Nothing is known of his childhood and early youth, and the first mention of him dates to February 1372, describing him as a squire in the Avignon Papacy. Sveva Del Balzo died in 1375, bequeathing Soleto to Nicola on the condition that he give it to Raimondo, who would then take on the Del Balzo name. However, Nicola instead gave it to his eldest son Roberto. This forced Raimondo to seek his fortune elsewhere. According to legend, he went on a pilgrimage to the Middle East, though there is no documentary evidence of that. It is known that in February 1378, he arrived in Prussia and participated in the Galicia–Volhynia Wars, during which time he was made a knight of the Teutonic Order.