was already held by Fernández de Córdoba, and he rarely used it.

Headed by his mother Anne of Austria, supported by Cardinal Mazarin, it led to a power struggle with Condé, the leading French general, a member of the royal family, and effective ruler of large parts of eastern France.

[7] By 1644, Spain was regaining ground in Catalonia; after La Mothe-Houdancourt surrendered Lleida in July, he was accused of participation in a 1643 conspiracy known as the 'cabale des Importants'.

[9] After being released in 1648, La Mothe-Houdancourt initially supported the Fronde; he submitted to Royal authority in 1650, and was reinstated in 1651 as Viceroy of Catalonia, replacing Louis II de Bourbon-Vendôme.