Serving in a Burgundian regiment under the orders of his elder brother Christophe, he took part in the siege of Ostende (1601–1604) where he lost a leg on 26 July 1601.
[citation needed] On 24 July 1602 his regiment was converted into a Tercio, and he succeeded his brother as "maestre de campo", thus becoming, although with interruptions, the commander of that unit for the next 23 years.
In 1620 he participated in the invasion of the Palatinate and on 14 November 1620 took part in the defence of Alzey, where his Burgundian Tercio managed to repel every enemy attack until it was relieved by Count Hendrik van den Berg.
[1] In 1635 Balançon ravaged the French regions of Artois and Picardy, commanding Croatian troops.
[citation needed] On 20 August 1608 he married Claudine-Prospère (born 31 March 1588), daughter of Antoine de La Baume, Count of Montrevel.