In 1630, Henri won renown as a military leader in the war against the Spaniards in Piedmont (Italy). He defeated the Piedmontese, at the Battle of Avigliana, where he charged across a ditch at the head of the gendarmes of the king, captured Carlo Doria, the enemy general, with his own hand, and fought like a common soldier until the enemy was completely driven from the field. This victory was followed by the raising of the siege of Casal and the taking of Saluzzo. For these achievements, he was appointed a Marshal of France later in the same year.